Spritz Cookies

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a cookie press from a local kitchen supply store only to come home and find one hidden away in my cupboard - Boo! I was initially super disappointed about this, but it ended up being a big win! The Bean worked by my side and was thrilled to have her own cookie press! It is so quick to whip these up and the end result is beautiful!! The cookie press I use is from Wilton, and I use the recipe right off the box!

Start by creaming 1 1/2 cups of softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar together in a medium sized mixing bowl.

Mix in 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract.

Mix in 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Once the baking powder is mixed in, add in 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. If you mix the flour in gradually, it comes together more easily (I added it in 1 cup at a time).

Roll some of the dough into a log and load it into the barrel of the cookie press following the instructions that come with your cookie press.

If you are using a Wilton press, turn the metal rod so that the teeth are facing upwards, away from the handle and pull it all the way out. Load dough into the barrel of the press. Pick one of the discs that come with your press and secure it onto the end of the barrel. Turn the metal rod so that the teeth are facing downwards, towards the handle. Then, you are ready to go!

Hold the barrel of the cookie press right against the cookie sheet. By the way, you cannot use parchment paper when making these cookies. Pull the handle in one time - one click = one cookie!

When your tray is full of cookies, bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. After their bake time, let the cookies sit on the tray for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack.

I still have some growth to do when it comes to these cookies. Some of the molds just don't seem to work for me - if any of you have an idea about this, let me know! I would also love to try decorating these with some colored sugar or maybe just plain sparkling sugar. We'll see...

SPRITZ COOKIES
yield: 140-150 cookies

ingredients
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

directions
1. Cream the butter and sugar together in a medium sized mixing bowl. Mix in the egg, milk, vanilla, extract and almond extract and stir until well combined.
2. Mix in the baking soda and then gradually add the flour.
3. Roll the dough into a log and load it into the barrel of the cookie press. Prepare the cookie press following the instructions that come with your press, or use the instructions I detailed above.
4. Press the cookies onto a cookie sheet.
5. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes at 350° F.
6. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire cooling rack!

Let me know if you have questions!