How to makeHomemade Spritz Cookiesmade with butter, sugar, flour, and my super secret ingredient to give it that extra buttery flavor!

Spritz cookies arranged in a shallow tissue lined itn

Spritz Cookies have a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to share this recipe with you today.My mom has been making spritz cookies every year for Christmas since as long as I can remember. She’d let us kids take turns adding sprinkles to the unbaked cookies and she’d often put half of a red or green maraschino cherry in the center of the wreath cookies (I loved this!).

My recipe is just a little different from my mom’s original in that I add a teaspoon of butter extract to the dough. You can find butter extract next to all of the others (mint, lemon, almond…) and it’s a delicious subtle addition to this very simple cookie that makes them extra special. You are going to love these!

They are right at home next toGrandma Lucy’s Sugar CookiesandGingerbread cookieson your Christmas cookie plates!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

They are fun to press out and decorate.
They’re rich in buttery flavor
They’re a great for holiday tradition.

Ingredients

Unsalted Butter
Granulated Sugar
Large Egg
Vanilla Extract
Butter Extract
Almond Extract
All-Purpose Flour
Salt
Sprinkles for Decorating, optional

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Spritz Cookies

Step #1.Preheat the oven. Place baking sheets in the refrigerator to chill.

Step #3.Add the dough to your cookies press according to manufacturer instructions. Press cookies onto a chilled baking sheet. Add sprinkles or sparkling sugar as desired.

Step #2.Cream the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat in egg. Add extracts and stir until incorporated. Stir in the flour and salt.

Step #4.Bake until lightly browned around the bottom. Cool five minutes on pan, then move to cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough.

Recipe FAQs

Why are they called spritz cookies?

Fun fact: spritz cookies come from the German word “spritzen” which means to squirt. Totally appropriate since they are pushed out of a cookie press or pastry bag. Spritz cookies are considered a Christmas cookie in Germany and the tradition carries on here in the States.

Where do you find butter extract?

Look for the butter extract near all the other extracts and food coloring.

What cookie press do I use?

I recommend the OXO cookie press. After trying a few, this is by far the easiest to use (and it cleans up easily, too). They normally have them at Bed Bath and Beyond so find yourself a 20% off coupon and treat yo’self.

a bunch of spritz cookies in a tissue lined tin

Expert Tips

You can swap out the almond extract for mint if you like.You can also add a few drops of food coloring to the dough (stirring well to combine) to make colored cookies.
If the cookie dough is getting too soft towards the end(the cookies will get really flat and look squished), press the dough on to the cookie sheets and let the pressed cookies chill for 10 minutes before baking.
No cookie press?Divide the dough into 3 parts, then working with 1 part at a time, place the dough in a large piping bag with a large cupcake star tip (Wilton 1M) attached. Pipe out stars and wreaths by hand.

Top view of a parchment-lined baking sheet with four shapes of spritz cookies with red and green sprinkles

How to Freeze Spritz Cookies

You can make, bake, and freeze the baked and cooled cookies for up to 3 months. Just keep them in an air-tight container. You can also freeze the dough before baking for up to a month. Just let it thaw in the fridge overnight and then come to room temperature before using. Prepared dough can also be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days before using (again, bring it to room temperature before using and store in an air-tight container). Such a versatile cookie to have around.