Two Frys: Spritz Cookies

Spritz (Spritzgebäck) Cookies

I try to make Spritz (Spritzgebäck) Cookies every Christmas and they are one of the most popular holiday cookies this time of year. These cookies are also one of my favorite cookies to bake and eat. They also make great gifts for your loved ones. These buttery delights originate from the German word "spritzen" which means to squirt or spray. The cookies are made using a cookie press or pastry bag fitted with desired tip. The texture of the cookies are a little crisp when you bite into them and tender inside. I used my Wilton Cookie Press as this allows you to create cookies in different shapes. The cookie shapes hold well, and it is important not to chill the dough. Cookies should be placed on ungreased baking sheets. The butter ensures the cookies do not stick to the baking sheets. I use various sprinkles and tinted the dough blue, red, and green with gel food color. I prefer vanilla sugar instead of granulated sugar for a more bold vanilla flavor.

Yield: 6-7 Dozen Cookies

Spritz Cookies

Spritz Cookies

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Coarse Salt

1 cup Vanilla Sugar (or Granulated Sugar)

1 Large Egg

2 tablespoons Milk

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) Unsalted Butter, softened

Colored Sugars and Sprinkles of your choice

Close-up

The tinted dough makes them so much prettier

Spritz Cookies

Directions

Heat oven to 375𐩑F.

In a bowl of your mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter, vanilla sugar, and salt on medium high speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Scrape down bowl with spatula and mix again for 10 seconds.

With mixer on medium speed, add egg, milk, and extracts and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds.

Turn off mixer. Add the flour mixture, and cover mixer with kitchen towel, and turn mixer on low speed and incorporate.

The dough is ready when it begins to clump around paddle attachment.

If you are tinting the dough, separate it into bowls according to how many colors you need, and use a few drops of gel color and with a spatula combine.