Description
Spritz cookies from Joy of Cooking bring classic German holiday cheer with buttery, delicate shortbread magic. Pressed through a cookie gun and decorated with festive sprinkles, these tender treats melt in your mouth and connect you to cherished family baking traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks (32 grams), at room temperature
Sweeteners and Flavoring:
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons (6 grams) pure vanilla extract (optional)
Finishing Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon (1 gram) kosher salt
- candied cherries, nuts, colored sprinkles, or colored sugars
Instructions
- Chill two baking sheets in the refrigerator while preheating the oven to 350°F (180°C), ensuring optimal cookie texture and spread.
- Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the delicate cookies.
- Carefully incorporate egg yolks and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until thoroughly combined and uniform in color.
- Gently fold in salt and all-purpose flour, stirring until the dough reaches a consistent texture without overmixing.
- Select your preferred shaping method: use a cookie press with a decorative plate attachment for precise, uniform cookies or transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a star or rose tip.
- Carefully press or pipe the cookie dough onto the chilled baking sheets, leaving adequate space between each cookie for potential spreading.
- Embellish the unbaked cookies with an array of decorative elements such as colorful sprinkles, finely chopped candied nuts, vibrant glacé cherries, or sparkling colored sugars.
- Position the prepared baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 9-13 minutes, watching for a delicate golden-brown rim that indicates perfect doneness.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes to firm up slightly.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack, letting them cool completely to achieve the ideal crisp texture and maximize flavor development.
Notes
- Room temperature ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a smoother, more uniform cookie dough.
- Cold baking sheets prevent cookie spread, maintaining crisp edges and precise shapes.
- Creative plate attachments transform ordinary cookies into stunning culinary artworks.
- Precise baking times protect delicate textures, delivering perfectly golden-brown treats every time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 129
- Sugar: 0.68 g
- Sodium: 0.02 g
- Fat: 7.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.8 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg