Spritz Christmas Cookies (Buttery Pressed Cookie Recipe) are one of those classic holiday bakes that instantly take you back to childhood. The smell of butter, vanilla, and almond in the oven just feels like December, and the fun little shapes from the cookie press always bring out that nostalgic, old-school Christmas magic. These cookies come out delicate, soft, and lightly crisp around the edges — the kind of cookie you can’t help picking up as you walk by the cooling rack. I’ve been making these while the kids wander in and out of the kitchen, curious about all the shapes popping out of the press. Ariya loves helping choose the disks, and Cameron just stares at the cookie sheet like he knows exactly what’s coming. And honestly, this dough is so easy and forgiving that I don’t mind the extra little hands in the kitchen. No chilling, no complicated techniques — just a simple, buttery dough that presses perfectly every single time.
They’re ideal for Christmas cookie boxes, gifting, cookie exchanges, shipping to family, or just filling the counter with pretty holiday treats. No matter how many fancy desserts I make in December, these always find their way onto the table. Let me show you just how easy they are.
What Is This Recipe Exactly?
These Spritz Christmas Cookies are classic European-style pressed cookies made with a buttery, soft dough that pushes easily through a cookie press to create detailed holiday shapes. They bake up delicate, lightly crisp on the edges, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. This is the iconic cookie you remember from childhood cookie trays — versatile, beautiful, and perfect for decorating or flavor variations.
Spritz cookies are one of those recipes that instantly fill my kitchen with that old-fashioned Christmas feeling. I love making these while the kids hover around the counter, watching the shapes pop out of the cookie press. Ariya gets excited choosing the disks, and Cameron tries to grab one the second they come off the sheet because he thinks every cookie is made for him. Even James sneaks over to “taste-test” before they cool. It’s one of those Christmas traditions that feels simple, sweet, and familiar — and the house always smells incredible.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe works because the dough is soft, pipeable, and made to stick perfectly to an ungreased baking sheet — the key to getting sharp, clean cookie-press shapes. The combination of butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar creates a smooth, pliable dough, while the almond and vanilla extracts give that signature spritz flavor. No chilling means the dough stays at the perfect consistency for pressing, and the cookies hold their shape beautifully in the oven.
Ingredient Breakdown: What They Do
Butter: Gives richness, flavor, and that classic melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Cream cheese: Adds softness and keeps the dough pliable for pressing.
Powdered sugar: Creates a smooth dough and helps the cookies stay delicate.
Egg: Binds the dough and adds structure.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the butter flavor.
Vanilla extract: Warm holiday depth.
Almond extract: Traditional spritz flavor and aroma.
All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies structure while keeping them tender.
When to Serve / Serving Ideas
These cookies are perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday parties, cookie exchanges, gifting to neighbors, and even shipping across the country. They hold their shape beautifully in festive tins and stay fresh for days. You can also serve them with hot cocoa, coffee, or set out a tray for holiday movie nights. They’re the kind of cookie that looks like you spent hours — even though the dough comes together fast.
Make Ahead & Storage Tips
These cookies keep incredibly well. Store them at room temperature for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. They freeze beautifully for 2–3 months if you’re prepping ahead for the holidays. The dough can also be made a day ahead — just bring it back to room temperature so it’s soft enough for pressing.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love these Spritz Christmas Cookies because they’re fast, reliable, and so easy to customize. The dough is forgiving, the shapes are adorable, and the flavor is buttery, nostalgic, and perfect for the holidays. They hold up well in gift boxes, they ship great, and you can flavor them, color them, or decorate them hundreds of ways. It’s a one-dough, endless-options recipe.
FAQ Section
Why won’t my spritz cookie dough stick to the baking sheet?
Spritz dough needs to cling directly to an ungreased, unlined pan. If you use parchment paper, silicone mats, or grease the pan, the dough won’t adhere properly and will slide instead of sticking in a clean shape. Also, if your cookie press isn’t flush with the baking sheet when you press, the dough may not grab the surface. Using a slightly chilled (not cold) baking sheet can help the dough attach.
Why is my dough too stiff to press?
If the dough seems too stiff, the butter or cream cheese may have been too cold. Spritz dough should be soft and pliable. Let the dough rest at room temperature for 10–15 minutes and try again. You can also knead it lightly with your hands to warm it.
Why are my spritz cookies spreading too much?
If your cookies spread, your dough may be too warm, or you may have added too much butter. Another cause is using a warm baking sheet — always use a cool sheet when pressing more cookies. Make sure the flour is measured correctly, and use softened—not melted—butter.
Can I color the dough?
Yes! For vibrant colors, use gel coloring and mix it into the dough before adding the flour. Soft dough colors evenly, and you can even divide the dough for multiple colors.
Can I flavor the dough differently?
Absolutely. Spritz dough is extremely flexible. Replace almond extract with lemon extract, peppermint, maple, orange, or even a touch of rum extract. You can also add cocoa powder to make chocolate spritz cookies — just remove a bit of flour so the dough doesn’t get too stiff.
What decorations can I use before baking?
Nonpareils, holiday sprinkles, sugar crystals, and colored sanding sugar all bake beautifully onto spritz cookies. Add sprinkles before baking so they stick.
How do I use jam or fillings?
For jam-filled spritz, use a shape with a center indent or press a small thumbprint into the cookie before baking. Add about ½ teaspoon of jam — raspberry, apricot, or strawberry work best because they stay thick.
Why are spritz cookies great for mailing?
They’re sturdy enough to stack, not crumbly, and they hold their shape even after a few days in transit. Wrap them in parchment and place them in a tin for perfect shipping.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes — spritz recipes double very well. Just make sure your mixer bowl is big enough for the dough.
How to Make a Christmas Cookie Box Using Spritz Cookies
Spritz Christmas Cookies are one of my favorite cookies to use when building a holiday cookie box because you can make so many shapes and colors from one batch. They let you fill a whole box with variety without having to bake five different doughs. When I’m putting together cookie boxes for family, neighbors, or teachers, I’ll bake a few trays of spritz cookies, tint some dough festive colors, add a couple jam-filled ones for brightness, and mix in a few chocolate-drizzled or nut-topped pieces for texture. It instantly looks like a bakery-style assortment, but all from the same simple recipe.
Line a shallow bakery box or a reusable tin with parchment, then create little “sections” with folded parchment or mini cupcake liners. This gives the cookies their own spaces and keeps everything neat during transport. Add a handful of sprinkles or a holiday tag on top and you’ve got a gorgeous, thoughtful homemade gift that doesn’t take all day. These are also perfect to ship — pack the cookies snugly, layer them with parchment, and use a metal tin for the best protection.
Variations & Substitutions
- Color the dough: Use gel food coloring for festive shades.
- Jam-filled: Add raspberry, apricot, or strawberry jam.
- Chocolate spritz: Add cocoa powder and reduce flour slightly.
- Nut-topped: Press chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds on top before baking.
- Sandwich spritz: Add buttercream in the middle for classic sandwich cookies.
- Marbled chocolate: Swirl melted chocolate into part of the dough.
Leftover Ideas
Leftover spritz cookies make amazing ice cream toppings — crush them over vanilla ice cream. They’re also great crumbled on yogurt or layered in a holiday trifle. And honestly, they freeze so well that leftovers almost feel like a head start on next week’s cookie cravings.
Budget Breakdown
This entire batch makes around 60 cookies using pantry staples like butter, sugar, and flour. Even the variations (jam, nuts, sprinkles) are inexpensive. Compared to buying decorated holiday cookies, this recipe stretches your ingredients far and makes multiple gift tins for a fraction of the price.
How to Give These Cookies as Gifts for Friends and Family During the Christmas Season
Spritz Christmas Cookies make some of the easiest (and prettiest!) homemade gifts during the holidays. Because they hold their shape, stack well, and stay fresh for weeks, they’re perfect for packaging and delivering to family, teachers, neighbors, and anyone you want to surprise with something sweet. I like to mix and match the different shapes and colors so every tin looks a little different — some classic trees, some stars, some wreaths, maybe a few jam-filled ones for a pop of color.
You can package them inside metal holiday cookie tins, clear treat bags tied with ribbon, mason jars, or small bakery-style boxes with a window on top. Add a handwritten tag, a bit of tissue paper or parchment, and a spritz of holiday spirit…and it looks like you put way more effort in than you did. These are also perfect for shipping because they’re sturdy and don’t crumble easily — layer them between parchment or cupcake liners, tuck them into a tin, and they’ll arrive in perfect condition.
Troubleshooting Tips
Cookies won’t press out properly:
Your dough might be too stiff. Let it warm slightly or knead a bit with your hands.
Shapes look messy:
Make sure the cookie press is pressed firmly onto the baking sheet for each cookie.
Cookies spreading:
Use a cool baking sheet and avoid over-softened butter.
Sprinkles falling off:
Always add sprinkles before baking so they bake into the dough.
Nutrition Information (Approximate per cookie)
- Calories: ~60
- Fat: ~3g
- Carbs: ~7g
- Sugar: ~4g
- Protein: <1g
- Sodium: low
- Fiber: minimal
What to Top Them With (Sprinkles, Decorations, and Toppings That Work Best)
Spritz cookies are like tiny blank canvases — you can decorate them in so many simple ways without messing up their shape. Here are the best topping ideas that stay put and bake beautifully:
• Holiday sprinkles or nonpareils: Add before baking so they stick permanently.
• Colored sanding sugar: Gives sparkle and shine, especially on lighter doughs.
• Chocolate drizzle: After baking, drizzle with melted white, milk, or dark chocolate.
• Jam centers: Raspberry, apricot, and strawberry are perfect for “jewel” style cookies.
• Chopped nuts: Finely chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts pressed on top before baking.
• Buttercream filling: Sandwich two cookies with frosting in the center (classic Christmas tray favorite).
• Food coloring swirls: Add gel color before flour for red, green, or two-tone doughs.
• Chocolate chips in the center: Press a chocolate chip into each cookie right after baking.
• Edible glitter or shimmer dust: Makes them look extra magical for holiday trays.
These toppings not only make your spritz cookies look festive, but they also help you create multiple varieties from one single dough — perfect when you want a full cookie assortment without baking five different recipes.
My Personal Kitchen Notes
I love how forgiving this dough is. It presses easily, the shapes always look cute, and the almond-vanilla flavor is pure nostalgia. I also love that I can use the same dough for multiple types of cookies — it makes me feel like I get five cookie varieties out of one batch.
My Final Thoughts
Spritz Christmas Cookies are one of those timeless holiday recipes that bring back childhood memories. They’re easy, beautiful, and perfect for gifting, shipping, or filling up a cookie tray. The dough comes together fast, the variations are endless, and the cookies always disappear fast. If you want a holiday cookie that feels classic and comforting, this is the one.
Cookie Recipes To Try
Spritz Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup of softened butter
- 2 ounces softened cream cheese
- ¾ cups sifted powdered sugar Sifted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ⅓ cups all purpose flour sifted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large stand up mixer bowl, cream together the softened butter and softened cream cheese.
- Add the sifted powdered sugar and continue to mix until light and fluffy. (about 4-5 min.)
- Add the egg, salt, vanilla and almond extracts. Continue to mix and add the sifted flour until well incorporated. (The dough should be soft and pliable)
- Place the dough into the cookie press with the desired disk.
- Press out onto the ungreased cookie sheet and repeat until the cookie sheet is full. The cookies have very little spread when baking so you can place them close together.
Notes
● Sprinkles
● Chocolate chips
● Jam to fill some cookies (Raspberry,
Strawberry or Apricot)
● Buttercream frosting for sandwich style
cookies (colored if desired)
● Chopped nuts
Did you make this recipe?
Make sure to follow on Pinterest for more recipes!
Leave A Reply!