Description
Red velvet spritz cookies bring classic holiday charm with a modern twist. Rich cocoa and cream cheese frosting create irresistible elegance you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
Flavor and Color Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon red paste food coloring
- 1 tablespoon water (if needed for consistency)
Garnish:
- Nonpareils or sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), creating an optimal baking environment for delicate spritz cookies.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip the butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until the mixture transforms into a light, airy consistency, which typically takes 2-3 minutes of vigorous mixing.
- Infuse the dough with vibrant flavor by incorporating vanilla extract, peppermint extract, egg, and red food coloring, stirring until the ingredients are thoroughly integrated and the mixture achieves a uniform crimson hue.
- Prepare the dry ingredients by whisking flour and baking cocoa in a separate bowl, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, gently combining until a soft, malleable dough emerges. If the texture seems overly firm, introduce a tablespoon of water to enhance smoothness.
- Load the dough into a cookie press, selecting an intricate disc to create eye-catching shapes.
- Carefully press the cookies onto ungreased baking sheets, positioning them approximately one inch apart to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Embellish the unbaked cookies with a sprinkle of nonpareils or festive sprinkles, adding a delightful decorative touch.
- Slide the baking sheets into the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching carefully to ensure the cookies set without developing excessive browning.
- After removing from the oven, allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for two minutes, then transfer to wire cooling racks to complete the cooling process.
Notes
- Chill the dough briefly if it becomes too soft, ensuring crisp, well-defined spritz cookie shapes.
- Swap food coloring for natural alternatives like beetroot powder for a chemical-free red hue.
- Use gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies suitable for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Experiment with different extracts like almond or orange to create unique flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (per batch)
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 146
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 64 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg