Christmas Spritz Cookies (BEST recipe)

These Christmas Spritz Cookies have been a holiday favorite in our house for years. They’re buttery, festive, and hard to resist. They make a great treat for cookie swaps, gifts, or simply adding some extra joy to your holiday dessert table.

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The best part is that they’re easy to make, and a cookie press gives them that classic, decorative shape everyone knows and loves. This recipe also makes a big batch, so you’ll have plenty to share (or keep for yourself).

How to Make Christmas Spritz Cookies

You can make these cookies quickly with basic pantry ingredients. A cookie press is important for this recipe, and you can have fun trying out different shapes and colors.

First, gather your ingredients.

Ingredients

For best taste, always use the highest quality ingredients you have access to. 

To make this Christmas Spritz Cookies recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature for easy mixing and a creamy texture.
• Powdered Sugar: There’s no good substitute for this. Make sure your powdered sugar is fresh, too! It matters!
• Eggs: Yolks used for richness in the dough, whites are reserved for brushing the tops.
• Vanilla: Use real vanilla. Avoid imitation vanilla.
• Almond Extract: Adds a subtle nutty note that enhances the festive flavor
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor overall
• All-Purpose Flour: Spoon and level to avoid packing; this gives the cookies structure
• Decorative Sugars or Sprinkles: Adds festive color and crunch to each cookie

You’ll also need a cookie press to shape the cookies. I suggest using a nonstick baking sheet without parchment or silicone, since this helps the dough stick properly when pressed.

I have had four different cookie presses over the years, and this OXO cookie press is by FAR my favorite (Amazon affiliate).

I don’t just use it for Christmas either. Since the cookie press comes with so many different shapes, I have made these for baby showers, bridal teas, etc.

I’ve made the heart shape for Valentines Day. I even made my husband a few batches of these while we were dating. Just-because-I-love-you cookies. Ah memories!

Tools used to make this recipe

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• Electric mixer – I used my KitchenAid
• OXO cookie press – you can use any brand, but this one is hands down the best I have ever owned!
• Non stick baking sheets – I am using the Calphalon ones
• Pastry brush if you choose to do the egg wash
• Turner/ spatula
• Cooling rack

Making Christmas Spritz Cookies

Christmas Spritz Cookies is a simple recipe that can be made in just a few steps. Here is how to make it.

First, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Add the egg yolks, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. Mix until well combined.

Gradually add the flour, mixing until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Fill your cookie press with the dough and press the cookies onto an unlined, ungreased nonstick baking sheet.

Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops of the cookies with egg whites. This helps the sprinkles stick and gives a lovely finish.

Decorate with colorful sugars or festive sprinkles.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are just set. These cookies shouldn’t brown much.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

After the cookies have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container. They stay fresh for days and are perfect for making ahead of time.

Recipe Tips

• Be sure your butter is completely softened for the best texture.
• Do not chill the dough. It should be soft so it presses easily.
• If the dough is not sticking to the pan, check that you are not using parchment or silicone. A clean, ungreased baking sheet works best.
• Try using different cookie press discs for fun holiday shapes, and let kids help with decorating.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in a covered container for 3-4 days.

Always use common sense and good judgment when it comes to leftovers, though! If something looks or smells funky, don’t eat it.

I hope y’all enjoy this homemade Christmas Spritz Cookie recipe! Let me know if you try it.

More Recipes Like This

• No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Pumpkin Roll
• White Chocolate Bread Pudding
• Homemade Cranberry Sauce

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5 from 2 votes

Print

Christmas Spritz Cookies

I have made these Christmas spritz cookies for many years, and they are a family favorite!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Christmas spritz cookies, Cookie press recipe, Spritz cookie recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 100 cookies

Calories 37 kcal

Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks, room temperature)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 eggs, with the yolks and whites separated
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• decorative sugars of your choice

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Using an electric mixer, mix the butter and sugar until creamy.

3. Add the egg yolks, vanilla extract, almond extract, salt, and mix a minute or so.

4. Add the flour gradually, and mix until well-incorporated. (Scrape the sides of the bowl, if needed).

5. Fill the cookie press with the dough, and form the cookies according to your particular cookie press instructions. I use a nonstick baking sheet without any parchment or silicone pads.

6. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg whites over the formed dough. 

7. Sprinkle the dough with decorative sugar and/or sprinkles of your choice.

8. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven at 350.

9. Remove the cookies from the oven, and allow to cool for about 5 minutes

10. Use a turner/ flipper to carefully remove the cookies from the baking sheet, and continue cooling completely on a wire rack before storing in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.

Nutrition Facts

Christmas Spritz Cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 37 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 11mg4%

Sodium 14mg1%

Potassium 6mg0%

Carbohydrates 4g1%

Sugar 1g1%

Vitamin A 65IU1%

Calcium 2mg0%

Iron 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This post originally appeared on A Pinch of Healthy December 7, 2016.