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    Home » Recipes » Cookie Recipes

    Almond Spritz Cookies

    Published: Nov 30, 2022 · Modified: Dec 20, 2022 by Megan Weimer · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Decorated Christmas cookies in a bowl.
    Spritz cookies decorated for Christmas on a white platter.

    These almond spritz cookies are made with a cookie press and are buttery, tender, adorable cookies to make for Christmas and the Holiday season. You can decorate them with festive sprinkles or icing and color the dough with food coloring! These will become a favorite of your family, guests, and even Santa himself.

    Bite sized Christmas cookies with sprinkles in a white bowl.

    Christmas cookie season is here once again and I'm ready to bake! These classic almond spritz cookies are perfect to make for cookie exchanges or holiday parties. They're buttery, soft, and made into fun, festive shapes with a cookie press.

    These bite-sized German cookies can be decorated with green and red sprinkles, icing, and food coloring. They are shareable and make a great gift!

    This recipe is made possible by Heinen's. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Dollop of Dough possible!

    For more Christmas cookie recipes, make molasses crinkle cookies, brown butter pecan chocolate chip cookies, olive oil sugar cookies, salted brownie crinkle cookies, chocolate marble cookies, and eggless double chocolate chip cookies.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love These
    • Watch How to Make This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Helpful Equipment and Tools
    • How to Make Almond Spritz Cookies
    • Expert Tips
    • How to Store
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Christmas Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love These

    • Bite-sized cookies- The cookies are buttery, soft, and the perfect size to pop in your mouth! The dough is similar to my apricot thumbprint cookies.
    • Shaped cookies- Spritz cookies are called Spritzgebäck in Germany. The name comes from the German word "spritzen", which means "squirt". According to the original recipe, the cookies are made with a cookie press to create their shape.
    • No chill- The cookie dough is ready to go at room temperature!
    Decorated spritz cookies on a white platter.

    Watch How to Make This Recipe

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make almond spritz cookies in bowls.

    Here are some notes about the ingredients used. For quantities, see the recipe card below.

    • Unsalted butter- Use high quality butter that is at room temperature and softened slightly. Make sure it is pliable but not melting.
    • Granulated sugar
    • Egg- Make sure it's room temperature.
    • Vanilla extract
    • Almond extract- This is what gives the cookies their delicious flavor.
    • All purpose flour- There is no almond flour in this recipe because of its graininess. Regular all purpose flour has the best texture.
    • Salt- To enhance all the flavors.
    • Optional garnishes- Sprinkles, sanding sugar, frosting, chocolate chips, melted chocolate, candied fruit, and more can be used to decorate the cookies. They'd be delicious with the almond frosting from my cream cheese Christmas cookie recipe.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Coconut sugar can be used instead of white sugar. This will change the flavor slightly.
    • Not a fan of almond? Try adding more vanilla extract, lemon extract, or peppermint extract instead.

    Helpful Equipment and Tools

    You will need measuring cups, measuring spoons, baking sheets, silicone baking mats (optional), and a stand mixer or electric hand mixer to make this recipe.

    The most important piece of baking equipment you'll need is a cookie press. Cookie dough is loaded into the tool and pressed through the stenciled metal plate inside. It makes beautifully shaped cookies!

    If you don't have a cookie press, you can pipe the dough onto a baking sheet with a piping bag and piping tip.

    How to Make Almond Spritz Cookies

    Here are step by step instructions to make almond spritz cookies! Before you start, preheat the oven to 350F and line 2-3 baking sheets with silicone baking pads. If you don't have any, use unlined aluminum baking sheets.

    STEP 1: Cream the wet ingredients. In a large bowl using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Then add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract and beat on medium-high until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

    Butter and sugar creamed together in the bowl of a stand mixer.

    STEP 2: Add the dry ingredients. Gradually mix in the flour and salt on low speed until fully combined. Add a few drops of food coloring to the dough if desired.

    TIP - Separate the dough into two bowls and mix green food coloring into one bowl and red food coloring into the other for more Christmas cheer.

    Cookie dough in a large glass bowl.

    STEP 3: Prepare the cookie press. Fit your cookie press with a decorative metal plate by following the manufacturer’s directions. Then, scoop some of the cookie dough into the cookie press. Hold the cookie press perpendicular to the cookie sheet and press the cookies out, leaving 1-2 inches between each.

    An empty cookie press.
    Pressing Christmas tree shaped cookie dough on a baking sheet with a cookie press.

    TIP - If the dough gets too warm while you’re working, chill it for a few minutes.

    STEP 4: Bake. Add sprinkles or sanding sugar to the cookies before baking so that they'll stick. Bake each tray for 7-10 minutes. The cookies should be pale but slightly golden around the edges.

    STEP 5: Cool and enjoy. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire cooling rack. When they’re completely cool, decorate them with cookie frosting or icing if desired and enjoy.

    Expert Tips

    • Make sure the dough is not too thick or thin. If it's too thin, the cookies will spread too much and the shapes will get distorted. If it's too thick, you won't be able to get the dough out of the cookie press.
    • Use any spritz templates you like! I used the Christmas tree, wreath, and snowflake templates for wintery Holiday vibes.
    • If you don't have a cookie press, you can use a pastry bag fitted with a ½ inch piping tip (I love the star tip). Fill the bag with dough like you would with frosting and pipe the cookies 3-4 inches long. You can also pipe them into small circles to look like wreaths.
    • Do not use parchment paper! I learned this the hard way. The cookie dough needs something to stick to when it squirts out of the cookie press. Use a silicone pad or leave your cookie sheets unlined.
    Almond spritz cookies shaped as Christmas trees, wreaths, and snowflakes.

    How to Store

    Store spritz cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Baked cookies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

    Cookie dough will keep in the freezer wrapped tightly for up to 2 months. Form the dough into logs and double wrap them with plastic wrap or store them wrapped in an airtight container or freezer bag. Double wrapping helps to prevent freezer burn.

    When ready to bake, let the dough to thaw for at least an hour on the counter or 6 hours in the fridge. Fill your cookie press with the dough, press, and bake.

    Snowflake shaped spritz cookies with white sprinkles.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make the dough in advance?

    Yes! The dough can be refrigerated for up to 4 days before going through the cookie press. Remember to let it come to room temperature before putting through the press.

    Why did the shape of my cookies get distorted?

    You probably pressed out too much dough. Press as little dough through the cookie press as possible to get the cleanest shapes.

    How long do they last?

    They last for up to 4 days at room temperature. They make a perfect holiday gift wrapped in a pretty box with a ribbon.

    More Christmas Recipes

    • A stack of apricot filled thumbprint cookies.
      Apricot Filled Thumbprint Cookies
    • Cookies on a plate on a wood surface.
      Chewy Molasses Crinkle Cookies
    • A stack of olive oil cookies.
      Olive Oil Sugar Cookies
    • Pecan chocolate chip cookies on a wire rack topped with sea salt.
      Brown Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

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    PS: if you try this recipe, please leave a star rating below! Make sure to follow along on Instagram and Pinterest to catch all the new and tasty recipes at Dollop of Dough.

    📖 Recipe

    Almond Spritz Cookies

    Megan Weimer
    These classic almond spritz cookies are made with a cookie press and are bite-sized, buttery, soft cookies to make for Christmas and the Holiday season. They'll become a favorite of your family, guests, and Santa himself.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 7 mins
    Total Time 37 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine German
    Servings 80 small cookies
    Calories 42 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 stand mixer or electric hand mixer
    • 1 cookie press

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract
    • 2 ¼ cup all purpose flour
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • Sprinkles optional
    • Icing optional
    • Food coloring optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350F and line 2-3 baking sheets with silicone baking pads. If you don't have one, use unlined non-stick baking sheets.
    • In a large bowl using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat on medium-high until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
      1 cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract
    • Gradually mix in the flour and salt ½ cup at a time on low speed until fully combined. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired.
      2 ¼ cup all purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, Food coloring
    • Fit your cookie press with a decorative metal plate by following the manufacturer’s directions. Scoop some cookie dough into the cookie press. Hold the cookie press perpendicular to the cookie sheet and press the cookies out, leaving 2 inches between each. 
    • Add sprinkles or sanding sugar to the cookies before baking so they stick. Bake each sheet for 7-10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are slightly golden but not brown.
      Sprinkles
    • Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Once completely cool, decorate them with cookie frosting or icing if desired.
      Icing

    Video

    Notes

    Use silicone mats instead of parchment paper.
    This recipe will make about 80 cookies depending on how much dough is pressed out of the cookie press.
    Storage: Baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
    Freezing: Baked cookies will last in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Cookie dough can be stored in the freezer wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 2 months. Thaw before using.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookieCalories: 42kcalCarbohydrates: 4.6gProtein: 0.5gFat: 2.4gSaturated Fat: 1.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.7gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 8.4mgSodium: 8.6mgPotassium: 5.5mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 1.9gVitamin A: 20.4IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 1.6mgIron: 0.2mg
    Keyword christmas cookies, spritz cookies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Megan Weimer

    Megan Weimer is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Dollop of Dough. Since 2021, she's been inspiring home bakers to create low-key, yet elevated desserts that range from traditional to allergy-friendly.

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    Hi there, I'm Megan!

    Welcome to Dollop of Dough! Here you will find recipes for desserts, drinks, and sweet snacks that are easy to prepare and delicious. There's gluten free, vegan, and paleo options abound!

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