Description
Almond Spritz Cookies are delicate, buttery cookies infused with pure almond extract and shaped using a cookie press. These light and festive cookies are perfect for holiday celebrations, offering a tender texture with a subtle almond flavor. Decorate them with sprinkles or colored sugars for a charming presentation that’s ideal for sharing or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 oz unsalted butter (1 stick, 113 g), room temperature
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar (67 g)
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
- 1 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (137 g)
- A large pinch of salt
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl fitted with a whisk attachment, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This helps to incorporate air, giving the cookies a tender texture.
- Add Egg Yolk and Almond Extract: Add the egg yolk and pure almond extract to the creamed mixture and beat until all ingredients are fully combined, ensuring a smooth, homogeneous dough base.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift the all-purpose flour and combine it with the pinch of salt in a small bowl to evenly distribute the salt throughout the flour.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: With the mixer on the lowest speed, gradually add the flour-salt mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix just until all flour is fully incorporated and the dough becomes soft and easy to handle.
- Prepare Cookie Press and Baking Sheets: Fill your cookie press with the prepared dough. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Shape Cookies: Hold the cookie press perpendicular to the baking sheet and press the dough out into decorative shapes, spacing each cookie about 1 to 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Add Decorations and Chill: Sprinkle your chosen decorations such as sprinkles or colored sugars over the cookies. Place the baking sheets in the refrigerator or freezer to chill the cookies while you preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn golden, ensuring a crisp exterior but tender interior.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 to 10 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack. Let them cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- These Almond Spritz Cookies are especially festive with holiday sprinkles and make charming edible gifts for coworkers and neighbors.
- The dough is soft and can be refrigerated or frozen for convenience before shaping.
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for proper creaming and cookie texture.
- Use a cookie press to create decorative and uniform shapes; if unavailable, you can pipe the dough with a pastry bag and star tip.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 15 g
- Calories: 72
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
