Holiday Spritz Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture just until combined. Stir in food coloring if desired. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. , Fill cookie press and form into desired shapes on ungreased baking sheets. Decorate with sprinkles and colored sugars. , Bake at 400° for 8 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Cool on wire racks.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cream butter, confectioners' sugar and salt until light and fluffy; beat in egg and extract. Gradually beat in flour., Using a cookie press fitted with a disk of your choice, press dough 1 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. , Bake until bottoms are light brown, 6-9 minutes. Cool on pans 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely., For optional decorations: Place confectioners' sugar in a small bowl; stir in enough water to reach desired consistency. Dip tops of cookies in glaze; sprinkle with sugar. Let stand until set.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Stir flour, salt and baking powder in medium bowl until well blended. Beat shortening, butter and powdered sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, almond extract and food color. Beat in flour mixture gradually until blended.
• Fit cookie press with Christmas tree or wreath plate according to manufacturer's instructions. Fill cookie press according to instructions. Press dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 6 to 7 minutes or until set, but not brown. Cool 1 minute on baking sheet. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.
• Place frosting in large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Microwave on HIGH 20 to 30 seconds to soften. Knead. Cut very small bottom corner off bag. Drizzle over cookies in a decorative pattern. Place candy bits from frosting in medium bowl. Hold cookie over bowl and sprinkle with candy bits. Let stand 15 minutes or until frosting is set.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Using an electric beater beat butter and sugar - I beat until nice and fluffy.
• Add egg yolk and almond extract; beat well.
• Add 2 1/4 cups of the sifted sifted flour over the butter mixture with wooden spoon or mixer on low.( a wooden spoon works best for me) thoroughly incorporate the flour and form dough into a ball.
• NOTE: if dough is too sticky add 2 - 4 tablespoons flour - chill dough before moulding ( I cover bowl and chill in the fridge for 1/2 an hour) a chilled baking pan makes forming cookies much easier.
• If using cookie press, press on sheet, wait a few seconds, then twist the press slightly as you lift it straight up.
• NOTE: if dough is too stiff to press out beat another egg yolk into the dough - (moulding by hand you may need to use all of the 2 1/2 cups flour - flour hands lightly makes moulding by hand easier).
• If you don't have a cookie press form into 1/2 inch balls - push a cherry into the centre.
• Brush cookies with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sugar; bake at 350 for 8 - 12 minutes or until golden around the edges.
• Cool on a wire rack.Yield will vary as to size of cookies.