
Get my classic spritz cookies recipe! Made in a cookie gun, this simple and buttery cookie recipe is a Christmas tradition!
As a child one of my favorite things about the holidays was baking Christmas cookies. Every Christmas my dad’s mother would bake these classic Spritz Cookies. It really was a treat because this was the only time of the year she would make them! As I got older, I naturally couldn’t wait to have the recipe handed down to me!
Well now many years have passed by and these Spritz Cookies Recipe have become our holiday staple. The recipe uses a cookie press. I bought one when I first tried to make the cookies, but I just couldn’t get them right.
Then, about 8 years ago we were cleaning out my grandmother’s apartment and we found a cookie press! You can bet that baby came home with me! I think the pure fact that it is vintage gives it the charm to make delicious cookies!
One of my greatest joys now as a mother is passing this tradition on to my children. I hope this is a recipe that they can always remember and get comforting and loving feelings from when they think about! I truly enjoy seeing the excitement in my kids’ eyes when they get to play with my cooking “toys”.
The dough to make these Spritz Cookies is very easy to make. It even freezes and defrosts well, so plan on making it and saving some because it makes a lot of cookies!
This spritz cookie recipe comes together fairly quickly. It’s made in one bowl.
How to Make this Classic Spritz Cookies Recipe
You can scroll down to the bottom of this post and will find a printable recipe with the full ingredient list and directions.
Ingredients you will need to have on hand:
unsalted butter at room temperature, white sugar, eggs. vanilla extract, almond extract, flour and salt.
You will also need:
Baking pans, parchment paper, sprinkles, a cookie gun
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Prepare 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Note: Use the empty butter wrappers to grease the pans first so the parchment stays flat.
Beat together butter and sugar until fluffy.
Mix in egg yolks and vanilla and almond extract. Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Slowly add in the flour and salt and mix until incorporated.
How to use the cookie press with these Spritz Cookies:
Put some of your dough into your cookie press. I like to use a little bit of dough at a time so that you can change your decorative discs.
You could even change the color of the dough with some red or green food coloring. Just pinch off some dough and in a separate bowl mix in the coloring.
Hold your cookie press perpendicular to the baking sheet and press the cookies onto your baking sheet.
Your cookie gun will come with some directions, so be sure to read them.
Add your sprinkles.
Bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies become slightly golden.
What are some of your family’s favorite holiday traditions?
Looking for more Christmas cookie recipes? Check out my mega list of recipes!

Classic Spritz Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- * 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- * 1/2 cup white sugar
- * 2 egg yolks
- * 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- * 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- * 2 cups all purpose flour
- * 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Note: Use the empty butter wrappers to grease the pans first so the parchment stays flat.
- Beat together butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Mix in egg yolks and vanilla and almond extract.
- Don't forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Slowly add in the flour and salt and mix until incorporated.
- Put some of your dough into your cookie press. I like to use a little bit of dough at a time so that you can change your decorative discs.
- Hold your cookie press perpendicular to the baking sheet and press the cookies onto your baking sheet.
- Add your sprinkles.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies become slightly golden
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Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set (3-Piece Set, Nesting, Microwave and Dishwasher Safe)
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Watkins Original Gourmet Baking Vanilla Extract
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Lauryn R
Sunday 21st of January 2018
Yum! I always have a tin of butter cookies on hand, but I believe they are Danish. I don't think I have ever had Italian butter cookies before, but they sound delicious! I am definitely going to have to make some soon, thanks for sharing! :)
Becky
Thursday 7th of December 2017
They look delicious, Reesa! I love the vintage cookie press!
Carol S
Tuesday 21st of November 2017
I also recently found my cookie press that I haven't used in years. Thank you for sharing this recipe, perfect timing for making holiday treats and surprising my children and grandchildren.
ellen beck
Monday 20th of November 2017
These look quite good. I am a big fan of butter cookies. These remind me quite a bit of Spritz cookies. Perhaps this is the Italian version.