Name: Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 ounces unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks); 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 egg yolk; 1 teaspoon orange zest; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; Colored sugars; Sprinkles; Gel food coloring (optional)

Jump to Recipe· 4.2 from 90 reviews

If you’re on the hunt for a truly delightful treat to brighten up your cookie jar, the Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe is exactly what you need. These cookies are soft yet crisp, bursting with subtle tanginess from cream cheese and a hint of orange zest that makes every bite feel like a celebration. With their charming shapes and colorful decorations, they aren’t just delicious—they’re pure joy to make and share. Whether you’re baking for the holidays, a cozy afternoon tea, or just because, this Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe never fails to impress friends and family alike.

Ingredients You’ll Need

A top-down view shows seven white dishes and two sticks of butter arranged on a white marbled surface. In the center, a white plate holds a square block of cream cheese. To the upper right, a large white bowl is filled with flour, its texture fine and powdery with some clumps. Above the center, a smaller white bowl contains powdered sugar, smooth and light. To the left, a white bowl is filled with granulated white sugar. Below the sugar, another small white bowl holds bright orange zest. Below the cream cheese dish, a small white bowl holds an amber-colored liquid, likely vanilla extract. To the right of that is a small white bowl with one raw egg yolk, glossy and bright orange-yellow. Two sticks of butter with visible orange and red text are placed on the bottom right of the image. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Every ingredient in this Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe plays an essential role in achieving that perfect balance of texture, flavor, and appearance. From the richness of butter and cream cheese to the fresh zing of orange zest, each component comes together like a little flavor party in your mixing bowl.

8 ounces unsalted butter (softened): Provides a rich, creamy base that’s essential for a tender crumb.
4 ounces cream cheese (softened): Adds a distinctive tang and silkiness that sets spritz cookies apart from the rest.
1 cup granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies perfectly without overpowering their delicate flavors.
1 egg yolk: Binds the dough and enriches it with a velvety texture.
1 teaspoon orange zest: Gives a fresh and zesty brightness that awakens the senses.
½ teaspoon vanilla extract: Deepens the overall flavor for warmth and sweetness.
½ teaspoon kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the nuanced flavors.
2 ½ cup all-purpose flour: Builds structure, ensuring these cookies hold their enchanting shapes.
Colored sugars, sprinkles, gel food coloring: For that signature festive look and creative flair.

How to Make Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar

Start by beating the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together in your stand mixer until the mixture is fluffy and smooth. This step ensures a light texture, helping the cookies bake with a tender yet slightly crisp finish.

Step 2: Add Egg Yolk and Flavorings

Next, mix in the egg yolk, orange zest, vanilla extract, and kosher salt. These little additions bring richness and brightness to your dough, enhancing both flavor complexity and the scent that will fill your kitchen.

Step 3: Incorporate the Flour

Slowly add the flour in two parts, mixing gently to avoid a flour cloud but ensuring everything combines fully. The dough will come together into a buttery, colorful mix ready for shaping. If you want to add colors, now is the time to mix in your gel food coloring for a rainbow of cookies.

Step 4: Shape Your Cookies

Using a cookie press—your secret tool for perfect spritz cookies—pipe your dough onto a baking sheet, spacing them at least one inch apart so they have room to spread slightly while baking. No cookie press? No worries—a pastry bag with a large star tip works just as splendidly.

Step 5: Decorate and Bake

Sprinkle your cookies with colored sugars or festive sprinkles right before sliding them into a 325°F oven. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cookies are set but not browned, ensuring they stay soft with a delicate snap.

Step 6: Cool and Enjoy

Let your cookies rest on the sheet pan for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This helps them firm up perfectly without breaking and makes them ready to delight at any gathering.

How to Serve Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe

A white plate holds a variety of Christmas cookies arranged in a layered pile. There are bright green cookies shaped like Christmas trees with textured ridges and sprinkled with green sugar crystals. Red flower-shaped cookies with smooth petals and a grainy sugar topping lie beneath and around the trees. Light cream-colored star-shaped cookies are decorated with red and green sugar sprinkles, adding small pops of color. The plate is set on a white marbled surface, and a glass of milk is blurred in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

While the classic sprinkles or colored sugars are already eye-catching, consider dusting your cookies lightly with powdered sugar for an elegant finish, or drizzle melted white chocolate for an extra layer of indulgence that pairs beautifully with the cream cheese base.

Side Dishes

These spritz cookies shine best alongside a warm cup of tea or coffee, complementing their buttery richness with a comforting beverage. For a fun twist, serve with a small bowl of whipped cream or fruit preserves on the side to dip and savor every bite.

Creative Ways to Present

Arrange your Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe in colorful holiday tins or on decorative platters lined with festive paper. For parties, use tiered dessert stands to showcase multiple colors and shapes, turning them into a centerpiece guests will admire—and devour.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover spritz cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh and soft for up to a week. By layering them with parchment paper, you can avoid any accidental stickiness or decoration smudging.

Freezing

These cookies freeze wonderfully! Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a sealed freezer bag or container once solid. Frozen cookies maintain their flavor and texture for up to three months, perfect for prepping in advance.

Reheating

If you want to bring back that fresh-baked warmth, pop a few cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds or into a low oven for 3-5 minutes. This gentle heat revives their soft and buttery glory without drying them out.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! The dough can be chilled in the fridge for up to 24 hours, which often enhances the flavor and makes shaping easier. Just be sure to bring it back to a workable temperature before piping.

What if I don’t have a cookie press?

No cookie press? No problem! A pastry bag fitted with a large star tip will give you similarly lovely shapes. You can also try shaping the dough by hand into small rounds, though the spritz shape is part of the charm.

Can I substitute cream cheese with something else?

For this recipe, cream cheese is key to achieving that tender, tangy texture that makes these spritz cookies unique. Substitutes may change the flavor and texture significantly, so it’s best to stick with cream cheese for authentic results.

How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure not to over-soften your butter, and chill the dough slightly if your kitchen is warm. Also, be cautious not to overcrowd the baking sheets, allowing enough space for the cookies to keep their shapes.

Can I add different flavors to the cookies?

Yes! Feel free to experiment with almond extract, lemon zest, or even cocoa powder for chocolate variations. Just keep in mind that additions might affect dough consistency and baking times slightly.

Final Thoughts

There is something truly special about biting into a homemade spritz cookie that’s perfectly tender, subtly tangy from cream cheese, and bursting with pretty colors and festive charm. This Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe is a wonderful addition to your baking repertoire—simple to make, fun to decorate, and delightful to share. Give it a try, and watch how quickly these little treasures disappear while earning you compliments and requests for seconds!