If you’re anything like me, you’ll adore this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe that turns simple ingredients into festive, buttery delights. These charming cookies not only taste divine but also bring a little nostalgia—reminding me of baking holidays past with my family. Stick with me, and I’ll share all the tips and tricks that make these spritz cookies an absolute must for your cookie tray this year!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Buttery, Tender Texture: This recipe gives you irresistibly soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies every single time.
- Perfect Holiday Colors: Adding green food coloring makes them festive but not overpowering, which my whole family loves.
- Easy to Customize: You can mix up sprinkles or shapes to suit your holiday vibe, keeping it fun and fresh each year.
- Simple Steps for Big Results: Even if you’re not a baker, this spritz butter Christmas cookies recipe is straightforward and forgiving.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe really starts with classic, quality ingredients. Nothing fancy, but each plays an important role to give you that perfect buttery sweetness and festive green hue.
- Unsalted Butter: Using room temperature butter helps it cream nicely with sugar for that light, fluffy base.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and contributes to the cookie’s tender texture without making it gritty.
- Large Egg: Adds richness and helps bind the dough.
- Vanilla Extract: A must for warmth and that classic cookie flavor—don’t skip it!
- Green Food Coloring: Gel or liquid works; I prefer gel for a soft, controlled color.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of your dough, it gives structure while keeping cookies tender.
- Kosher Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance flavor.
- Sprinkles or Colored Sugar (optional): For extra sparkle and personalized festive flair.
Variations
What I love most about this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak and personalize. Over the years, I’ve played with everything from colors to flavors, and it’s always a hit. Feel free to mix it up to suit your holiday mood!
- Flavor Boost: Once, I added a little almond extract along with vanilla, and it gave the cookies a delightful, unexpected depth that my guests raved about.
- Color Variations: Try different food coloring to make rainbow spritz cookies for other occasions. They’re just as festive beyond Christmas!
- Dietary Modifications: I’ve experimented substituting half the flour for oat flour for a nuttier flavor; it’s denser but still tasty for gluten-sensitive friends.
- Decorating Fun: Beyond standard sprinkles, chopped nuts or tiny edible pearls add a classy touch for more elegant cookie trays.
How to Make Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Get Your Oven and Ingredients Ready
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F—it’s important to have the right heat so your cookies bake evenly. While the oven warms, pull your butter out to soften if you haven’t already; soft butter creams better with sugar, creating that tender crumb you want.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy
Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl. This step is key because it incorporates air, making your cookies light and fluffy instead of dense. You’ll want to mix until the blend looks pale and almost creamy—patience here really pays off.
Step 3: Add Egg, Vanilla, and Coloring
Next, crack in a large egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Mix until everything’s combined smoothly. Then, slowly add your green food coloring — I always add drop by drop and mix in between, so you have control over the color. Gel food coloring is stronger, so it takes fewer drops. I aim for a soft green shade that looks festive but avoids that “Grinch” vibe.
Step 4: Fold in Flour and Salt
Once your wet ingredients are mixed, add in the flour and kosher salt. I like to stir gently with a wooden spoon here because over-mixing can toughen the dough. Stop once the flour disappears into the mixture but the dough is still soft enough to press — it should hold together well.
Step 5: Press and Decorate Your Cookies
Now comes the fun part! Fit your cookie press with your favorite disk shape — I adore wreath or tree shapes for the holidays. Pack the dough into the press, then press out shapes directly onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Don’t use parchment or grease; having it stick slightly helps the shapes release cleanly from the press. Sprinkles or colored sugar go on top now, giving extra sparkle and texture.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake your cookies for 7 to 9 minutes until the edges just start to turn golden. Keep an eye on them—overbaking dries them out. When done, transfer cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely before storing or serving. Cooling is essential because the shapes firm up nicely and the flavors set.
Pro Tips for Making Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Soft Butter is Non-Negotiable: Too cold and the butter won’t cream properly, ruining the texture. Take it out an hour before baking if needed.
- Choose Your Color Wisely: I learned that less is more! Too much green food coloring looks fake, so start small and adjust.
- Don’t Skip the Cookie Press Prep: Pack the dough firmly but don’t force it. Sticky dough helps shapes release easily without tearing.
- Watch the Bake Time Closely: These cookies bake fast. Pull them out just as edges turn golden to keep them tender, not crunchy.
How to Serve Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually top my spritz cookies with glittery colored sugar and tiny nonpareils—they melt beautifully into the surface during baking and add just the right festive pop. For a fun twist, I’ve also tried crushed peppermint candies once, which was a hit with the adults!
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with classic holiday drinks — think rich hot chocolate, creamy eggnog, or a spiced latte. When I serve these cookies at gatherings, I always have a tray of warm drinks alongside; guests keep coming back for both.
Creative Ways to Present
One year, I arranged these spritz cookies in circular wreath patterns on a festive plate and added fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries for a rustic, natural look. Another time, I tied small stacks individually with red and green ribbon as charming cookie gifts — everyone loved the personalized touch!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover spritz cookies keep best in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I like using a tin or a tightly sealed glass jar, which preserves their delicate crisp edges and buttery center perfectly.
Freezing
Here’s a trick I learned: you can press out the shapes onto cookie sheets and freeze them before baking. Once frozen solid, pop them into a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, just add a minute or two to the baking time—perfect for busy holiday prep.
Reheating
If your cookies soften over time, warm them gently in a 300°F oven for 3-4 minutes to revive that fresh-baked texture. It’s a magical quick fix that brings back that just-out-of-the-oven feeling.
FAQs
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Can I use salted butter in this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe?
You can, but I recommend using unsalted butter so you can control the saltiness yourself. The recipe already calls for kosher salt, making flavors balanced. If using salted butter, you might want to reduce the added salt slightly.
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What if I don’t have a cookie press? Can I still make this recipe?
Absolutely! You can roll the dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters or simply drop spoonfuls for a more rustic look. The flavor is just as delicious even if the presentation differs.
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How do I avoid cookies spreading too much while baking?
Make sure your butter is soft, not melted, and don’t over-mix the dough after adding flour. Also, keep the dough chilled before pressing and baking if your kitchen is warm.
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Can I make these cookies dairy-free or vegan?
With some ingredient swaps like vegan butter and an egg substitute (flax egg works well), you can adapt the recipe. Texture and flavor might vary but still enjoyable. Testing your substitutions in small batches is a good idea.
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How do I keep the cookie shapes sharp and detailed?
Press the dough firmly but don’t overfill the cookie press. Also, bake on an ungreased pan—not parchment—so the dough sticks slightly and releases cleanly. Cooling completely before storing helps shapes stay defined.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe brings people into the kitchen, sparking smiles and holiday cheer. It’s that perfect blend of simple ingredients, festive joy, and a touch of nostalgia that makes baking feel like a warm hug. Whether you’re making memories with family or whipping up a batch for friends, these cookies deliver consistently delicious results that’ll keep everyone coming back for more. Give them a try—you’ll be so glad you did!
Print
Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-9 minutes
- Total Time: 22-24 minutes
- Yield: About 4 dozen cookies
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies are a festive and classic holiday treat made with creamy butter, a touch of vanilla, and vibrant green food coloring. Pressed into charming shapes with a cookie press and decorated with sprinkles or colored sugar, these cookies are perfectly crisp around the edges and soft inside, ideal for sharing at any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Green food coloring (liquid or gel), about 4 drops gel
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Decoration
- Sprinkles or colored sugar, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for perfectly baked cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until the mixture becomes fluffy and light in texture, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl, then continue beating with the mixer until all ingredients are fully combined and smooth.
- Incorporate Food Coloring: Add green food coloring drop by drop into the batter while mixing. Gel food coloring requires fewer drops; typically 4 drops of gel create a pale green hue. Adjust amount to your preferred color intensity.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Stir in the all-purpose flour and kosher salt using a wooden spoon until just combined, forming a soft dough.
- Shape Cookies: Pack the dough into a cookie press fitted with your desired disk design, such as wreaths or trees. Press dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing each cookie about 1 inch apart. Do not grease or use parchment paper, as the dough’s stickiness helps release shapes cleanly.
- Decorate: Optionally, decorate the pressed cookies with sprinkles or colored sugar for a festive touch before baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown.
- Cool and Store: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely. Once cool, store in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Gel food coloring is preferred for a more vibrant color with fewer drops.
- Do not grease the cookie sheet or use parchment paper to help the cookie press release shapes better.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before storing to avoid sogginess.
- Cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days if not used immediately.
- Use kosher salt for best flavor balance; adjust salt type if necessary.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (about 20g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
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