Classic Christmas Cookies Recipe (Perfect Spritz Butter Cookies)
Christmas Cookies (Spritz Cookies) are the ultimate treats for the holiday season, with a classic butter cookie taste and the perfect decorations and shape for a complete festive feel!
But not only are these cookies beautiful to look at, but they also make for the perfect gift! Just gather all your favorite cookies on a platter and serve them or add them to little boxes and gift it to your friends and family.
This is, by far, one of the best Christmas cookie recipes you’ll ever try! I’ve been making these Christmas cookies for years and years, and they are truly the traditional Christmas cookie recipe in our family.
Enjoy making these with your kids or even friends while playing some Christmas music in the background. Serve with ice-cold milk, and don’t forget to leave some extras out for Santa! Trust me, when you try these cookies once, you’ll want to make them all the time!
Want to learn how to make these Christmas Cookies? Then keep on reading!
What are Christmas Cookies?
Christmas cookies (Spritz Cookies) are a tradition that is enjoyed by many people around the world. They can be made in so many different ways and with so many ingredients, but they all have one thing in common: they’re delicious!
This recipe includes the most classic version of Christmas cookies that you’re absolutely going to love. They’re classic butter cookies that are shaped with a cookie dough press for the perfect combination of shapes and then decorated for a festive feel.
And don’t forget to make enough to leave out for Santa and his reindeer too! You know the kids will absolutely love that!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I have been making these Christmas cookies for years and they’ve become a traditional Christmas cookie recipe in our family. Making these has become a family tradition where all my kids gather up and make them along with it.
And that’s what makes this recipe so special: it tastes like Christmas and feels like it too! Plus, it’s so easy and foolproof to make that you know you can fully enjoy the process and be assured that you’re going to get incredible results.
You can even create Christmas cookie boxes for your guests and give each family one with these cookies and some other classics such as sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, biscotti, coconut macaroons, or snickerdoodles, etc.
This recipe is also really versatile. I’ve included some great variation ideas you can check out in this recipe down below.
Key Ingredients
All you need are some pantry staples to make these delicious Christmas cookies at home which is what makes them even more special! Let’s look at what these are in more detail:
- Butter: First of all, we’ll need some good quality butter for these Christmas cookies. Since they’re essentially classic butter cookies, this is a really important ingredient that will impart most of the flavor. So, try to get your hands on the best quality you reasonably can.
- Sugar: We’ll also need some white granulated sugar to sweeten our delicious cookies to the right level. Sugar also adds moisture to cookies making them soft and irresistible.
- Eggs: You’ll also need one large egg in this recipe and this will add structure, color, and flavor. Aalso help leaven the cookies to just the right level.
- Milk: We’ll be using whole milk as the main liquid in our recipe to add richness, moistness, and flavor so that you absolutely enjoy each and every bite.
- Vanilla extract: To bring out the flavor from all the ingredients, we’ll also be using some vanilla extract in our cookie recipe.
- Almond extract: You’ll also need some almond extract which truly makes a big difference by adding a delicious nuttiness to these classic Christmas cookies.
- All-purpose flour: To add structure to our cookies, we’ll be using some simple, plain ol’ all-purpose flour which you most likely have in your pantry already!
- Baking powder: We’ll also need some baking powder to help leaven our cookies while we’re baking them in the oven.
- Jam: For decoration, we’ll also be using some homemade no-cook raspberry jam which really makes these cookies extra special. I highly recommend trying out my recipe for a delicious and easy jam otherwise, you can also use store-bought raspberry jam.
- Sprinkles: We’ll also be needing some Christmas edible sparkles for decorations! For more ideas, check out the section on variations down below.
- Cookie press: You will also need Cookie Pro Ultra II Press to easily shape your cookies for the perfect holiday feel and look!
For a full list of ingredients and quantities, please check the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Christmas Cookies
Making these delicious Christmas Cookies is incredibly easy. Here’s what you need to do step by step to make them at home:
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Next, thoroughly cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Now add egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat well until smooth about 3 minutes on high speed.
Stir together flour and baking powder, and then sift it into the creamed butter mixture.
Mix on low speed until all flour is combined and the dough is smooth in texture.
Don’t chill your cookie dough. Instead, place the dough into Cookie Pro Ultra, and press cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Decorate them with the No-Cook Raspberry Freezer Jam or Christmas sprinkles of your choice.
How to Bake Christmas Spritz Cookies
Bake cookies for 8 minutes at 375F.
Once done, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan onto the cooling rack.
Your delicious Christmas Cookies are ready to be served.
Recipe Variation Ideas
These cookies are absolutely perfect as is. But if you’re looking to customize them a bit and add your own twist you can! Here are some ideas you can consider trying:
- Chocolate chips: You can even make chocolate chip cookies by taking some white chocolate or dark chocolate chips and folding them into the cookie dough. Alternatively, you can add some on top as well.
- Candies: If you have any favorite candies, you can crush them and add them on top. Crushed candy canes work beautifully here, just like I used them in my Oreo truffles recipe!
- Chocolate cookie: You can also add some melted chocolate or even cocoa powder to these cookies for a delicious chocolate cookie version.
- Other flavors: These cookies are so versatile that you can make just about anything you want with them including peppermint extract. Or add some mild spice like cinnamon and coat them with sugar for your own cinnamon-sugar version. If you love cranberries, you can also fold some dried ones into the dough. Lemon zest also works great!
- Frosting: You can also add any kind of frosting or glaze on these cookies since that works beautifully with the classic flavors in them. I love some caramel sauce on top too!
How to Store Leftover Christmas Cookies
These delicious cookies will store really well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze them in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months!
More Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Check out all cookie recipes.
Classic Christmas Cookies Recipe (Perfect Spritz Butter Cookies)
Ingredients
Christmas Spritz Cookies Ingredients
- 3 sticks unsalted room temperature butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp. whole milk
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp. almond extract
- 3 ½ cups. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- Homemade No-Cook Raspberry Freezer Jam
- Christmas sprinkles decorations
- You will also need Cookie Pro Ultra Press
Instructions
How to Make Christmas Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Next, thoroughly cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Now add egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat well until smooth about 3 minutes on high speed.
- Stir together flour and baking powder, and then sift it into the creamed butter mixture.
- Mix on low speed until all flour is combined and the dough is smooth in texture.
- Don’t chill your cookie dough. Instead, place the dough into Cookie Pro Ultra, and press cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Decorate them with the No-Cook Raspberry Freezer Jam or Christmas sprinkles of your choice.
How to Bake Christmas Spritz Cookies
- Bake cookies for 8 minutes at 375F.
- Once done, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan onto the cooling rack.
- Your delicious Christmas Cookies are ready to be served.
Notes
Thank you for following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
This recipe was originally posted on December 11, 2014 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
Been making these for years and I just realized there is salt in the ingredient picture but not in the recipe. Did you update the recipe to omit the salt? They come out great without the salt but wondering how it would change the recipe to add the salt. What do you think? Do you like them better without salt? Also, what should the consistency of the dough be? Should it be sticking to your hand a little or not at all?
Also, how long do you usually cream the butter and sugar for?
I like it better with a pinch of salt, it boosts the cookie flavor to the next level. Yes, the dough is a bit on the thinner side because it has to be flexible enough for the spritz to push the dough out.
Cream sugar and butter for about 5 or until creamy. Sugar does not have to be dissolved before adding the rest of the ingredients. But it also depends on the kind of mixture strength you’re using. The stand mixer will cream the mixture faster than the hand mixer. I hope this helps. Thank you for making this recipe a part of your regular Christmas cookie bake-off.
This is the most perfect Spritz recipe I’ve found to date. Always remember that butter needs to be room temp! I’ve tried it without room temp and it never worked out. The best trick I also learned is to pop your baking sheets in the freezer or fridge which will really help the spritz cookies stick to the sheet. I put mine in while I’m making the dough, sometimes even overnight or an hour before. Works perfect.
Thank you for the kind words, Samantha! There is a reason this recipe goes viral every season. And I love the idea of chilling a baking sheet. I will have to try it for myself, although I never had a problem with dough sticking to a baking sheet.
Usually you can’t use parchment with a cookie press. How do you get them to stick?
You may or may not use parchment paper if you’d like. Recently I would just simply press them onto ungreased baking pan. I hope this helps.
Your recipe says to use parchment. I contend that you can not. They will not stick/form properly
Hi Julia! It’s hard to tell not seeing the process. If the dough not sticking then try not using parchment paper. If the dough is not coming out formed then you’re either pressing too much or not enough dough. You just have to play and find that middle so when you press them they stick to the lined pan with parchment paper or not. I’ve tried both ways and it worked for me. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Julia, pop your baking sheets in the fridge or freezer before you press the dough on and it’ll work great! Best advice I’ve ever gotten from my Polish grandmother.
So I’ve tried multiple recipes to no avail. Couldn’t get them to stick to the pan- total disaster. I haven’t tried them yet, but the dough is PERFECT and sticking perfectly. Thank you so much, this recipe is amazing!!
Hi Samantha! I’m glag to hear that you found the recipe on my website that worked for you. I appreciate you sharing your experience with me! Happy baking, and enjoy the cookies! ?
Hi, I am going to try this recipe this year bit the recipe calls for 3 sticks of butter. Would that be 1 1/2 cups of butter? And mine are unsalted should I add any salt?
Thank you for your quick response ?
Yes, 3 sticks of butter equals to 1 1/2 cups. You can add a pinch of salt if you’d like.
Thank you! I made the recipe yesterday and the cookies came out amazing. I will definitely stick with this one for years! Perfection!
Happy holidays!
Aww…, that is so awesome!!! Im gla to hear that you like the recipe. Thank you for ther review! Have a blessed Holiday season!?
Shouldnt there be salt in this recipe? This is the first one I’ve read not calling for salt.
You can add pinch of salt if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. Salt adds a different taste to recipes and these cookies as well.
Thanks for this wonderful Christmas idea!
You are very welcome, enjoy!
Your recipe is great. Tryied the spritz cookie recipe.
I’m glad you liked the recipe. Thank you kindly for your feedback ?
Beautiful and delicious need to get me one of those new cookie guns still got the old one thank you
These little gems are super easy to make, and fun activity for the kids. I’m getting a new one as well with metal discs, because some of the plastic discs broke (kids use them too often;).
These look so beautiful!
Thank you! 🙂
🙂 This is the ONLY dough that I’ve been able to successfully get to work in my cookie press! Thank you!
Hi Susan! I am so happy to hear that! You are very welcome! Thank you very much for such an awesome feedback 🙂
Is this recipe good for storing or freezing?
Yes it is.
Is it better to freeze the dough and bake later or is it ok to freeze the cookies?
I would rather freeze the cookies. The dough will get way to hard and it will be hard to use the spritz. Thank you for your comment. 🙂
I love Spritz cookies. I used to own an old Spritz cookie press that my grandma used to own but it stopped working unfortuanly. I’ve been looking everywhere for one this season and I can’t find one.I meen a good one. My question is can this dough be used like roll out,cut-out cookie dough ? Thanks in advance for a reply.
This dough is too soft for roll out cut out cookies. See my sugar cookie dough recipe for roll out cookies here https://www.valyastasteofhome.com/easy-homemade-sugar-cookie-dough-recipe/. I’ve been using my spritz cookie press for over 10 years now and its still in really good condition. You can purchase the same one here. Thank you for your comment Renee.
How cute, these spritz cookies look delicious! Love the raspberry jam, too!
Thank you Mira! I’m with you! Homemade jam is the best 🙂
These cookies are so adorable Valya!
Thanks Ilona! They are really good too! 🙂
Wow! Valichka, these cookies are a work of art. They look just to good to be eaten!!
You are right! What is better than homade spritz cookies on a snowy wonderful day by the fire?!
This is what I’m going to be making today! 🙂
Thank you so much Anna! They are actually the easiest thing you can ever make! Let me know how much fun you had making them Anechka. 🙂
These are so pretty. I bet kids loved making them with mom, what a lovely childhood memory it will be for them.:)
No kidding! Thant is so true! I remember making cookies with my mom too! Sweet memories! 🙂 Thank you Nina 🙂