Buttery Spritz Cookie Recipe

My spritz cookie recipe is buttery perfection, made with simple baking ingredients like softened butter and vanilla extract. Food coloring and sprinkles add a touch of festivity to these classic holiday cookies. 

Spritz cookie recipe 

What’s your favorite Christmas cookie? 

I’ve heard arguments for gingerbread, sugar cookies, or even peppermint bark (not a real cookie, fyi!). But what about the delightful spritz cookie? 

Light, indulgent, and melt-in-your-mouth buttery, spritz cookies are an absolute delight in any holiday cookie basket. 

If you’ve never had one before, they’re a bit like sugar cookies crossed with shortbread. The batter is pushed through a special cookie press to give each cookie crisp edges and detailed shapes. This takes the pressure off rolling, flouring, cutting… just press and you’re done!

Today, I’m sharing my favorite spritz cookie recipe; it’s made with minimal ingredients you likely already have on hand. Decorated with red and green food coloring and some obligatory holiday sparkles, these buttery spritz cookies are a guaranteed hit!

Ingredients needed

Here’s a little bit about everything that goes into my spritz cookie recipe:

• Butter: These cookies contain a healthy serving of butter, at 1/2lb (or two sticks). This makes the cookies rich, buttery, and just plain delicious.
• Sugar: To sweeten my spritz cookies, I use 1 cup of sugar. 
• Egg: 1 egg helps to bind all of our ingredients together. 
• Vanilla: 2 tsp of vanilla gives these cookies a lovely warmth and subtle sweetness. 
• Flour: Of course, this recipe calls for 2 ½ cups of flour. 
• Baking soda: For leavening, this recipe uses ¼ tsp baking soda. 
• Salt: A classic flavor enhancer, I add ¼ tsp salt to this cookie dough. 
• Holiday extras: To keep these cookies festive, I decorate my buttery spritz cookies with red and green food coloring, along with holiday sparkles. 

Kitchen tools required

To make these spritz cookies with butter, you’ll need just a few kitchen essentials:

• 3 mixing bowls
• Hand mixer
• Spatula 
• Cookie press
• Baking sheet

You’ll also need some measuring cups, including 1 cup, ½ cup, 1 tsp, and ¼ tsp. 

How to make butter spritz cookies

First up, preheat your oven to 325°F. 

In a mixing bowl, cream ½ lb butter and 1 cup of sugar together. Next, beat in 1 egg and 2 tsp vanilla extract, using a hand mixer until creamy. 

In a separate mixing bowl, sift together 2 ½ cups flour, ¼ tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt. Add this dry mixture to your creamed butter mixture. 

Once combined, separate your cookie batter into three separate bowls. Add red food coloring to one, green food coloring to the second, and leave the last as is. 

Using a small cookie press, press your doughs into different holiday-shaped cookies; whichever you’d like! Then, decorate with festive sprinkles. 

Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the tray for 5 minutes; they’ll continue to bake and harden. Finally, transfer them to a wire cookie rack to cool completely.

Recipe tips

Below are some common spritz cookie recipe questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

How to serve my spritz cookie recipe

These spritz cookies make a delightful snack or dessert.

I suggest enjoying a couple with your favorite holiday drink. Try them with a cup of hot chocolate, eggnog, or tea. Alternatively, spice things up with a Peppermint Espresso Martini to pair!

Should I grease my pan before baking?

Nope! Your pan needs to be bare and ungreased so that the cookie dough sticks to the pan, helping it come free from the cookie press. 

Add your pressed cookie dough directly to an unlined pan for the best results. 

Why are they called “spritz” cookies? 

Spritz cookies got their name from the German word “spritzen.” This translates as “to spray” or “to squirt.”

Spritz cookie dough is soft and buttery, meaning it needs to be pressed or “squirted” through a cookie press. In Germany, this is called a spritzgebäck press.

These cookies are traditionally enjoyed around Christmas time in Germany, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands. Loved for their fun shapes and buttery flavor, they’ve been popular in many other countries, including the United States. 

How else can I decorate this spritz cookie recipe?

Decorate your spritz cookies using the shapes your cookie press provides, from Christmas trees to wreaths. They look best on a cookie tray with variety in both shape and color. 

Before baking, try pressing a candied cherry or chocolate wafer into the centre of your cookies for a sweet decoration. 

You could also top your cookies with finely-chopped nuts, like pecans, pistachios, or almonds. More fun topping ideas include powdered sugar or a chocolate drizzle. 

Where can I find a spritz cookie press?

Cookie presses are readily available online, at local craft stores, specialty cooking shops, and even big box stores. Here are a few options; choose whichever is most convenient for you!

• Amazon: Stainless Steel Cookie Press 
• Walmart: Wilton Simple Success Cookie Press
• Michaels: Hutzler Easy Action Cookie Press
• Crate and Barrel: Oxo Cookie Press

Note that you will get what you pay for! If you’re trying this recipe for fun, a budget-friendly option should be fine. But if you’re serious about your spritz cookie baking, spring for the good press!

Storing leftovers

Store leftover spritz cookies in an airtight container. They’ll keep well for up to two weeks on the counter – just make sure to store them in a cool, dry spot!

Can I freeze butter spritz cookies?

Feel like making these cookies ahead of the holiday rush? Bake a batch now and freeze it for up to 2 months. Store in airtight containers, using parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. 

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Inspired by my spritz cookie recipe? Check out some of my other holiday cookie ideas:

• Jelly Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
• Biscoff Cookie Recipe
• Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies
• Hot Cocoa Cookies
• Gingersnap Cookies