Description
These delightful Spritz Cookies bring festive cheer with their buttery, tender texture and vibrant red and green candy-coated finish. Perfectly crisped in the oven and dipped in colorful candy melts, they make a charming treat for holidays and special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup Salted Sweet Cream Butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 large Egg (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon Clear Vanilla Flavoring
- 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract (or hazelnut extract)
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
Decoration
- 1 cup Red Candy Melts (melted)
- 1 cup Green Candy Melts (melted)
- 1 cup Nonpareil Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter for 1 to 1.5 minutes until smooth, then add the granulated sugar and beat for an additional minute to create a light, fluffy mixture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the egg, clear vanilla flavoring, and almond extract into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
- Mix in Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the mixture on low speed, stirring just until fully combined. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Form Cookies: Using a cookie press, shape the dough and press onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes or until the cookie edges are set but not browned. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
- Melt Candy Melts: While cookies cool, melt the red and green candy melts separately, stirring every minute until smooth and fully melted.
- Dip and Decorate: Dip each cooled cookie halfway into the melted candy melts, then sprinkle with nonpareil sprinkles if desired. Set the cookies aside to allow the candy coating to harden before serving.
Notes
- Using room temperature egg ensures smooth batter and even mixing.
- Press cookies about 2 inches apart to prevent sticking during baking.
- For best results, use a cookie press to achieve classic spritz cookie shapes.
- Allow candy melts to cool slightly before dipping to avoid melting the cookies.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crispness.
