Name: Christmas Tree Spritz Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 egg (room temperature); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp almond extract; 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour; 1/2 tsp salt

I received a cookie press as a wedding gift but up until a few years ago had no idea how to use it. I’d only ever used it to make cheese straws. Then one day I came across spritz cookies, they were so cute and delicious I needed to know how to make them. As I researched recipes I realized I already had the tools needed so after trying a few different recipes this is currently my favorite way to make spritz cookie.

They can be a little tricky at first they key is to have make sure your dough and cookie sheet aren’t too warm. You don’t necessarily need to chill the dough but if it gets too warm it won’t release from the cookie press properly. So I find that putting it in the fridge for a few minutes helps.

This is the cookies press I use, it comes with so many great cookie shapes but I prefer the Christmas tree for the holidays.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
Optional: sprinkles or decorative sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix butter and sugar together in a mixer until smooth
Add egg, vanilla extract and almond extract and beat at a high speed for about 1 minute
On low speed gradually mix in the flour and salt
Fill cookie press with dough (follow user manual instructions)
Add sprinkles or decorative sugar
Press out cookies on a lined baking sheet (chill dough if the dough doesn’t separate from the press easily)
Bake 7-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned
Let cookies cool for a few minutes before moving to a cooling rack