Spritz Cookies

Photo: flickr user SuziJane

Ingredients

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

cup Pillsbury BEST All Purpose Flour, or Unbleached Fl

teaspoon salt

Preparation

Spritz are delightful cookies formed into fanciful shapes when the dough is forced through a cookie press. The name comes from "spritzen" which is German for "to squirt or spray."

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and egg; beat until light and fluffy. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Stir in flour and salt; blend well. Fit cookie press with desired template. Fill cookie press; press dough into shapes onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 400 degrees F. for 5 to 7 minutes or until edges are firm but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely.

Makes 5dozen cookies.

HIGH ALTITUDE - Above 3500 Feet: No change.

VARIATIONS:CHOCOLATE SPRITZ COOKIES: Add 2 oz. melted unsweetened chocolate to powdered sugar mixture.

EGGNOG SPRITZ COOKIES: Substitute 1 teaspoon rum extract for vanilla. Add 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg with dry ingredients.

ORANGE SPRITZ COOKIES: Add 1 tablespoon grated orange peel with dry ingredients.

Amount