Valentine Spritz Cookies
(Purchases from links can earn a small commission.)
My best tips for Spritz cookie success:
These cookies should be pressed on a cool baking sheet-with NO parchment paper AND NO non-stick spray. The surface of the baking sheet cannot be slippery… or the cookies won’t hold onto the surface.
A standard baking sheet is better for these cookies,
non-stick baking sheets make it hard for the cookies to “grab” the surface. That same principle applies to using a cool baking sheet- if the baking sheet is too warm during pressing, the dough won’t stick… and the cookies loose their shape.
Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes after removing from the oven. This gives the cookies time to set up.
Use a very thin bladed cookie spatula or cookie lifter to effortlessly lift the cookies onto a cooling rack. Using a thick spatula can tear the fresh-from-the oven cookies… a very thin cookie lifter or an off-set icing spatula works well.
My very favorite cookie press-with easy clean up and constantly good results:
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice/liquid
2 Tablespoons milk or cream
Optional-food color for dough; and sanding sugar to decorate cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar.
Add the egg, vanilla and almond extract,cherry juice and cream. Mix to combine.
Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture, 1/2 cup at a time. Gently combine.
Once dough is made, if using food color, divide dough into 4 parts and add one color to each section of dough, mix to combine, resulting in 4 different colored doughs.
Using a cookie press, fill with the dough. If using colored dough, add the dough using alternating colors to create a swirled or tie-dyed effect.
Press cookies onto a cool baking sheet. (Do NOT use parchment and Do NOT grease the cookie sheet for this recipe.)
Sprinkle cookies with sanding sugar before baking if desired.
Bake on middle rack of a preheated 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
Makes about 6-8 dozen small pressed cookies.
My favorite cookie press is from Wilton. I’ve had mine for years and it has effortlessly made dozens of cute cookies.
1. It’s easy to clean-a huge plus.
2. Easy to use-even my school-aged kids could operate the press without my help.
3. It’s not fussy… with great results.
4. Reasonably priced… less than $12.00 from here:Wilton Cookie Press
No comments:
Post a Comment