Description
Delightfully tender and buttery Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies made with a perfect blend of cream cheese, butter, and a hint of orange zest. These classic cookies are beautifully shaped using a cookie press or pastry bag and decorated with colorful sugars or sprinkles, baked to a soft, delicate finish perfect for festive occasions or everyday treats.
Ingredients
Base 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
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Decorations
- Colored sugars
- Sprinkles
- Gel food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Cream: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the softened unsalted butter, softened cream cheese, and granulated sugar at medium speed. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then mix again to ensure a smooth, well-combined mixture.
- Mix: Add the egg yolk, orange zest, vanilla extract, and kosher salt to the creamed mixture. Mix for another minute until all ingredients are incorporated evenly. Scrape the bowl sides again to gather the mixture.
- Combine: Gradually add half of the all-purpose flour to the batter, mixing on low speed to avoid flour dust. Then add the remaining flour, mixing just until incorporated. At this stage, if desired, divide the dough into separate bowls and tint with gel food coloring to create different-colored doughs.
- Shape: Using a cookie press fitted with your preferred shape plate, press the dough directly onto a baking sheet, spacing the cookies at least one inch apart to allow for spreading. Alternatively, you can use a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip for shaping. Decorate the cookies with colored sugars or sprinkles as desired.
- Bake: Place the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set but not browned. If baking multiple batches, allow the pans to cool fully before pressing more cookies to prevent excessive spreading.
- Cool: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 2 minutes after baking, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Ensure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- If you don’t have a cookie press, a pastry bag with a large star tip will work well for shaping cookies.
- Allow baking sheets to cool fully between batches to maintain cookie shape and prevent spreading.
- Gel food coloring is preferred to avoid thinning the dough like liquid coloring might.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
