Name: Spritz Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 39 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (16 Tbsp; 226g); 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150g); 1 large egg, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon almond extract; 2 and 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (291g), spooned and leveled; 1/2 teaspoon salt; Gel food coloring; Sprinkles; Chocolate chips; Melted chocolate for drizzling

There’s something truly magical about biting into spritz cookies—those delicate, buttery shapes that melt in your mouth. This Spritz Cookies Recipe is my all-time favorite because it’s simple, foolproof, and endlessly customizable. You’re going to love how easily these festive treats come together and how wonderfully they fill your home with vanilla and almond aroma.

The image shows many small shaped cookies placed closely together on a white marbled surface. There are four types of cookies: light beige flower-shaped cookies with blue sugar crystals on top; light beige flower-shaped cookies with red, green, and white round sprinkles; round green wreath-shaped cookies with red, green, and white sprinkles; and beige flower-shaped cookies with dark chocolate stripes and a small chocolate ball in the center. The cookies have a slightly rough but soft texture, and the colors are soft pastels with bright sprinkles adding contrast. The scene is bright and clear, showing the details well. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Spritz Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Spritz Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Spritz Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve been making this spritz cookies recipe for years, especially around the holidays, and it always brings smiles. It’s not just about the taste—though these cookies are buttery, crisp, and subtly sweet—but also the joy of shaping them with a cookie press, which feels almost therapeutic. Plus, it’s a recipe that invites you to get creative!

Perfect Texture: The cookies are tender yet hold their shape beautifully after baking.
Simple Ingredients: You don’t need anything fancy—just basic pantry staples with a touch of almond extract for a special note.
Endless Customization: Add colors, sprinkles, or even drizzle chocolate to match any occasion.
Great for Gifting: These cookies look beautiful and stay fresh for days, making them perfect presents.

A white round plate filled with four types of small cookies arranged in rows by type, placed on a white marbled surface. The first type of cookie is pale golden beige, shaped like a Christmas tree and decorated with red and green sprinkles on top, with some placed outside the plate. The second type is light green flower-shaped cookies with red round sprinkles. The third type is beige flower-shaped cookies with blue sugar crystals at the center. The fourth type is beige flower-shaped cookies with a drizzle of dark chocolate and a small chocolate chip in the center. Two small white bowls with colorful round sprinkles, one with red, green, and white sprinkles and the other with blue sugar crystals, sit near the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this spritz cookies recipe plays an important role for texture and flavor. Choosing the right butter and incorporating both vanilla and almond extracts takes these cookies from simple to extraordinary. Let me walk you through why these ingredients matter and a few tips for shopping them.

Flat lay of a small square of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, one large brown egg with a clean shell, a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl containing almond extract, a simple mound of all-purpose flour, and a pinch of salt arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature to ensure easy creaming, it’s the backbone of the cookie’s rich, tender texture.
Granulated Sugar: Adds the perfect sweetness and helps the cookies crisp up just right.
Egg: Helps bind the dough and adds moisture without making it cakey.
Vanilla Extract: Brings warm, familiar flavor that complements the almond beautifully.
Almond Extract: The secret star that brings a nutty, aromatic lift—don’t skip this unless you swap it for another flavor you love.
All-Purpose Flour: Gives structure while keeping the cookies tender, be sure to spoon and level for accuracy.
Salt: Balances out sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
Optional Decorations: Gel food coloring for tinting, sprinkles, chocolate chips, or melted chocolate for that festive touch.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this spritz cookies recipe is how easy it is to personalize. I often mix things up with colors or add a different extract to match the season or my mood. Don’t hesitate to play around—you'll get the hang of it quickly!

Variation: Last Christmas, I swapped out almond for peppermint extract and paired the cookies with green gel coloring—it was a holiday hit with my family.
Dietary Modification: You can experiment with gluten-free flour blends, but be warned the texture changes slightly.
Festive Twists: Try dusting with colored sanding sugar or pressing in mini chocolate chips before baking for a fun surprise.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Spritz Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Space and Preheat

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). I like to line my baking sheets with silicone mats because parchment won’t hold the dough well once pressed. If you can, pop these sheets in the fridge or freezer while your oven’s heating up—that chill helps the dough stick better when you press out your cookie shapes.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using a mixer, beat your softened butter and sugar on medium-high until it’s smooth and fluffy—about 3 minutes. This step is key for that perfect cinnamon roll-like tenderness. If you’re unsure about creaming butter correctly, just make sure it’s at room temp and beat long enough to combine fully without melting.

Step 3: Add Egg & Flavors

Next, add your egg, vanilla, and almond extracts, beating on high until everything’s well blended. Scraping down the bowl now helps you catch every bit of moisture in the mixture for even cookies.

Step 4: Mix in Dry Ingredients

Turn your mixer to low and add the flour and salt. Once the flour disappears in the dough, crank the speed to high and beat until totally combined—you want a dough that’s soft but not sticky.

Step 5: Press and Decorate

Load your cookie press with dough, then hold it perpendicular to your cold baking sheet. Press out your shapes about 2 inches apart. I love to give a quick brush of water before adding sprinkles—it really helps them stick without falling off later. If your dough warms and gets too soft, pop the tray in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Bake for 7-9 minutes, until you see just a hint of golden edges. Don’t overbake—these cookies should be light, delicate, and tender. Let them rest on the sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool fully. If you want, drizzle with melted chocolate for an extra-special finish.

Top Tip

After baking spritz cookies countless times, I’ve learned a few tricks that make all the difference between “meh” and magnificent cookies. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls.

Keep Dough Cool: Dough softens quickly; chilling your lined baking sheet and cookie shapes prevents spreading and helps maintain details.
Use Gel Food Coloring: It’s more concentrated so you only need a drop or two—avoiding dough consistency issues.
Brush with Water for Sprinkles: This simple extra step keeps those festive decorations glued in place while baking.
Don’t Skip Almond Extract: It’s that subtle flavor boost that really sets this spritz cookies recipe apart.

How to Serve Spritz Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep it classic with red or green sanding sugar for holidays, or simple pastel sprinkles for springtime. Sometimes I’ll press a mini chocolate chip in the center before baking—adds a little surprise in every bite. Drizzling with dark or white melted chocolate is my go-to for extra flair, especially when gifting.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of chai tea or rich hot chocolate. I sometimes serve them alongside a platter of fresh fruit or a selection of cheeses when hosting afternoon tea. The light crispness of the cookies balances perfectly with creamier sides.

Creative Ways to Present

For a festive party, I’ve arranged spritz cookies on tiered trays, mixing colored and plain cookies together to create a pretty rainbow effect. Tying a handful in cellophane bags with a ribbon makes darling homemade gifts. You can also use cookie cutters on the dough before pressing to layer shapes for an elegant look.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover spritz cookies in an airtight container at room temp, and they stay fresh for up to a week. I line the container with parchment to keep cookies from sticking together and separate layers with parchment sheets when stacking. It keeps the shapes crisp and flavors intact.

Freezing

I’ve frozen both the dough and baked cookies with great results. For dough, wrap it tightly and freeze up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge, then bring to room temp before pressing. Baked cookies freeze well too—just thaw on the counter before serving. Freezing is a lifesaver for holiday prepping.

Reheating

Usually, spritz cookies are best at room temperature, but if you want to warm them slightly, pop them in a low oven (around 275°F) for 3-5 minutes. This refreshes their buttery aroma without drying them out. Avoid microwaving, as it can make them rubbery.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if I don’t have a cookie press?

If you don’t have a cookie press, no worries! You can use a pastry bag fitted with an open star tip to pipe the dough into shapes. Alternatively, you can shape the dough by hand or use a small cookie cutter, remembering that this dough is slightly different from typical butter cookie dough because it's designed to hold its shape when pressed.

Can I skip the almond extract?

You certainly can, though almond extract really enhances the classic spritz flavor. If you skip it, I recommend increasing the vanilla extract by about ½ teaspoon or experimenting with peppermint, lemon, or cinnamon for a unique twist.

Why shouldn’t I use parchment paper for baking?

Parchment paper doesn’t provide the right surface for the cookie dough to stick to after pressing, which can cause the dough shapes to lose definition or slide around during baking. Silicone mats or nonstick baking sheets work best to keep the cookies perfectly shaped.

How long do spritz cookies stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, spritz cookies stay fresh and delicious for up to one week. Keeping them in a cool, dry place and separating layers with parchment helps maintain crispness and prevents sticking.

Final Thoughts

This spritz cookies recipe has been a warm holiday tradition in my kitchen for years. I love how it brings my family together to laugh, decorate, and savor something homemade. I’m confident you’ll enjoy making it as much as eating it, and you’ll find joy in the buttery, buttery goodness baked right into every cookie. Give it a go—you might just find your new favorite classic.