Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a festive and charming treat that’s as delightful to make as it is to eat, these Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies are exactly what you need. They combine buttery richness with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s perfect for filling your holiday cookie jar. With simple ingredients and a joyful spritz cookie press technique, they’re a fun, creative way to add a personal touch to holiday celebrations. Whether you’re decking the halls or looking for a sweet activity to enjoy with loved ones, these cookies will quickly become a beloved holiday tradition.

Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies lies in the simplicity and quality of the ingredients. Each one plays a key role—from the creamy butter and margarine that build the base for softness and flavor, to the flour and baking powder that create just the right texture. The vanilla extract adds a warm, inviting aroma, while optional gel food coloring invites your creativity in vibrant holiday hues.

  • Unsalted Butter, softened: Provides rich flavor and tenderness, ensuring the cookies are buttery without being greasy.
  • Margarine, softened: Helps achieve the perfect texture and makes the dough easy to press.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps the cookies brown slightly for a lovely finish.
  • Eggs: Bind the dough together and contribute to the cookies’ soft yet sturdy texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, cozy fragrance and depth of flavor that’s essential in a classic cookie.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
  • All-Purpose Flour: The structure of the cookies, providing just enough stability to hold the spritz shapes.
  • Baking Powder: Gives a slight lift, making these cookies tender without spreading too much.
  • Optional Gel Food Coloring: Perfect for coloring the dough festive reds, greens, or any color that brightens your holiday mood.

How to Make Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Margarine

Start by softening unsalted butter and margarine, then beat them together in an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process traps air, creating a tender cookie with perfect texture and flavor.

Step 2: Incorporate Sugar and Eggs

Add sugar in increments, about half a cup at a time, alternating with the eggs. This ensures everything blends smoothly without curdling, giving the dough a sweet, cohesive base.

Step 3: Add the Vanilla Extract

Next, pour in the vanilla extract. Its warm, aromatic notes will infuse the dough with the classic flavor that makes these spritz cookies irresistibly comforting.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. This step ensures even distribution so every bite has just the right balance of flavor and lift.

Step 5: Combine Dry Ingredients with Wet Mixture

Gently fold the flour mixture into the buttery mixture by hand, adding a little at a time. Mixing by hand prevents overworking the dough, which keeps the cookies tender instead of tough.

Step 6: Chill the Dough and Pan

Pop the dough into the fridge for about 15 minutes. At the same time, chill your baking pan so that the dough sticks better and the cookies keep their classic shapes without spreading.

Step 7: Prepare the Cookie Press

Load your spritz cookie press with dough following the manufacturer’s instructions. If the dough feels too soft, chill it longer; if it’s too stiff, let it warm up slightly for best pressing results.

Step 8: Press and Decorate

Press the dough shapes directly onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Now’s the time to sprinkle on sanding sugar or festive sprinkles to add sparkle and holiday cheer before baking.

Step 9: Bake to Perfection

Bake the cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes. Watch for edges to set but not brown too much, so your spritz cookies come out soft, delicate, and beautifully shaped.

How to Serve Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies

Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Garnishes

Once your Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies are cooled, feel free to go wild with garnishes! Classic sanding sugar adds just the right amount of sparkle, while colorful sprinkles or edible glitter can turn each cookie into a mini masterpiece perfect for holiday festivities.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with warm beverages like spiced hot chocolate, eggnog, or even a simple cup of tea or coffee. Their buttery sweetness balances beautifully alongside these drinks, creating the perfect cozy moment.

Creative Ways to Present

Stack them on festive plates, arrange in mason jars tied with ribbons, or layer between sheets of wax paper in holiday gift boxes. Spritz cookies also make charming edible ornaments hung on the tree with a little ribbon threaded through a gently made hole before baking.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. This keeps them fresh and soft for up to a week, so you can enjoy bites of holiday joy days after baking.

Freezing

You can freeze these cookies either before baking as dough shapes pressed onto parchment-lined trays or baked and cooled. Freeze dough for up to 3 months and cookies up to 6 months. Just thaw and bake or enjoy as ready treats when needed.

Reheating

If you want that fresh-from-the-oven warmth, gently reheat spritz cookies in a low oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 5 minutes. This revives their delicate texture without drying them out.

FAQs

Can I use all butter instead of butter and margarine?

Absolutely! Using all butter will give your Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies a richer flavor, though margarine helps create a slightly softer texture. It’s a personal preference, so feel free to experiment.

What if I don’t have a cookie press?

You can still enjoy spritz cookies by rolling out the dough and using small cookie cutters instead. The classic shapes might differ but the buttery goodness remains the same.

How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling both the dough and the baking pan is key. Also, avoid overworking the dough, as this can develop gluten and make the cookies spread more when baked.

Can I add flavors other than vanilla?

Definitely! Almond extract or a hint of lemon zest can add lovely variations. Just use them sparingly to keep the balance right and not overpower the buttery base.

Do I have to use gel food coloring?

Gel food coloring is ideal as it doesn’t thin the dough, but if you don’t have it, liquid food coloring works too—just add very little at a time to avoid softening the dough.

Final Thoughts

Baking up a batch of Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies is like wrapping up a warm, buttery hug in every bite. Whether you’re sharing them with family or gifting them to friends, these cookies are full of holiday spirit and joy. So get your cookie press ready, bring out that festive food coloring, and dive into creating your own batch of sweet memories this season!

Print

Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies Recipe

These Easy Christmas Spritz Cookies are buttery, tender, and perfect for holiday celebrations. Using a classic spritz cookie press, these festive cookies can be shaped into delightful designs and decorated with colorful sprinkles or sanding sugar. Simple to prepare and quick to bake, they’re an ideal treat for family gatherings or cookie exchanges.

  • Author: Elena
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: Approximately 4 dozen cookies 1x
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened (8 tablespoons)
  • 1 stick margarine, softened (8 tablespoons)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 heaping teaspoon baking powder

Optional

  • Gel food coloring (as desired)
  • Sprinkles or sanding sugar for decoration

Instructions

  1. Prepare Butter Mixture: Place softened unsalted butter and margarine into an electric mixer bowl. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add Sugar and Eggs: Gradually add sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with eggs to ensure thorough mixing. Continue to beat until the mixture is creamy and well combined.
  3. Add Vanilla Extract: Pour in the vanilla extract and mix briefly to incorporate the flavor evenly throughout the dough.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, pinch of salt, and baking powder to distribute the leavening agent.
  5. Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture by hand, a little at a time, folding gently until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough to maintain tenderness.
  6. Chill Dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, which helps with easier handling and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
  7. Chill Baking Pan: Place your baking pan in the fridge for 15 minutes prior to baking, as a chilled pan helps the dough stick better and retain shape.
  8. Load Cookie Press: Fill your spritz cookie press with the dough following the manufacturer’s instructions. If desired, add gel food coloring to portions of the dough before loading for colorful cookies.
  9. Adjust Dough Consistency: If the dough is too soft, chill it a bit longer. If it’s too stiff, let it sit at room temperature briefly to soften slightly for optimal pressing.
  10. Press Cookies: Press the dough directly onto an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing cookies about 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading.
  11. Add Decorations: Immediately sprinkle your cookies with sprinkles or sanding sugar if desired before baking.
  12. Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 15 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set.
  13. Cool: Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Do not overload the cookie press to avoid clogging and uneven shapes.
  • If using food coloring, knead dough gently to incorporate color without overmixing.
  • Check cookies around 10 minutes to avoid overbaking for a softer texture.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute the unsalted butter with extra margarine or a vegan butter alternative.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie (approximately 15 grams)
  • Calories: 80
  • Sugar: 4 grams
  • Sodium: 35 milligrams
  • Fat: 5 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 2.5 grams
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 grams
  • Trans Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 9 grams
  • Fiber: 0.2 grams
  • Protein: 1 gram
  • Cholesterol: 20 milligrams

Keywords: Christmas cookies, spritz cookies, holiday baking, butter cookies, festive treats

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