If you’re looking for a festive cookie that tastes like buttery heaven and looks like holiday cheer, then you’ve got to try this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come out crisp, delicate, and perfectly buttery with just the right pop of green to get you in that Christmas spirit. Plus, they’re so fun to make—using a cookie press feels like a little kitchen party every time! Stick around, and I’ll share all my best tips so your cookies come out flawless and fabulous.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Classic Flavor: The buttery richness paired with vanilla creates that nostalgic Christmas cookie taste you crave.
- Pretty and Festive: The gentle green tint and option to decorate with sprinkles make them holiday-showstoppers.
- Fun to Make: Using a cookie press adds a delightful hands-on element that’s perfect for baking with kids or friends.
- Quick and Easy: From mixing to baking, you get gorgeous cookies in under half an hour, making it easy to whip up a batch any time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients here are straightforward but magical when combined: rich butter, simple sugar, and that warm scent of vanilla. I always recommend using good quality butter since it really shines in this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe.
- Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter is key—it whips up fluffy with sugar and helps the cookies hold their shape beautifully.
- Granulated sugar: Regular white sugar gives just the right sweetness and helps with that classic crispy edge.
- Large egg: Adds moisture and helps bind the dough so your spritz cookies come out perfect.
- Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla for that warm, inviting aroma—it’s the flavor heart of these cookies.
- Green food coloring: I prefer gel coloring because a little goes a long way for a soft, festive hue without turning them an unappetizing neon green.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of the dough, balances moisture and gives structure.
- Kosher salt: Just a pinch enhances all those buttery, sweet flavors.
- Sprinkles or colored sugar: Optional, but I find it adds a charming holiday sparkle every time.
Variations
I love that this Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe is a great base for fun tweaks. Don’t be shy about making it your own—sometimes a little personal twist really makes a batch memorable!
- Flavor twists: Adding a teaspoon of almond extract alongside vanilla gives a delicious nutty undertone my family adores during the holidays.
- Color combos: Instead of just green, try red or gold food coloring; alternating colors on your cookie press disks makes your plate pop with festive vibes.
- Diet-friendly: I’ve experimented with swapping a bit of flour for almond flour for a slightly nuttier flavor and a gluten-light option (though these cookies won’t be quite as sturdy).
- Decorating style: After baking, try drizzling melted white chocolate or sanding sugar for an extra sparkle that feels extra special.
How to Make Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Preheat
Start by heating your oven to 375°F. This temperature is perfect for getting your cookies crispy on the edges but tender in the center. While it warms, gather your ingredients and make sure your butter is soft—not melted, just room temp—to get that smooth creamy mix.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes. This step is my favorite because the kitchen starts smelling like sweet butter, and you can see the texture change right before your eyes.
Step 3: Add Egg, Vanilla, and Color
Next, add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl and beat until everything’s fully combined. Then it’s time for the fun: add your green food coloring one drop at a time, mixing between drops, until you get the perfect shade. I usually stop around 4 drops of gel color for a subtle, classy green. Too much can look unnatural and a bit “Grinchy,” which I learned the hard way!
Step 4: Incorporate Flour and Salt
Finally, stir in the flour and kosher salt using a wooden spoon. The dough will start to come together and feel soft but firm enough to hold its shape. If you mix too vigorously here, your cookies could end up tough, so gentle folding is the key.
Step 5: Press and Shape Your Cookies
Fit your cookie press with your favorite disk design—wreaths and Christmas trees are my top picks. Without greasing or lining a cookie sheet (trust me on this!), press the dough onto the pan about 1 inch apart. The stickiness actually helps the shapes release perfectly from the press. If you want, sprinkle colored sugar or festive sprinkles on top for that extra wow factor.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes until the bottoms gently brown—keep a close eye here, because timing affects crispness. Once baked, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before storing. I learned that skipping this cooling step is a mistake because warm cookies can break or stick if stored too soon.
Pro Tips for Making Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Perfect Butter Temperature: Soft, not melted butter creams best with sugar and prevents greasy cookies.
- Control Your Coloring: Add food coloring slowly to avoid oversaturating; I once made them so green, they looked scary!
- Cookie Press Care: Keep the press clean between shapes to ensure crisp outlines every time.
- Watch the Bake Time: Slight browning at the edges is your sign to pull them—overbaking dries out the delicate texture.
How to Serve Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually go simple and classic: a sprinkle of colored sugar or a few red and white nonpareils add just enough sparkle without overpowering the buttery base. Sometimes I dip half the cookie in melted white chocolate and then add crushed candy canes—it’s a game changer!
Side Dishes
These cookies pair perfectly with a warm cup of spiced tea, hot cocoa, or even eggnog for a truly festive treat. I’ve also served them alongside a berry fruit salad for holiday brunch, and the freshness is a great contrast to the rich cookies.
Creative Ways to Present
For Christmas parties, I arrange the cookies on a tiered stand surrounded by fresh pine branches and tiny ornaments. Wrapping a few in clear cellophane tied with red ribbon makes an adorable homemade gift that everyone raves about.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I always store my cooled Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep their crispness for up to a week, but honestly, they rarely last that long in my house! Layer the cookies with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Freezing
If you want to freeze them, press and shape the dough, then freeze the unbaked shapes on a baking sheet until solid before transferring to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to baking time. This trick saves me on busy holiday days.
Reheating
To refresh slightly stale cookies, pop them in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes. This quick warm-up restores crisp edges and soft centers like they’re fresh from the oven. Just don’t leave them too long or they’ll overcook.
FAQs
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Can I substitute salted butter in the Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe?
Yes, but if you use salted butter, be sure to reduce or omit the kosher salt in the recipe to avoid overly salty cookies. I recommend unsalted for the best flavor control.
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What if I don’t have a cookie press?
No worries! You can roll the dough into balls and flatten them slightly with a fork or your palm for traditional butter cookies that still taste fantastic. The cookie press just adds that lovely decorative touch.
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How do I avoid the cookies spreading too much?
Make sure your butter is room temperature, not melted, and don’t overwork the dough after adding flour. Also, keep the dough cool while pressing out shapes if your kitchen is warm.
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Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare and freeze the dough shapes as mentioned earlier, or bake all the cookies a day ahead and store them in an airtight container—they actually taste better after sitting for a day.
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What’s the best way to decorate these cookies?
For me, sprinkling colored sugar or nonpareils just after pressing and before baking works best because it sticks without falling off. For extra flair, add a drizzle of melted chocolate after cooling.
Final Thoughts
This Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe holds a very special place in my holiday baking traditions. It’s the one treat that always brings smiles, hands-on fun, and that nostalgic buttery flavor I look forward to every year. If you make one Christmas cookie this season, let it be this one—you’ll enjoy every bite and feel like a pro cookie maker by the time you’re done. Happy baking, my friend!
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: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Spritz Butter Christmas Cookies are a festive and delicious holiday treat featuring buttery, tender cookie dough pressed into charming holiday shapes. Flavored with vanilla and a touch of green food coloring for a cheerful look, they’re perfect for decorating with sprinkles or colored sugar. Crisp at the edges and soft in the center, these classic cookies are easy to make and sure to delight family and friends during the holiday season.
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 for pale green color
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Decorations
- Sprinkles or colored sugar, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare it for baking the cookies.
- Mix Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is fluffy and light in color.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, continuing to beat until everything is well combined into a smooth batter.
- Add Food Coloring: Introduce green food coloring drop by drop, mixing with the electric mixer until you reach the desired pale green hue. Gel food coloring is preferred and usually requires about 4 drops for the perfect color without becoming too dark.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour and kosher salt to the wet ingredients and stir gently with a wooden spoon until just combined into a smooth cookie dough.
- Form Shapes: Pack the dough into a cookie press fitted with a holiday-themed disk (such as wreath or tree shapes). Press the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. The stickiness helps shapes release cleanly, so do not grease or line the sheet. Decorate each cookie with sprinkles or colored sugar as desired.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the shaped cookies in the preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes, until the bottom edges just begin to turn slightly golden, indicating doneness.
- Cool and Store: Transfer the baked cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring to achieve a vibrant green without adding too much liquid to the dough.
- Don’t grease or line the cookie sheet, as the dough needs to stick slightly to release clean shapes from the cookie press.
- For best texture, ensure butter is softened but not melted before mixing.
- Cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature and consumed within one week for optimal freshness.
- You can customize shapes by changing cookie press disks to fit your holiday theme.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (~15g)
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
