Spritz Cookies Are Perfect for Your Next Holiday Bake-Off (2024)

FAQs

Should you use parchment paper when baking spritz cookies? ›

Begin with cool, ungreased cookie sheets. You can even skip parchment paper or a silicone mat, which may encourage spreading. Keep it simple.

Spritz cookies originated in Germany, and the name comes after the word spritzen, which mean to squirt, and to pipe. These cookies are piped and pushed out via a cookie press gun. They are amazing! I love them.

The name spritz comes from the German word spritzen, meaning "to squirt" because the soft dough is squirted or pushed through a cookie press to make fancy designs. Butter is responsible for the tender, rich texture and flavor of these incredible cookies.

What is the difference between spritz and butter cookies? These cookies are nearly identical, except for one ingredient: egg. Egg makes the Spritz cookie dough a bit easier to work with, but it also helps the cookies keep their shape when baked.

If the dough is sticking to the bottom of the press instead of adhering to the pan, it might be too soft. Place it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 minutes and try again. Butter is highly recommended when making Spritz cookie dough.

Too much sugar, too much butter, or too little flour can all contribute to cookies that are on the run. (In the case of cookies that spread no matter how careful you are preparing the dough and/or the baking sheets, I'd probably turn to another recipe.)

Spritzgebäck (German: [ˈʃpʁɪt͡sɡəˌbɛk]), also called a spritz cookie in the United States, is a type biscuit or cookie of German and Alsatian-Mosellan origin made of a rich shortcrust pastry. When made correctly, the cookies are crisp, fragile, somewhat dry, and buttery.

Helpful Hints and Tips for Perfect Spritz Cookies:

Do not chill the dough before using. The dough should be at room temperature so it can be piped through the press. If your cookies start to spread or your kitchen is warm, try chilling the pans in the refrigerator for a few minutes before piping the cookies on the pan.

Layer delicate cookies, such as spritz or gingerbread men, between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container. So how long do cookies last like this? The cookies will stay fresh at room temperature or in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze the cookies up to 3 months.

Improper flour measurement is the #1 cause of your cookie dough being too dry or the cookies tasting like flour.

Why are my spritz cookies tough? ›

Simply adding the flour to the stand mixer and beating it in runs the risk of overdeveloping gluten and giving you a tough or dense cookie (not what you want after all that work with the creaming). Instead, the best method is to add the flour and mix it in by hand, stopping as soon as no dry flour remains.

As Levy Beranbaum writes in The Baking Bible, replacing a little bit of the flour in the dough with cornstarch results in “a more delicate cookie that is also easier to pipe or push through a cookie press.” Adding cornstarch helps tenderize tough gluten, contributing to a softer cookie dough with a finer crumb after ...

Insulated Cookie Sheets

Pros: Cookie sheets are insulated to prevent the bottoms of the cookies from browning too much or too quickly and are ideal for when you're baking thin or delicate cookies, or treats should be lightly colored, such as spritz cookies and shortbread.

There are a few tutorials in our blogs. *Don't use non-stick cookie sheets as spritz cookies need to stick to the pan! *Also don't grease the sheets or use parchment paper. Spritz cookies release easily when made right!

The ungreased cookie sheet must be cold for the dough to adhere. If the dough will not stick to the pan, try placing the cookie sheet in the freezer for a few minutes. Do not use parchment paper or a Silpat mat. The dough will not stick when pressed.

*If your cookies are not sticking to the cookie sheet well, try refrigerating the pans for 10 to 15 minutes to chill them. Dough sticks better to a cooler sheet. Never use non-stick cookie sheets!

From preventing your cookies from sticking to your pan to keeping a tidy workspace for decorating cakes, cookies, and bars, parchment paper works wonders with its versatility. It's the ultimate sidekick for baking, cooking, food prep, storing, tidying up, and indulging your creativity.

Kitchens tend to heat up during any baking extravaganza, meaning the butter you leave on the counter to soften might get too soft. If this happens, the butter will melt faster in the oven and your cookies will flatten before they can set. Thirty minutes is usually enough counter time to soften butter.

Helpful Hints and Tips for Perfect Spritz Cookies:

Do not chill the dough before using. The dough should be at room temperature so it can be piped through the press. If your cookies start to spread or your kitchen is warm, try chilling the pans in the refrigerator for a few minutes before piping the cookies on the pan.