Grandma Wendts Almond Spritz Cookie Recipes

GREAT-GRANDMAS SWEDISH SPRITZ RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Beat butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Slowly add sugar while beating until the mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the egg yolks one at a time, allowing the first to blend into the butter mixture before adding the other. Beat egg white and almond extract into the mixture. Pour the flour in small amounts into the mixture while beating; continue beating until fully incorporated.
• Using a cookie press, press dough onto prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

GRANDMA WENDT'S ALMOND SPRITZ COOKIE RECIPE

Steps:

• The directions for this recipe are for using the poinsettia shape disk.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Mix butter and sugar.
• Mix in remaining ingredients. This is the critical moment for this cookie; if it feels too tacky add 1/8-1/4 cup of additional flour.
• Refrigerate for 10 minutes or so (I usually make a double batch, and refrigerate the first batch while I am mixing the second batch.).
• Fill the press with dough and press onto ungreased cookie sheet. (I can usually put 24 on a large sheet; they don't spread much).
• Sprinkle each cookie with colored sugar. (My Mom used to place a cinnamon dot into the center of each cookie, but I skip that).
• Bake for 7 minutes; remove from pan to cool. (You may need to adjust this depending on your oven).

SWEDISH GROUND ALMOND SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the almonds out on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned or until they give off an aroma. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool completely. Grind to a consistency resembling rough sand in a food processor or blender. Be sure almonds are cool, or you will make almond butter.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the almond extract and milk. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, and mix in along with the ground toasted almonds to form a soft dough. Refrigerate the dough for 15 to 20 minutes. This will help the cookies keep their shape after pressing.
• Lightly grease cookie sheets, and fill cookie press with dough. Press out cookies at least 1 inch apart depending on the size. You can experiment with different cookie designs. I've found most true Swedes tend to use the star shape, however, you're free to use whatever shape suits your fancy.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on the cookie sheets for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

GRANDMA'S SPRITZ

Steps:

• 1. Cream butter. Gradually add sugar and mix well.
• 2. Beat in the egg yolks and the almond extract.
• 3. Gradually add the sifted flour.
• 4. Place in a cookie press.
• 5. Arrange similar size shapes on cookie sheet.
• 6. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on your oven. (I have heavy cookie sheets, and in my oven, I bake for 12 minutes.)
• 7. DO NOT OVER COOK. Bake until lightly golden on the edges.
• 8. **** In Swedish tradition, form S's and O's with the star shape in your cookie press.

ALMOND SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. , Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press dough 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. If desired, sprinkle with colored sugar. , Bake at 375° for 7-9 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Cool on wire racks.

BUTTER SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and the egg and mix to incorporate; don't worry if the mixture seems to separate.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder and add to the creamed butter. Mix until combined. Using a cookie press, press the cookies onto ungreased baking sheets. Top with sprinkles of your choice. Bake until firm but not yet browning, 6 to 8 minutes. After a few minutes, move cookies to a rack and cool.

ALMOND SPRITZ PRESS COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream shortening, adding sugar in gradually.
• Add unbeaten egg, sifted dry ingredients, flavoring and a few drops of food coloring. Mix well. (NOTE: you must sift the flour first and then measure or you will add too much flour and the dough will be too stiff!).
• Fill cookie press. Form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets using the tree plate. Decorate with tiny multi-colored sprinkles.
• Bake at 400°F for 6-8 minutes. Cool just slightly and remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. (If you wait too long, they will break when you try to move them.).

GRANDMA'S SPRITZ PRESS COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix butter, sugar, extract, salt, and egg together (I recommend a Kitchen Aid).
• Slowly add flour to the wet ingredients.
• Add food coloring (if desired)
• Load dough into cookie press.
• Press cookies onto cookie sheet.
• Decorate.
• Bake a 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes.
• Cookies will not brown when done.