Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies are easy and delicious to make in shapes with a cookie press, but can be made without a press too! Favorite holiday cookies that are perfect for decorating and sharing!
Looking for more festive treats? You’ll love homemade candies like Peppermint Bark and Peanut Brittle, as well as easy Fudge and snowy white Wedding Cookies (also known as Pecan Sandies or Snowball Cookies)!
Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies are such festive and delicious cookies! This spritz cookies recipe makes cookies that are buttery, so easy to make and hold their shape well. While they taste similar to sugar cookies, they differ from cut out sugar cookies, which are rolled and cut into shapes with cookie cutters, in that they are typically piped through a cookie press. My Chewy Sugar Cookies are made without cutting into shapes and I share how to make my spritz cookies even if you don’t have a cookie press.
One favorite thing about these cookies is decorating them! I like to decorate mine with a simple glaze and sprinkles. They make for a favorite cookie throughout the year, but especially during Christmas on a Christmas Cookie Tray! I can’t wait for you to try them!
Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Flavor. The delicious rich butter flavor topped with a simple glaze gives these little cookies so much flavor.
Easy to Make. The dough mixes in one bowl and requires no chilling. Cookies are easy to make with a cookie press or without. Simple to decorate if you wish!
Perfect for Gifting. These spritz cookies hold their shape well so they are perfect for shipping to friends and family.
How to Make Spritz Cookies
The spritz cookie dough comes together very quickly, is so easy to use, and holds its shape well for sending to others.
Spritz Cookie Dough Ingredients
For this cookie recipe, you’ll need these simple ingredients: butter, egg, confectioner’s sugar, salt, vanilla, almond extract, and all-purpose flour.
I recommend that the butter be softened and the egg at room temperature for better mixing with the sugar and flour.
I include both vanilla and almond extracts in this recipe, but if you don’t have almond extract or don’t care for the almond flavor, you can certainly use all vanilla in the recipe.
Make the Spritz Cookie Dough
- Cream the softened butter and confectioner’s sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about two minutes. Add in egg, salt, and both extracts.
- Gradually add the flour into the butter mixture until combined, taking care not to over-mix the dough.
Make the Cookies
Now you will proceed with a cookie press if using or shape the dough if not using a press.
Make with a Cookie Press:
Traditionally made with a cookie press, you can make spritz cookies in any shape available with the model you are using. I love how easy my cookie press is to use.
- Load the dough into your cookie press following its directions.
- Press cookies onto a rimmed baking sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 – 2 inches between each cookie. The dough is rather dense and not airy, so there is little spread, but space should be given between each cookie.
Make Without a Cookie Press:
While spritz cookies are traditionally made using a cookie press, you can easily make them without one.
- Scoop dough by the teaspoon and roll it into a ball. Place rolls of cookie dough onto a rimmed baking sheet.
- Gently press your thumb into the center for thumbprints or with your palm or the bottom of a glass to flatten. Alternately, you may lightly dust the counter with confectioner’s sugar and cut cookies with small cookie cutters.
Bake the Spritz Cookies
Bake the cookies in a preheated oven set at 375 degrees for about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven just before they turn golden brown.
Now you can decide how you’d like to decorate the cookies. They can be dusted with colored sprinkles or powdered sugar, drizzled with melted chocolate, or glazed. The glaze for these is simple to make and so delicious.
Here’s how I make it.
How to Glaze the Spritz Cookies
Spritz Cookie Glaze Ingredients
For this simple cookie glaze, you’ll need confectioner’s sugar and milk or half and half. You can top with sugar sprinkles if you want.
Make the Glaze
- To glaze the cookies, arrange a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
- Whisk together the confectioner’s sugar and milk or half and half in a small bowl until well combined.
Glaze the Spritz Cookies
- After the cookies have cooled, dip each cookie into the glaze and return to the wire rack.
- Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles and allow them to dry completely.
While they are amazing without any adornment, they look even more festive with a few sugar sprinkles. I often simply sprinkle mine with colored sugar sprinkles, but I love to use the cookie glaze topped with sprinkles to make them even more special!
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions
This spritz cookie dough does not require chilling before making the cookies. (Chilled dough is harder to press through the cookie press.) But you can make the dough ahead and freeze the cookies as well. These cookies freeze well and taste just as delicious after freezing! You can either freeze cookies after they are baked (plain or glazed) or before baking.
To make ahead the spritz cookie dough – Make the dough as instructed and wrap it well before refrigerating. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When ready to press the dough to make cookies, remove the dough from the fridge and allow it to reach room temperature, then follow the instructions.
To freeze unbaked cookies – Place pressed or formed spritz cookies onto a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and place into the freezer until the unbaked cookies are firmly frozen, or about 30 minutes. Transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container layering the unbaked frozen cookies between parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw completely in the refrigerator. Then follow the instructions for baking and glazing the cookies.
To freeze baked cookies before glazing – Allow the baked spritz cookies to cool completely. Place cookies on parchment paper baking sheet and place in the freezer until firmly frozen, or about 30 minutes. Transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container layering between parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, allow the cookies to thaw in the refrigerator. Then follow the instructions for the Spritz Cookie Glaze.
To freeze baked cookies after glazing – Allow the glaze and any other decorations on the cookies to dry completely. Place the cookies on a rimmed baking sheet, cover them in foil or plastic freezer wrap, and place them in the freezer. After the cookies are frozen, or about 30 minutes, remove them from the baking sheet and place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator. Serve once the cookies are completely thawed.
Perfect for Gifting
These are great gifts for friends, family, and neighbors, especially during the holidays! They hold their shape well, so they are perfect for shipping or packaging in a gift basket.
A nice cookie tray filled with cookies and homemade candy makes a thoughtful and much-appreciated gift. Get a head start on all your holiday baking with my Make-Ahead Favorite Christmas Cookies so that you can be a bit more relaxed during the holidays.
Here’s my Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies recipe. I hope you love them as much as we do!
Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Hand Mixer OR Stand Mixer
Ingredients
Buttery Spritz Cookies
- 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
- 1 (50 g) egg
- 1 1/4 cups (141.9 g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.3 g) Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 g) vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
Spritz Cookies Glaze
- 1 cup (113.5 g) confectioners sugar
- 1 tablespoon (14.2 g) milk or half and half
- sugar sprinkles, for decoration
Instructions
Buttery Spritz Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375º F.
- Mix together butter and confectioner’s sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add in egg, salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Gradually incorporate flour until well combined, taking care not to over mix.
- Place in a cookie press fitted with your choice of disc. Press cookies through cookie press onto baking sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 – 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes and then remove from the oven to cool completely.
Spritz Cookies Glaze
- Arrange a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Whisk together confectioner’s sugar and milk until well combined and smooth in a small bowl. Once cookies are cooled, dip each cookie into the glaze and place on the wire rack. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles as desired and allow to dry completely.
Notes
To Freeze Unbaked Cookies:
Place the cookies on the baking sheet, cover in foil or plastic freezer wrap and place in the freezer. Once the cookies are frozen solid, about 30 minutes, remove from the freezer, and place in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, follow the instructions for baking and glazing the cookies.Freeze the Baked Cookies:
Freeze Before Glazing Cookies: Cool the baked cookies completely, cover the cookies on the baking sheet with foil or plastic freezer wrap, and place in the freezer. Once the cookies have frozen solid, about 30 minutes, remove from the baking sheet and place in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw in the refrigerator. Place on wire rack and follow directions for the Spritz Cookie Glaze. Freeze After Glazing Cookies: Allow the glaze on the cookies to dry completely, place the cookies on a rimmed baking sheet, cover in foil or plastic freezer wrap, and freeze. After the cookies are frozen solid in about 30 minutes, remove from the baking sheet and place in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw in the refrigerator. Serve once the cookies are completely thawed.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I wonder if I can add salt to the recipe if I have unsalted butter?
I would not add salt to this recipe if using unsalted butter, Tracey. Hope you enjoy!
Oh yes — I found those instructions so helpful–I was just wondering though–if you personally had any issues with freezing them once they are glazed–for example, were they sticky when they defrosted? Sounds like they freeze well glazed. I just really wanted to impress and to find the best method for doing so — so was wondering your gut feeling on making a big batch of these ahead of time –If it’s better to make them ahead and freeze them unglazed then glaze them closer to when you want to serve them or freeze them glazed b/c it makes no difference? Sounds like you think freezing them glazed is still just fine. Any further thoughts on this from you, the expert would be most appreciated. Overall: thank you for sharing such a great recipe. I’m hoping to make this my go-to and really appreciate all your hard work.
Question: For optimal make-ahead results–do you think it’s best to make them and freeze unglazed or is it okay to freeze them glazed? I had read once that if you freeze them glazed they can become sticky when glazed? Therefore wondering if best to freeze unglazed, thaw to room temp and then glaze and sprinkle? Thanks for any thoughts you may have.
Hi Diane,
I have detailed the steps for freezing both glazed and unglazed in my written blog post. I hope this helps and that you enjoy the cookies! Thanks! xo
Oh yes — I found those instructions so helpful–I was just wondering though–if you personally had any issues with freezing them once they are glazed–for example, were they sticky when they defrosted? Sounds like they freeze well glazed. I just really wanted to impress and to find the best method for doing so — so was wondering your gut feeling on making a big batch of these ahead of time –If it’s better to make them ahead and freeze them unglazed then glaze them closer to when you want to serve them or freeze them glazed b/c it makes no difference? Sounds like you think freezing them glazed is still just fine. Any further thoughts on this from you, the expert would be most appreciated. Overall: thank you for sharing such a great recipe. I’m hoping to make this my go-to and really appreciate all your hard work.
I’m so happy to have found this recipe! They are amazingly delicious! While I was growing up, spritz cookies were always a household favorite during Christmas time. I didn’t get to see my mother on Christmas this year, but she’s coming to visit from out of state tomorrow… So I made these for a little belated Christmas celebration 🙂 she’s going to love them! Thank you!
I hope you have a wonderful visit with your mother this weekend and you both enjoy the cookies! I’m so happy you enjoy them, Alyssa! xo
thank you so much for this beautiful recipe! i made it four times over the christmas season and it turned out beautifully each time. it is going in my recipe book for sure. 🙂
I’m so glad you love it! xo
Could you add food coloring without making the dough tough?
I’ve made many different butter spritz cookie recipes over the years, and these have got to be my favorite! The powdered sugar makes such a difference in the texture and the flavor is perfect! The dough came together easily and worked fabulous in my cookie press. Thanks!
Great to hear that you enjoyed these, Denise! xo
Can you add coloring to the dough? Will it make the dough tough?
I added food coloring (1/2 a batch red and 1/2 batch green) and they turned out perfect!
Omg these are delicious!! Bake them 6 minutes and they’re perfect! I’m so excited for my family to try them tomorrow. These taste exactly how I wanted them to taste. My daughter loves them too! I didn’t even bother doing the glaze tho because they’re so good without it and I don’t want the whole extra mess. I might still glaze them later tho. But I totally recommend this recipe!! Delish!
Best spritz cookie recipe! The dough was perfect for the press. Love, love it.
Thanks Monica! xo