Spritz cookies are a classic holiday treat known for their delicate, buttery texture and beautiful, intricate designs. These cookies are made using a cookie press, which allows you to create a variety of festive shapes, from flowers and stars to trees and snowflakes. With a simple dough that includes butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla, spritz cookies are incredibly easy to make yet yield impressive results. Their tender crumb and lightly sweetened flavor make them the perfect canvas for creative variations, whether you add a hint of almond extract, a sprinkle of colored sugar, or a drizzle of chocolate. Spritz cookies are a timeless favorite, loved for their elegance, versatility, and delightful taste. Spritz jam cookies take the classic spritz cookie to the next level by adding a sweet and fruity jam center. These cookies combine the buttery goodness of traditional spritz cookies with the burst of flavor from your favorite jams or preserves. By pressing a small indentation into each cookie and filling it with jam, you create a colorful and delicious focal point that adds both visual appeal and a burst of flavor. Raspberry, apricot, and strawberry jams are popular choices, but the possibilities are endless. Spritz jam cookies are perfect for any occasion, offering a delightful mix of textures and flavors that will impress your family and friends. Whether for a holiday platter or an everyday treat, these cookies are sure to be a hit. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, these elegant cookies will impress your family and friends with their delightful taste and stunning presentation.
Why is this the best recipe?
Perfect Texture and Flavor: The use of unsalted butter in this recipe ensures a rich, buttery flavor and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The cookies have a delicate crumb that pairs perfectly with the sweet jam filling. This recipe allows you to customize the cookies with your favorite jams or preserves, such as raspberry, apricot, or strawberry. This versatility means you can create a variety of flavors to suit any occasion or preference. Ease of Preparation: The recipe uses common pantry ingredients, making it easy to prepare without the need for special trips to the grocery store. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a delightful batch of cookies. Using a cookie press allows for quick preparation and uniform cookie shapes. The straightforward steps make it easy for both novice and experienced bakers to achieve beautiful results without hassle. Beautiful Presentation: Spritz cookies are known for their beautiful shapes and designs, making them perfect for holiday platters, parties, and gifts. The vibrant jam centers add a pop of color, enhancing their visual appeal. With various cookie press disks, you can create different shapes and designs, adding a personalized touch to your cookies. This makes them suitable for any theme or celebration. Creative and Adaptable: The recipe serves as a versatile base for countless creative variations. You can experiment with different extracts, spices, and fillings to create unique flavors that cater to your taste. These cookies can be adapted for any season or occasion, whether you’re using berry jams in summer or spiced fillings in winter. They are perfect for year-round
Ingredients and substitutes
Unsalted butter – I like to use unsalted butter in all my baking so I can control the amount of salt. And yet, if you must use salted butter and omit the salt in the recipe. All-purpose flour – I always use all-purpose flour with great success. You do not need any other flour. Cornstarch – Also known as cornflour – I never miss an opportunity to add starch, cornflour, rice flour, semolina to my cookies. These add a nice crumbly texture. Sugar – Today, I am using white granulated sugar but you can also use brown sugar. Having said that, brown sugar will give darker colored cookies. Vanilla extract – I like using vanilla extract. And yet, it also tends to color the dough. So, if you need a white or plain white dough, add clear vanilla extract or rose essence. Spices– Use good quality cinnamon and ginger powder from a trusted source. You can also use pumpkin spice or gingerbread spice instead.
Step by step: Jam Spritz Cookies
Preheat the oven to 180℃ / 356℉/ Gas mark 4. Dry ingredients – In a bowl, combine flour, salt, spice, cornstarch – and set aside. Wet ingredients – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Next, add the egg followed by the vanilla and almond extract. Scrape the bowl and mix again until creamy. Dough – Then, add the flour mixture. The consistency of this dough is softer than that of other cookies, so it is easy to press from the cookie press. Fill Press: Divide the dough into 3 or 4 portions. If you prefer, you can color the dough with food coloring gels. Fill the dough into the cookie press with a Christmas disc. Every cookie press is different so make sure to read the instructions well and set the press as per directions.Pro tip – If you don’t have a cookie press – place the cookie dough into a piping bag with a medium star tip such as the 824. Pipe swirls or kisses onto a baking tray or parchment-lined baking tray. Press cookies directly on the baking tray (no parchment paper). Hold the cookie press at a right angle (straight up) to the baking tray, press down, hold, and then lift up. If you have any points, press them down with a wet finger.Pro tip: The cookies stick to the parchment paper or silicone mat. The best way to press them out is to do it directly on the baking tray.
Bake the cookies in a preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes. These do bake quickly, so keep a close eye on them. You need to take them out when the edges get slightly colored.Pro tip – You can also sprinkle some sanding sugar or sprinkles on the cookies before baking. Cool on the baking tray for just 10 minutes. Then, transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.Pro tip: The cookies continue to bake on the hot baking tray and release easily when you let them cool on the tray. Centers: Put some jam in a piping bag, cut a small hole at the end, and fill the cookie centers with jam. These cookies will stay in an airtight cookie jar for up to a week.
Tips for Success
Use Quality Ingredients: Use high-quality unsalted butter for the best flavor. It should be softened to room temperature, which helps create a smooth dough and ensures the cookies have a tender crumb. Opt for thick, seedless jams or preserves. Thicker jams hold their shape better during baking and prevent the cookies from becoming soggy or messy. Proper Dough Preparation: Ensure the dough is soft and pliable but not sticky. If it’s too soft, chill it for a few minutes. If too stiff, let it warm slightly at room temperature. Mix the dough just until the ingredients are combined to prevent tough cookies. Overmixing can develop gluten, which can make the cookies dense. Cookie Press Techniques: If you’re having trouble with the dough sticking to the baking sheet, chill the sheets in the fridge for a few minutes before pressing the cookies. Make sure your cookie press is clean and dry before filling it with dough. This ensures that the cookies are evenly shaped and prevents clogging. Apply even pressure on the cookie press to create uniform cookies. Practice on parchment paper if needed to get the feel for the right amount of pressure. Baking and Cooling : Make sure your oven is fully preheated to 350°F (175°C) before baking. This helps the cookies bake evenly and achieve the right texture. Leave about 1 inch between cookies on the baking sheet to allow for even baking and airflow. Watch the cookies closely and remove them when the edges are just turning golden. Spritz cookies bake quickly, so be careful not to overbake. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set and prevents them from breaking. Creative Additions: Try different jams, curds, or even chocolate spreads for the centers. Each filling can bring a new flavor profile to the cookies. Drizzle a simple icing made from powdered sugar and milk over the cooled cookies for added sweetness and decoration. Incorporate lemon or orange zest into the dough for a refreshing twist and aromatic flavor. Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to the dough for a spiced variation that complements the jam filling.
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Frequently asked questions
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