Christmas Spritz Cookies Recipe π
Overview:
Prepare to dazzle your friends and family with these delightful Christmas Spritz Cookies! This recipe yields a batch of 60 cookies, perfect for sharing and spreading holiday cheer. With a total preparation time of just 32 minutes, including 20 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of baking, you’ll have these festive treats ready to enjoy in no time. These cookies are ideal for dessert lovers, particularly those craving a homemade, oven-baked delight during the holiday season. Let’s dive into the recipe!
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: Green food coloring
- Optional for decoration: Cherries and assorted candies
Instructions:
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Preheat oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375Β°F (190Β°C). This ensures that your cookies will bake to perfection.
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Prepare flour mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and salt. Stir them together until evenly mixed, ensuring a consistent texture in your cookie dough.
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Cream butter and sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat together the powdered sugar and butter until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving the perfect cookie texture.
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Incorporate wet ingredients: To the creamed mixture, add the egg, almond extract, and vanilla. Beat them into the mixture until well combined, infusing your dough with delicious flavor.
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Combine with flour mixture: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until everything is well blended. This will form the base dough for your cookies.
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Divide and color dough (optional): Divide the dough in half. If you desire a festive touch, tint one half of the dough with green food coloring. This adds a vibrant pop of color to your cookies.
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Prepare cookie press: Fit your cookie press with the desired plate or change plates for different shapes after the first batch. This allows for variety in your cookie designs.
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Press dough onto sheets: Fill the cookie press with dough and press it onto ungreased cookie sheets, spacing the cookies about 1 inch apart. This ensures even baking and prevents the cookies from sticking together.
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Add decorations: Get creative with your decorations! If desired, top the cookies with cherries and assorted candies for an extra festive touch.
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Bake to perfection: Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until they are just set. Keep an eye on them to avoid overbaking, as this can result in dry cookies.
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Cool and decorate: Once baked, transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the icing if desired. Pipe or drizzle the icing onto the cooled cookies, and add additional decorations as desired.
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Storage: Store the decorated cookies tightly covered at room temperature, or freeze them for up to 3 months. This allows you to enjoy these festive treats at your convenience throughout the holiday season.
Icing Recipe:
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
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Mix ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine all the icing ingredients. Stir until the mixture reaches a thick but spreadable consistency. If the icing is too thick, you can add an additional teaspoon of milk to achieve the desired texture.
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Decorate: Once your icing is ready, use it to pipe or drizzle onto the cooled cookies. This adds a sweet finishing touch and allows for even more creativity in your cookie decorations.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 67.6
- Fat: 3.2g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 11.7mg
- Sodium: 33.1mg
- Carbohydrates: 9.1g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Sugar: 5.4g
- Protein: 0.6g
Serving Suggestions:
These Christmas Spritz Cookies are perfect for serving at holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or simply enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa by the fireplace. Share them with loved ones and watch as they become a new seasonal favorite!
Conclusion:
With their buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture and festive decorations, these Christmas Spritz Cookies are sure to bring joy to everyone who tries them. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or simply indulging in some holiday cheer, this recipe is a must-try for any dessert enthusiast. So roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and let’s bake some memories this holiday season!