Spritz Cookies

Spritz cookies are similar to sugar cookies. They're made with a cookie press. The one I have is passed down from my grandmother.

I am so happy to keep the family traditions going! J is always willing to help in the kitchen, especially if he gets paid in cookies! These are simple, with few ingredients, and quick to make. The perfect project to do with the little ones.

I have been using the same recipe since I started making these when I was about eight years old. It is adapted from The Joy of Cooking cookbook.

1 C butter, room temperature

1/2 C sugar

1 large egg

2 vanilla bean pods, scraped, or 2 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 C flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until incorporated. Slowly add flour and mix until dough holds together. Scrape the dough into your cookie press that has been fitted with a decorative plate. Hold the cookie press perpendicular to the ungreased baking sheet, with the tip almost touching the sheet. If you find the dough seems too soft, try refrigerating it for twenty minutes before pressing more cookies. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, until light golden brown. 

It doesn't seem like much dough, but it makes about 4 dozen cookies.

J liked the heart most of all.

Pressing the dough was easy enough that J could help. He kept trying to turn his head upside down to see the dough coming out.

Yum!