Why You’ll Adore These Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies!

• Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: This recipe calls for just 8 straightforward ingredients, many of which you likely already have in your pantry. No fancy specialty items needed (unless you count the delightful Fiori di Sicilia!).
• One-Bowl Wonder: Say goodbye to endless washing up! This entire dough comes together beautifully in a single bowl using just a hand mixer, making cleanup a breeze and getting you to the decorating phase faster.
• No Chilling Required: Unlike many cookie recipes that demand hours of refrigeration, this spritz cookie dough is ready to use immediately, saving you precious time during the busy holiday season.
• Endless Decorating Fun: These cookies are a blank canvas for your creativity! Decorate them with a vibrant array of sprinkles, sparkling sanding sugar, or even a drizzle of melted chocolate to match any holiday theme or personal preference.
• Unique Flavor Profile: While delicious with classic vanilla and almond extracts, the optional Fiori di Sicilia extract adds an extraordinary citrusy-vanilla complexity that truly makes these cookies stand out. It’s a subtle but impactful addition!
• Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a festive Christmas party, a casual family gathering, or a thoughtful homemade gift, these spritz cookies are guaranteed to be a hit. Their delicate texture and rich flavor appeal to all ages.

Essential Ingredients for Your Spritz Cookies

Achieving the perfect spritz cookie texture and flavor starts with the right ingredients and understanding their roles. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:

• All-Purpose Flour: For this recipe, I’ve specifically tested and recommend all-purpose flour. Its moderate protein content provides the ideal structure and tenderness needed for spritz cookies that hold their shape beautifully when pressed and retain a delicate crumb when baked. Avoid self-rising flour or bread flour, as they will alter the cookie’s texture and spread.
• Fiori di Sicilia Extract: This incredible, aromatic extract is my secret weapon for elevating these cookies from great to unforgettable! It imparts a delightful blend of vanilla and bright citrus notes, reminiscent of orange blossom and lemon. While truly exceptional, if you don’t have it, an equal amount of almond extract or a combination of vanilla and a tiny dash of orange or lemon extract will work as a substitute, offering a lovely, albeit different, flavor profile. You can typically find Fiori di Sicilia here in the US and here in the UK.
• Full-Fat Cream Cheese: The cream cheese is key to the unique softness and richness of these spritz cookies. It adds a wonderful tangy depth that complements the sweetness perfectly. It’s crucial to use full-fat cream cheese for the best results, as low-fat varieties contain more water and less fat, which can alter the dough’s consistency and how it performs in the cookie press. If you’re in Europe and using cream cheese from tubs, make sure to pat it dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture before adding it to the dough.
• Unsalted European-Style Butter: I always opt for European-style butter, like Kerry Gold, in my baking. This type of butter boasts a higher butterfat content and lower water content compared to American-style butter, resulting in a richer flavor and a more tender, creamy crumb in your cookies. Ensure your butter is at true room temperature – soft enough to indent with a finger but not melted – for optimal creaming with the sugar.
• Granulated White Sugar: Provides sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s tender texture.
• Large Egg: Acts as a binder, adding structure and moisture to the dough. Ensure it’s also at room temperature to incorporate smoothly.
• Vanilla Extract: A staple in most cookie recipes, vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors. Use a good quality pure vanilla extract for the best taste.
• Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the overall flavors of the cookies. If using fine table salt, remember to halve the amount.

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Spritz Cookies

Making these cream cheese spritz cookies is a straightforward and enjoyable process. Follow these detailed steps to ensure your cookies come out perfectly shaped and delicious every time.

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°Fahrenheit (175°Celsius). While the oven heats, place your unlined baking sheets in the refrigerator to chill. This crucial step helps the spritz cookie dough adhere to the pan and maintain its intricate shape when pressed, preventing excessive spreading during baking.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened, room-temperature butter and granulated white sugar. Using a hand mixer (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), cream these two ingredients together on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes. Continue mixing until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color. Proper creaming incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ delicate texture.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients. Next, add the full-fat cream cheese (also at room temperature), kosher salt, vanilla extract, and the special Fiori di Sicilia extract (if you’re using it). Mix everything together on low speed with your hand mixer or gently fold with a rubber spatula until all ingredients are just combined and the mixture is smooth. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.

Step 4: Incorporate Flour and Egg. Gently fold in the large, room-temperature egg and the all-purpose flour. Mix just until everything is well combined and you no longer see any streaks of dry flour. Overmixing the flour can develop the gluten too much, leading to tough cookies. The dough should be soft, pliable, and consistent.

Step 5: Press and Bake the Cookies. Now for the fun part! Follow the specific instructions for your cookie press to load the dough and select your desired disc shape. Press the cookies onto your chilled, unlined baking sheet. It’s essential not to use parchment paper or silicone mats, as the dough needs to stick directly to the cold metal for the shapes to release cleanly. If you’re adding sprinkles, apply them immediately after pressing while the dough is still fresh. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Keep a close eye on them, as spritz cookies bake quickly.

Step 6: Cool and Enjoy. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This brief cooling period helps them firm up and makes them easier to transfer without breaking. After 5 minutes, carefully move the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, they are ready to be served, decorated further, or stored for later enjoyment!

Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Spritz Cookies

Achieving bakery-worthy spritz cookies is easier than you think with these helpful tips and tricks:

• Precision in Measuring: For consistent and accurate baking results, I cannot stress enough the importance of using a digital kitchen scale. Measuring ingredients, especially flour, by weight (the metric way) is the most reliable method and significantly impacts the final texture and spread of your cookies.
• The “Fluff and Sprinkle” Method for Flour (if not weighing): If you’re measuring flour with cups, it’s crucial to avoid packing it. Use the “fluff and sprinkle” method: first, fluff the flour in its container with a spoon. Then, gently spoon the flour into your measuring cup until it overflows, and level it off with the back of a knife without compacting it. This ensures you’re not using too much flour, which can make your dough too stiff for the cookie press and result in crumbly cookies. For a visual guide, check out this link here.
• Troubleshooting Your Cookie Press: A cookie press can sometimes be finicky. The most common culprit for issues is the dough’s temperature. If your dough is too soft and warm, the cookies won’t release cleanly from the press or hold their shape. Conversely, if it’s too cold, it might be too stiff to press.
  • Dough Too Warm: If the dough feels overly sticky or soft, place it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm up slightly.
  • Baking Sheet Temperature: Always use a chilled, unlined baking sheet. The cold surface helps the dough adhere to the pan, ensuring the pressed shapes stay intact. If the dough isn’t sticking, try chilling your baking sheets in the fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes before use.
  • No Parchment Paper/Silicone Mats: This is critical! Spritz cookies *must* be pressed directly onto an ungreased, unlined baking sheet. Parchment paper or silicone mats prevent the dough from sticking, making it impossible for the shapes to release properly.
  • Add a Touch More Flour: If after adjusting temperature and pan conditions, the cookies still won’t release, you might need an extra tablespoon or two of flour to stiffen the dough slightly. Add it gradually and mix just until incorporated.
• Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Ensure your butter, cream cheese, and egg are all at true room temperature. This allows them to cream together smoothly and evenly, creating a cohesive dough with the right consistency for pressing. Cold ingredients will lead to a lumpy, difficult-to-work-with dough.
• Choosing the Best Sprinkles: For spritz cookies, finely textured sprinkles work best. I’ve found that sanding sugar and classic nonpareils hold up wonderfully in the oven, maintaining their color and shape. Larger, more elaborate sprinkles or chocolate chips might melt or distort during baking, so stick to the smaller, more durable options for a neat finish. These sprinkles are excellent for tree shapes, and this sanding sugar adds a beautiful sparkle for snowflakes.
• Tinting the Dough with Food Coloring: To add a pop of color to your holiday cookies, you can easily tint the dough before pressing. My favorite for vibrant results is Americolor gel food coloring. You only need a tiny amount of gel to achieve rich, intense hues without altering the dough’s consistency. Add it to the wet ingredients stage for even distribution.
• Flavor Variations: Don’t limit yourself! While Fiori di Sicilia is fantastic, consider other extracts like lemon, orange, peppermint, or even a hint of rum extract for different flavor profiles. You could also add a pinch of ground cardamom or cinnamon for a warm, spicy twist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spritz Cookies

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