Description
Irresistible Spritz cookies showcase Italian baking magic with delicate, melt-in-your-mouth charm. Crisp buttery edges and delightful almond notes promise sweet memories that dance across palates with effortless European elegance.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decoration Ingredients:
- Colored sprinkles
- Melted chocolate
Instructions
- Prepare a pristine workspace by positioning oven racks to the center position and heating the oven to 350F. Arrange parchment-lined baking sheets nearby for immediate cookie placement.
- Cream softened butter and granulated sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy consistency with visible volume and lightness.
- Incorporate egg, vanilla, and almond extracts into the butter mixture, whisking vigorously until the ingredients meld seamlessly and create a uniform liquid base.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate vessel, ensuring no lumps remain and dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a cohesive, smooth dough emerges that holds its shape without excessive stickiness.
- Load the cookie press with the prepared dough, selecting an intricate design plate like a wreath or delicate star pattern. Apply consistent pressure to create uniform cookie shapes directly onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Embellish the unbaked cookies with colorful sprinkles or delicate nonpareils for visual appeal and festive flair.
- Position the baking sheets in the preheated oven, rotating midway through cooking to ensure even browning. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookie edges display a subtle golden hue.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheets for several minutes to firm up before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
- Once completely cooled, arrange the delicate, buttery cookies on a serving platter, ready to be enjoyed with afternoon tea or as a sweet companion to coffee.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for optimal creaming and smooth dough consistency, which helps achieve the delicate texture of Spritz cookies.
- Use a sturdy cookie press with interchangeable discs to create various decorative shapes, ensuring the dough is neither too cold nor too warm for easy pressing.
- For gluten-free adaptation, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurements and mixing technique.
- Experiment with flavor variations by adding citrus zest, replacing almond extract with different extracts like orange or lemon, or incorporating finely ground nuts into the dry ingredients for added depth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 133
- Sugar: 6.25 g
- Sodium: 0.10 g
- Fat: 7.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.5 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg