Puttin' on the Spritz! Making Spritz Cookies for the Holidays!

Spritz cookies have been a favorite in our family for generations. I remember mom making these along with many other holiday cookies and we like to continue the tradition. These cookies are light, buttery, and have a wonderful almond flavor (I use almond extract, but lemon and vanilla are also nice).

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 tsp almond extract (you can use other flavoring if you prefer)

*note - if you want to add color to the dough, you can add the food coloring at the end of the mixing process.

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar together with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add egg and beat in. Add flour, salt and extract. Mix until well combined.

The batter will be stiff.

Put dough in a cookie press with your preferred die and push out into shapes on an ungreased cookie sheet. If decorating with colored sugars or sprinkles, apply before you put cookies in the oven.

Bake 6-9 minutes until cookies are firm but not browned on the top. It's fine if they are lightly browned on the bottoms.

Remove from oven and immediately transfer to cooling rack.