Ah, spritz cookies — a classic treat that never fails to bring on the holiday spirit, right? If you’ve been hunting for a Spritz Cookies Recipe that’s buttery, crisp-edged, and melts right in your mouth, you’re in for a real treat. I’ve perfected this recipe over countless holiday seasons, and trust me, once you make these, you’ll want to bake them all year long (I know I do!). Stick with me, and I’ll share everything from my go-to ingredients to little tips that save the day when your dough gets soft. Ready? Let’s dive in!

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Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Buttercream Base: Creaming butter and sugar until silky smooth gives these cookies a tender, buttery texture you’ll adore.
Almond and Vanilla Harmony: A mix of almond and vanilla extracts adds that unmistakable, aromatic flavor that screams “classic spritz.”
Cold Baking Surface Trick: Chilling your baking sheets prevents spreading and ensures perfect cookie shape right from the press.
Flexible Dough Handling: The dough presses out beautifully and can be chilled mid-process if it warms up, so you stay in control.

Spritz Cookies, buttery spritz cookies, holiday cookies, crisp-edged cookies, homemade spritz cookies - The image shows many small cookies in different shapes and colors spread over a white marbled surface. There are five main cookie shapes: light beige flower shapes with blue or red sugar sprinkles, green round wreath shapes with red, green, and white sprinkles, light beige flower shapes with a dark brown chocolate round center and dark brown chocolate drizzle lines, light beige rectangular shapes with blue sugar sprinkles, and light beige Christmas tree shapes decorated with red and green sprinkles. Each cookie has a soft, piped texture with visible ridges and details. The mix of green, beige, red, blue, and dark brown colors creates a festive and colorful look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Spritz Cookies Recipe plays a crucial role. From the creaminess of butter to the delicate hint of almond extract, each component balances the others perfectly, creating that melt-in-your-mouth experience everyone remembers. Here’s a quick rundown with some tips on what to look for.

Spritz Cookies, buttery spritz cookies, holiday cookies, crisp-edged cookies, homemade spritz cookies - Flat lay of a smooth pale yellow slab of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine white granulated sugar, a single large brown egg with an uncracked shell, a small white ceramic bowl holding clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl containing pale amber almond extract, a neat pile of white all-purpose flour, a small mound of fine white salt crystals in a white ceramic bowl, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level better; make sure it’s softened to room temp for easy creaming.
Granulated sugar: Gives that tender sweetness and helps create a light, airy crumb when creamed with butter.
Egg: Adds richness and helps bind the dough; room temperature eggs blend in much easier.
Pure vanilla extract: Essential for depth of flavor; choose a good quality one, please—it really makes a difference.
Almond extract: This is the spritz signature flavor; even a teaspoon will make it unmistakably special. I never skip this!
All-purpose flour: Together with the creamed butter, it creates the sturdiness needed to hold the cookie shapes.
Salt: Balances the sweetness perfectly, enhancing all flavors.
Optional decorations (gel food coloring, sprinkles, chocolate chips, melted chocolate): Fun add-ons that personalize your cookies and brighten up holiday platters.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love making spritz cookies exactly as written, but you might want to add your twist. Maybe it’s a pop of color or swapping out the almond extract for a seasonal flavor — whatever makes baking fun and truly yours.

Flavor variations: I once swapped almond extract for peppermint extract, and wow — it transformed these into festive minty delights perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges.
Color your batch: Adding gel food coloring is an easy and fun way to brighten up your cookies. Just one tiny drop goes a long way!
Decorations: Sprinkles, sanding sugar, or a drizzle of melted chocolate can give your cookies that extra wow factor and are great for gifting.
No cookie press? Try pipe-bagging the dough with an open-star tip for softer, swirly shapes that still taste amazing.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Spritz Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep your workspace and chill your baking sheets

First things first — preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Then line 2 or 3 large baking sheets with silicone mats; I skip parchment here because the dough just won’t stick properly. A little tip: If your fridge or freezer has the space, pop your lined baking sheets in there for a bit while the oven heats up. This might sound odd, but pressing cookie dough onto a cold surface makes shaping so much easier and keeps the cookies from spreading too much as they bake.

Step 2: Cream the butter and sugar until luscious

Grab a large bowl and your mixer (handheld or stand). Beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high for about 3 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and slightly fluffy. This step really builds the foundation for a tender cookie. Pro tip: Don’t skip scraping the bowl sides — every bit of butter should be whipped in evenly!

Step 3: Add the egg and extracts for flavor

Next, add your room-temp egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the bowl. Beat on high speed for about a minute until everything’s well incorporated. The aroma of vanilla and almond at this stage always makes me smile — it’s like a little sneak peek of the deliciousness to come!

Step 4: Mix in flour and salt to form dough

Turn your mixer to low and gradually add the flour and salt. Once combined, crank the speed to high for just a few seconds to ensure a fully blended dough. It should be smooth, easy to press, and not sticky.

Step 5: Press and decorate your cookies

Load your cookie press with dough, attach your favorite decorative plate, and hold the press straight up against those chilled baking sheets to press out shapes about 2 inches apart. For a little sparkle, brush each cookie lightly with water before sprinkling colored sugar or pressing in a chocolate chip. If the dough feels too soft while working, just chill your shaped cookies in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking — this trick saved my sanity more than once!

Step 6: Bake to golden perfection

Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes — keep a close eye as they finish. You want just a hint of golden on the edges, not deep brown. After baking, let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. At this point, if you’re feeling fancy, drizzle melted chocolate for an extra indulgence.

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Pro Tips for Making Spritz Cookies Recipe

Chill Your Baking Sheets: It sounds quirky, but cold baking sheets help the dough hold its shape and prevent spreading.
Don’t Overmix Flour: Just combine until incorporated; overmixing creates dense cookies with less tender crumb.
Brush Before Sprinkles: A light water brush on your pressed dough is a game changer for sprinkle adherence.
Handle Dough with Care: If the dough softens as you work, just chill it—warm dough won’t press as nicely and can cause misshaped cookies.

How to Serve Spritz Cookies Recipe

Spritz Cookies, buttery spritz cookies, holiday cookies, crisp-edged cookies, homemade spritz cookies - A white plate is filled with four rows of festive cookies arranged neatly. The first row on the left has light brown flower-shaped cookies decorated with chocolate stripes and a dark chocolate center. The next row has slightly darker light brown flower cookies sprinkled with red and green sugar, appearing rough textured. The third row consists of bright green flower cookies with red sugar sprinkles. The fourth row has light brown flower cookies with chocolate stripes and a chocolate center on top. Around the plate, there are more scattered light brown cookies sprinkled with red and green sugar. Two small white bowls with Christmas-themed sprinkles, one filled with red, green, and white tiny balls and the other with blue sugar, sit on the white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I often stick to simple garnishes like red and green sanding sugars—perfect for the holidays—but you can get creative! Mini chocolate chips pressed into the centers, a delicate drizzle of melted white or dark chocolate, or even a hint of edible glitter can elevate these little beauties for any occasion.

Side Dishes

Spritz cookies are fantastic by themselves, but I love pairing them with a warm cup of chai tea or rich hot chocolate. For holiday gatherings, they also complement a cheese and fruit platter beautifully—sweet alongside savory always wins with me!

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving, I like to stack spritz cookies in clear cello bags tied with festive ribbons, or arrange them on pretty platters with sprigs of fresh rosemary and cranberries for a seasonal touch. They also look stunning sandwiched with a bit of vanilla or chocolate frosting for a fancy twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature, preferably in a single layer separated by parchment paper to avoid sticking. They’ll stay fresh for up to a week, but honestly, they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

I freeze unbaked dough portions wrapped tightly for up to 3 months — just thaw overnight and bring to room temp before pressing out your cookies. Baked cookies freeze well too; just let them come back to room temperature before enjoying.

Reheating

While these cookies are best enjoyed fresh, if you want to warm them up slightly, pop a few in the oven at 300°F for about 3-4 minutes—it just revives that fresh-from-the-oven feel without drying them out.

FAQs

Can I make spritz cookies without a cookie press?

Absolutely! If you don’t have a cookie press, you can pipe the dough using a pastry bag fitted with an open-star tip. The dough is soft enough for easy piping with a bit of patience.
What if my dough is too soft to handle?

You’re not alone! When the dough warms up, it can get sticky and hard to work with. Just pop your shaped cookies or dough back in the fridge for about 10 minutes to firm up before continuing.
Can I substitute almond extract for another flavor?

Definitely! While almond is classic, vanilla, peppermint, lemon, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon can be great variations to suit your taste.
How long do spritz cookies keep?

Keeps best for up to one week at room temperature in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze baked cookies; they hold their flavor and texture beautifully when thawed.

Final Thoughts

Spritz cookies have been a holiday tradition in my family for years, and this recipe really feels like coming home. They’re easy enough to whip up on a whim and impressive enough for any cookie tray. I hope this Spritz Cookies Recipe brings you as much joy as it does me—happy baking, and may your kitchen be filled with buttery, sweet memories!