Spritz Cookies

INGREDIENTS  ♥ 1 cup butter (softened)  ♥ 1 cup granulated sugar  ♥ 1 egg  ♥ 1/4 tsp salt  ♥ 2 tsp vanilla  ♥ 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour  ♥ Cookie press  ♥ Sprinkles (optional) Baking quick notes:  Using exact butter measurement is imperative for formed dough, also do not use room temperature butter but butter that has softened up in about an hour, then grate into the mixing bowl, this way it retains it's shape. Keeping the cookie tray cooled before hand will also prevent the cookies from expanding and losing their shape.

Instructions:

•    Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
      
•     In a mixing bowl beat butter and sugar together until creamy. 
     
•     Add egg until well blended, if mixture starts to curdle add flour a little at a time. Once all flour is incorporated mix until well blended.
       
•     Roll a "log" of cookie dough thin enough that you can insert it into the tube of the cookie press, pack firmly. Select a faceplate for the cookie press and assemble as instructed for the unit. 
       
•     Press cookies onto a chilled baking sheet about 1" apart (add sprinkles here, opt.) and bake for 6-8 minutes until the edges are a light golden brown. Transfer to cooling rack. 

    

Makes approximately 2-3 dozen cookies depending on selected size and plate design.

Variation: Chocolate cookies can be made by adding two squares of unsweetened chocolate melted and gradually mixed into the batter before putting into the press. Likewise, you can tint the dough using gel food colouring to achieve vibrant festive colours when baking (do not overbake otherwise edges will brown).

Original Source: Unknown publisher