Mouthwatering Vanilla Spritz Cookies Recipe
These mouthwatering Vanilla Spritz Cookies are delicate, buttery treats with a tender crumb and a subtle almond-vanilla flavor. Using a cookie press creates beautifully shaped cookies, perfect for holiday celebrations or anytime you want a classic, elegant cookie. The recipe includes optional food coloring and sanding sugar for festive sparkle and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 30 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (pure)
- 1.25 cups all-purpose flour (e.g., King Arthur)
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
For Toppings (optional):
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sanding sugar (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and place a baking sheet in the freezer to chill. The cold baking sheet will help your cookies maintain crisp, well-defined shapes from the cookie press.
- Beat Butter: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter alone for 3-5 minutes until pale and fluffy. This aerates the butter, ensuring tender cookies.
- Add Sugar: Add granulated sugar to the butter and beat for another 3-5 minutes until the mixture is light and creamy, scraping down the bowl halfway through for even mixing.
- Incorporate Egg Yolk and Extracts: Add the room-temperature egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy. This mixture forms the flavorful base of your dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and kosher salt in a separate bowl.
- Mix Dry into Wet Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low speed just until smooth and combined. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix briefly until evenly distributed.
- Pipe Cookies: Fill your cookie press with the dough and pipe shapes onto the cold baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. The chilled sheet aids shape retention.
- Add Toppings: Immediately sprinkle sanding sugar on each cookie for sparkle and crunch, if using.
- Bake Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and bake the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-12 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden.
- Cool and Serve: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your crisp, flavorful spritz cookies!
Notes
- Room temperature egg yolks emulsify better with butter and sugar, resulting in a smoother dough.
- Chilling the baking sheet is key for crisp cookies with sharp definition.
- Do not overmix the flour into the dough to prevent tough cookies.
- Sanding sugar adds delightful texture and sparkle but is optional.
- Food coloring is optional and can be added to customize cookie colors.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to a week.
Keywords: Vanilla Spritz Cookies, Spritz Cookies, Cookie Press Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Butter Cookies, Almond Extract Cookies
