One of my favorite childhood memories was raiding Grandma Burgie’s cookie jar which was usually filled with tiny, buttery Spritz cookies. Sometimes they were tinted pink or green, and sometimes they had sprinkles on them. When my Grandma gave me a cookie press as a gift I started making these delicious cookies for Christmas. My Christmas version is made in the shape of wreaths and I always include sprinkles.

Spritz are the favorite Christmas cookie of my son, who insists Christmas can’t happen without them. The following recipe is my Grandmother’s; the cookies taste like crunchy butter and are easy to make. Just remember that the butter should be at room temperature, and the dough does not need to be chilled before pressing out dozens of cookies in cute shapes. This recipe doubles easily. I’ve found that if I carefully lift the cookies from the sheet after pressing and invert each one into the sprinkles (which I pour onto a plate) and press slightly, the sprinkles adhere better to the cookies and I don’t have them all over the baking sheet.

The most important thing is to get a cookie press that is easy for you to use. Cookie presses come in many varieties; there are even electric and battery powered ones. However, I’ve found that my old fashioned cookie press, manufactured by the Mirro Company in the 60’s is my favorite. It has a screw-type handle rather than a trigger which I personally find easier to use. I have several of the trigger type ones which I sometimes use, and they also work pretty well. If you want one of the old fashioned ones, they are sometimes available on eBay or through Amazon. Who knows, one may even be sitting in your Grandmother’s basement.

Makes about 5 dozen 2” cookies

1 cup butter (absolutely no margarine)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla, or almond flavoring
2 1/4 cups flour

1. Heat oven to 400°.


2. Cream the butter, sugar, egg, salt, and flavoring thoroughly.


3. Add flour and mix well.


4. Load the dough into the tube of a cookie press.


5. Force dough through cookie press onto an ungreased baking sheet in a wreath shape.


6. Add sprinkles if desired.


7. Bake 6 to 9 minutes or until set but not brown.


8. Remove to cooling racks.


9. Store in an airtight container; these keep for months.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 52 Calories from Fat 29
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 55% Protein 5% Carb. 40%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 3 g
Saturated Fat 2 g
Cholesterol 12 mg
Sodium 52 mg
Total Carbohydrate 5 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 0%

Click to see information on cookie presses from Amazon:

Wilton Cookie Pro Ultra II Cookie Press
Kuhn Rikon Clear Cookie Press