Another practice run--Spritz Cookies

Spritz Cookies
Best Recipes From The Backs of Boxes, Bottles, Cans and Jars Copyright 1979, 1981, 1982

1 cup Land O Lakes Sweet Cream Butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla or almond or lemon flavoring I used vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In 3-quart mixer bowl combine butter, sugar, egg and flavoring. Beat at medium speed, scraping sides of bowl often, until light and fluffy. Reduce to low speed (or by hand); stir in flour and salt until well combined. Dough can be divided and tinted if desired. If dough is too soft, chill for easier handling. Force dough through a cookie press onto ungreased baking sheet. Decorate with colored sugar or cinnamon candies, etc. Bake near center of 400 degree F oven for 8 to 14 minutes or until cookies are light golden around the edges.

Makes 6 dozen cookies.
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I've tried using a cookie press before and it was a disaster. It was a cheap one from Ollie's so I wasn't surprised (it was very cheap). Spritz cookies are lovely on a cookie tray but I could never bring myself to invest in a more expensive cookie press. Then I saw this Wilton press at Ollie's for only $4.99 ($2 or $3 more than the last one I bought) and they had it on display. It looked sturdy and easy to use so I went out of a limb and bought it. It was easy to use although I had to squeeze twice for each cookie. That may have been my fault though. I messed up the dough and added too much flour so then I added more butter to compensate. I was feeling impatient by that point so I didn't chill the dough.

This was a test run for Christmas and I think they were a success, even with me screw-up. I got fewer cookies by double pumping them but they were still a good size. They had that buttery taste you would expect from a spritz cookie. Nothing that knocks my socks off but very tasty. Their job is to dress up a cookie tray and I think this recipe will work. I don't want to experiment too much because I don't know how many batches of dough this cheap press has in it! I just hope this recipe works when I don't mess it up.

*edited 12/2011 to add picture of the Christmas trees.

Blast From The Past: Ricotta Cookies from December 2005, another pretty Christmas cookie. I'm thinking about Christmas cookies early this year, which is weird considering that summer won't go away.

Question of the Day: Are you having unseasonably warm (or cold) weather in your area?