Christmas Spritz Cookies: A Buttery Holiday Classic You’ll Make Every Year

There’s something about Christmas Spritz Cookies that screams holiday cheer. Those buttery, melt-in-your-mouth little bites shaped like stars, trees, and wreaths—pure nostalgia. Every year, the smell of vanilla and butter hits me, and I’m right back in the kitchen of my childhood neighbor, Inga Schultz, a German baker who taught me how to make these traditional holiday butter cookies the right way.

This isn’t just any holiday spritz cookies recipe—it’s the classic spritz cookie press recipe that makes your house smell like Christmas morning.

Description of Christmas Spritz Cookies

Christmas Spritz Cookies are light, crisp, and tender butter cookies shaped using a cookie press. You load your dough, choose a festive disc—maybe a snowflake or Christmas tree—and press away. They bake fast, taste rich, and stay pretty for days (if they last that long).

What makes these buttery spritz cookies so special? The texture. They’re not chewy or crumbly—they just snap perfectly. It’s that combination of butter and sugar creamed to silky smoothness.

Background on German Spritzgebäck 

“Spritz” comes from the German word “spritzen,” meaning to squirt. Spritzgebäck are traditional German spritz cookies, piped or pressed through a cookie press. Germans have made them since the 16th century, often at Christmastime.

The idea was simple: get that rich butter dough through a press to create intricate shapes—fast and beautiful. Today, it’s the same tradition, just with a few modern gadgets and American touches.

Explanation of Using a Cookie Press

A cookie press is the key to making Christmas cookie press cookies look professional without extra effort. You load the barrel with dough, attach a patterned disc, and press onto an ungreased baking sheet.

A good press should:

• Hold dough firmly without air gaps
  
• Release cookies cleanly
  
• Offer several spritz cookie press shapes for variety
  

Personal Story: Recipe from Family Friend Inga Schultz

Inga Schultz, my German neighbor, introduced me to homemade spritz cookies when I was a kid. Her cookie tins were legendary—filled with perfectly shaped wreaths and stars, dusted lightly with sugar.

She used an old metal press from Germany that creaked with every squeeze. Her advice? “Never rush butter. Let it soften just right.” That lesson stuck—and it’s why these classic Christmas cookies still come out perfect decades later.

Simple Ingredients for the Perfect Spritz Cookie

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Butter	1 cup	Softened, unsalted
Margarine	½ cup	Adds lightness
Sugar	¾ cup	Regular granulated
Eggs	2	Room temp
Vanilla extract	1 tsp	Or almond for variation
Salt	¼ tsp	Balances sweetness
All-purpose flour	3 cups	Sifted
Baking powder	½ tsp	Gentle lift
Gel food coloring	Optional	For festive colors

How to Make Christmas Spritz Cookies (5 Easy, Foolproof Steps)

This holiday spritz cookies recipe keeps things simple but precise — follow these five steps for perfect, buttery spritz cookies every time.

1. Cream the Butter and Margarine

• In a large bowl, beat 1 cup unsalted butter and ½ cup margarine with ¾ cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and ¼ tsp salt until light and smooth (about 2–3 minutes).
  
• Add 2 eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.
  

Chef tip: Cream just until fluffy — too much air can cause the cookies to spread.

2. Combine the Dry Ingredients

• In another bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour and ½ tsp baking powder.
  
• Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined.
  
• The dough should be soft and pliable, not sticky. Add gel food coloring now if desired.
  

3. Chill the Dough and Prepare Your Press

• Chill the dough for 20 minutes to firm it slightly.
  
• Chill your ungreased metal baking sheets — this helps the cookies grip and hold shape.
  
• Load the cookie press tightly with dough, attach your favorite spritz cookie press shape, and you’re ready to go.
  

4. Press and Decorate

• Press cookies about 1 inch apart on cold, ungreased sheets.
  
• Add decorations before baking — sprinkles, sanding sugar, or colored sugar all work beautifully.
  
• Keep extra dough and pans cool while baking batches to maintain crisp edges.
  

5. Bake, Cool, and Store

• Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–15 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
  
• Cool on the sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
  
• Store in an airtight tin with a saltine cracker inside to absorb moisture.
  
• Result: Crisp, classic Christmas butter cookies that stay fresh for up to two weeks.

Suggestions for a Spritz Press

If you’re shopping for a press, here’s a quick guide based on experience.

Electric Press – Wolfgang Puck

• Effortless pressing
  
• Consistent shape every time
  
• Slightly heavier doughs can clog it, so chill carefully
  

OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Cookie Press Set

• Easiest to handle for beginners
  
• Clear barrel lets you see dough levels
  
• Dishwasher safe
  
• Includes lots of spritz cookie press shapes
  

Nordic Ware Deluxe Deco Set

• Great for classic Christmas cookie recipes
  
• Makes sharp, defined edges
  
• Built to last (mine’s 10 years old and still works)
  

My take: For precision and comfort, OXO wins. For nostalgia and durability, go Nordic Ware.

Tips for the Perfect Buttery Spritz Cookie

This is where most people mess up—so let’s fix that.

Handling Dough

• Don’t overmix—just until combined
  
• Dough should be soft but not sticky
  

Avoid Greasing Cookie Sheets

• Grease prevents cookies from sticking long enough to hold shape
  
• Use clean, ungreased metal pans
  

Chilling Tips

• Chill dough for 20 minutes if it’s too soft
  
• Chill pans too—it helps dough grip better
  

Using Gel Food Coloring

• Gel gives vibrant color without thinning dough
  
• Mix in gently at the end
  

Storage Advice

• Store in airtight tins with a saltine cracker inside (absorbs moisture)
  
• They keep crisp for 2 weeks—if you can resist them that long
  

Spritz Cookie Decorating

You can go as simple or festive as you like.

• Sprinkles: Press cookies, add sprinkles before baking so they stick
  
• Sanding sugar: Adds sparkle and a bit of crunch
  
• Powdered sugar glaze: Whisk 1 cup powdered sugar + 1 tbsp milk, drizzle after cooling
  

Decorating isn’t about perfection—it’s about fun. This is where kids (and adults) get creative.

FAQ: Christmas Spritz Cookies

Conclusion

There’s something deeply satisfying about pressing out festive spritz cookies—the rhythm, the smell, the instant holiday spirit. Whether you’re using your grandma’s metal press or a shiny new OXO set, these easy Christmas spritz cookies deliver pure comfort in every bite.

Make them once, and they’ll become your classic Christmas cookie recipe forever.

Want more recipes like this? Follow me on Pinterest for more holiday baking inspiration: https://www.pinterest.com/emiliorecipes/

More Christmas Spritz Cookies & Holiday Treats

Looking for more festive baking inspiration? Try these cozy favorites from Emilio Recipes:

• Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
  
• Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
  
• Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
  
• Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
  
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
  
• Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
  
• Perfect Pumpkin Crunch Cake

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