There’s something simply magical about spritz cookies—their delicate shapes and buttery melt-in-your-mouth texture make every bite a celebration. What really sets this Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe apart is that luscious cream cheese addition, lending the cookies an unbeatable tenderness and subtle tang that you’ll notice right away.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe has quickly become one of my favorites for holiday baking and beyond. The process is straightforward, yet the results are impressive—those buttery, creamy bites with just the right amount of sweetness. Plus, you can get creative decorating them to match any vibe or season.
- Buttery and Tender Texture: The cream cheese blends in perfectly to make cookies that are soft but still hold their shape beautifully.
- Easy to Customize: Whether you color the dough, add sprinkles, or try different extracts, these cookies adapt well to your personal touch.
- Perfect for Cookie Press or Pastry Bag: No fancy equipment needed—you can use what’s comfortable for you and still get those classic spritz shapes.
- Quick to Bake: You’ll have dozens of cookies in under an hour, which makes them great for last-minute baking sessions.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe plays a crucial role to bring out flavor, texture, and that perfect piped shape. Here’s why I think they work so well together and some handy tips when you shop.
- Unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt balance. Make sure it’s softened so it creams easily with the cream cheese.
- Cream cheese: This is the secret ingredient that adds moisture and keeps cookies tender without losing structure.
- Granulated sugar: Provides just the right sweetness and helps with the cookie’s crisp edges.
- Egg yolk: Adds richness and helps bind the dough perfectly.
- Orange zest: Fresh zest is a game changer, brightening the flavor with lovely citrus notes.
- Vanilla extract: Essential for warmth and depth in the cookie’s flavor profile.
- Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all those buttery flavors.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the necessary structure; be gentle when mixing so the dough stays tender.
- Colored sugars, sprinkles, gel food coloring: These finishing touches add personality and fun to your cookies—don’t be shy!
Make It Your Way
I love mixing things up by adding different zest or sometimes playing with the colors of the dough—it’s such a fun way to make these spritz cookies uniquely yours. You might discover a new favorite flavor combo or a signature look for your cookie platters.
- Variation: Once, I added a touch of almond extract instead of vanilla, and it gave the cookies a lovely nutty twist that my family adored.
- Diet-friendly options: Try swapping regular sugar for coconut sugar or reducing it slightly if you prefer less sweetness.
- Seasonal changes: During holidays, I often sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top for an extra festive touch.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar
Start by making sure your butter and cream cheese are nicely softened (room temperature works best). In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugar on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy—about 3-4 minutes. Don’t rush this part; the fluffier the base, the lighter your cookies will be. Remember to scrape down the bowl sides halfway through to mix everything evenly.
Step 2: Add the Egg Yolk, Zest, and Vanilla
Next, add the egg yolk, fresh orange zest, vanilla extract, and kosher salt to the creamy mixture. Beat on medium speed for another minute until fully incorporated. The orange zest really wakes up the batter, adding a fresh zing you’ll love.
Step 3: Mix in the Flour Gently
Now for the flour—add it in two batches. Start with half and mix on low speed to avoid a flour cloud in your kitchen. Once that’s barely incorporated, add the rest and mix just until combined. This little care keeps your dough tender. At this point, if you want colored dough, add gel food coloring and mix it in evenly.
Step 4: Pipe and Decorate Your Cookies
Fill your cookie press with the dough or transfer it to a pastry bag with a large star tip if that’s what you have. Pipe shapes onto parchment-lined cookie sheets, spacing about an inch apart since they’ll spread a little. Decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar before baking to add that extra charm.
Step 5: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies in a 325°F oven for 10-12 minutes—just until they’re set but not browned. I like to let the pans cool completely before piping the next batch to prevent spreading. Once out of the oven, let them sit on the pan for 2 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Top Tip
I’ve made this Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe dozens of times and found a few tricks that really help the cookies come out perfectly every time—even if you’re a little new to cookie presses.
- Softened Ingredients: Make sure both butter and cream cheese are soft but not melted; this ensures smooth mixing and a tender dough.
- Don’t Overmix Flour: Mixing flour too much develops gluten and can make cookies tough—stir just until you no longer see flour.
- Chill Between Batches: Let your sheet pan cool before pressing more shapes to avoid spreading and maintain crisp edges.
- Use Fresh Zest: Fresh orange zest brightens the flavor so much more than dried or powdered versions—don’t skip it!
How to Serve Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
For me, a simple dusting of colored sugar or a handful of festive sprinkles is perfect because it adds sparkle without weighing down the delicate cookie. Sometimes I dip just one end in melted white chocolate and sprinkle crushed candy canes—pure party vibes!
Side Dishes
These cookies pair perfectly with a warm cup of tea or a fresh pot of coffee—it’s like a mini celebration in every bite. Serving them alongside a plate of fresh fruit or mild cheeses also surprises guests with a balance of flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
During the holidays, I like arranging the spritz cookies on a tiered serving tray, mixing shapes and colors in fun patterns. Sometimes I gift them in clear jars layered with ribbons, which always makes a lovely, homemade present that friends and family adore.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover spritz cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay fresh and tender for up to a week. Placing parchment paper between layers stops them from sticking together, which is a simple trick I swear by.
Freezing
If I want to bake ahead, I freeze baked cookies in a sealed freezer bag with parchment layers. When thawed at room temp, they taste just as fresh, which saves stress when hosting multiple gatherings.
Reheating
To bring back that just-baked warmth, I pop a few cookies in a 300°F oven for about 3-5 minutes. This refreshes their texture nicely without drying them out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Light or reduced-fat cream cheese can be used, but it may slightly affect the dough’s texture and tenderness. Regular cream cheese gives the best results for a rich, tender cookie.
Gel food coloring works best because it adds vibrant color without changing the dough’s consistency. Add a few drops once the dough is mixed, then knead or stir until the color is evenly distributed.
Absolutely! A pastry bag fitted with a large star tip works wonderfully and gives you more flexibility with shapes if you don’t have a cookie press handy.
Make sure your dough and cookie sheets are cool before piping. Also, don’t over-soften your butter and cream cheese or overbake them; baking at 325°F helps the cookies set without spreading excessively.
Final Thoughts
This Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen because it’s the one that always brings smiles and makes celebrations feel a little sweeter. Whether you're baking with kids, prepping gifts, or just craving a buttery, tender treat, these spritz cookies are pure joy on a plate. Trust me—you’ll find yourself whipping up batch after batch, and your kitchen will smell like happiness.
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Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies are buttery, tender, and light cookies enhanced with cream cheese and a hint of orange zest. These festive cookies are perfect for the holidays and decorated with colored sugars, sprinkles, or gel food coloring for a fun, customizable touch.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 8 ounces unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Decoration
- Colored sugars
- Sprinkles
- Gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat Oven. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar at medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again to ensure thorough combination.
- Add Flavorings. Add the egg yolk, orange zest, vanilla extract, and kosher salt to the bowl. Mix for another minute, then scrape the sides to fully incorporate all ingredients.
- Incorporate Flour. Add half of the all-purpose flour and mix at a slow speed to prevent flour from flying out. Add the remaining flour and mix until just incorporated, avoiding overmixing.
- Add Color (Optional). If desired, add gel food coloring to the dough directly in the mixing bowl or divide dough into portions to add different colors.
- Shape Cookies. Using a cookie press with your chosen shape, pipe the dough onto a parchment-lined or lightly greased sheet pan, leaving at least an inch between each cookie to allow for spreading. Decorate with colored sugars or sprinkles as desired. Alternatively, use a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip if no cookie press is available.
- Bake Cookies. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes until the cookies are set but not browned.
- Cool Cookies. Let the cookies cool on the sheet pans for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- If you don’t have a cookie press, a pastry bag with a large star tip works well for shaping the dough.
- Make sure dough is well chilled before pressing for best shapes and minimal spreading.
- Allow sheet pans to cool completely before piping another batch to prevent spreading.
- You can add gel food coloring to the entire dough or divide into smaller portions for multi-colored cookies.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
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