Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies are equal parts adorable and delicious! These buttery spritz cookies are warmed with cinnamon and baked until crisp. A cookie press makes it easy to create a whole flock of owl cookies in minutes.
For more cookie press spritz cookies, next time try Chocolate Espresso Spritz.
Why you'll love this recipe
I always hope that my cookies will create smiles. With Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies I have the opportunity for my cookies to do even more, as part of OXO’s fund raising campaign, Bake a Difference with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.
OXO has pledged $100,000 to help raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. During September, Childhood Cancer Awareness month, bloggers post recipes using OXO products and OXO donates $100 per blogger to Cookies for Kid’s Cancer.
I received some wonderful OXO products to bake with, you get a delicious recipe, and kids’ cancer research gets funding. That certainly makes me smile.
Using a cookie press is SO MUCH FUN! In minutes, you can press out dozens of cookies in shapes and flavors for all seasons.
The OXO Cookie Press is comfortable to use, even with my small hands. The press makes consistently shaped cookies with one squeeze of the lever.
Choose a shape from the 12 discs that come with the cookie press or chose a disc from the seasonal add-on sets. The owl disc is from the Autumn Disk Set.
Looking at all of the discs, I was bombarded with cookie ideas, but I couldn’t resist the owl’s potential for cuteness. Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies are definitely cute.
UPDATE: As of 2021, OXO is no longer selling the Autumn Disk Set. If you would like to make owls with your cookie press, Impress Bakeware makes an adorable set of discs for woodland creatures including an owl.
Spritz cookies were originally a German butter cookie. The word spritz is shortened from the German word “spritzen”, meaning “to squirt”, which is how the cookies are made.
They are pressed or “squirted” from a pastry bag (major muscle workout) or cookie press. The dough needs to be soft enough to squeeze out of a shaped disc, yet firm enough to hold the shape while baking.
Spritz cookie baking tips
- In order to create cookies that are light and crisp, the butter and sugar are creamed together for seven minutes and then again for another seven minutes after the egg is added. That’s a lot of creaming, but the results are worth the time.
- The flour should be mixed in by hand until just incorporated. Too much mixing can overdevelop the gluten, creating a dense cookie.
- Press the cookies directly onto the baking sheet. Nonstick spray, parchment paper, or silicone mats can cause the cookie not to stick when coming out of the cookie press and can cause spreading while baking. As textured baking sheet which helps grip the cookies and ensures even baking.
- Refrigerate the empty baking sheet as you are preparing the dough. A cold baking sheet helps the cookies retain their shape.
When it comes to decorating, I enjoy going overboard. However, I realize that not everyone has the time or interest for elaborate decorating. Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies are cute straight out of the oven, no embellishment required.
Each decoration added, simply ups the cuteness factor. It’s also not necessary to completely decorate every cookie.
I left some owls bare. Others received royal icing eyes and orange heart beaks. For the ultimate decorated owls, I painted the wings or chest with confectioners’ sugar and water “glue”, then sprinkled on some chocolate sprinkles.
Decorating tips
- Do NOT use Wilton or World Market candy eyes for these cookies. The eyes will melt in the oven. Generally, I have found that ALL puffy Wilton sprinkles are not meant to withstand oven temperatures. They are meant to be added as decoration on top of frosting.
- If Wilton eyes are the only candy eyes you can find, “glue” the eyes on after baking with confectioners’ sugar mixed with a bit of water.
- I used these royal icing candy eyes, which neither melted nor turned color in the oven.
Of course, Cinnamon Spritz Cookies don’t have to be owls. With so many discs to choose from, this recipe could be made for any occasion.
However, I can think of so many occasions when Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies would be the optimal shape: fall, Halloween Owls, graduation, teacher gifts, owl themed care packages (owls are a trendy motif), and Harry Potter celebrations.
More cute Halloween treats
Halloween Pretzels are super adorable, quick, easy, and delicious! Pick one or make all 5 designs.
Owl Marshmallow Pops are the perfect quick and easy Halloween snack for parties and centerpieces. They are great for Harry Potter themes too!
Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats raise the bar on buckeyes with personality! Peanut Butter, chocolate, and sooooo cute!
These Halloween Graham Crackers are sure to make you smile! Five, easy to create, chocolate dipped characters!
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Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ large egg beat 1 egg in small bowl, then use ½ for recipe
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Decorating
- Candy eyes
- Orange heart sprinkles beaks
- Chocolate sprinkles
- Confectioners’ sugar and water “glue” about ¼ cup sugar with ½ teaspoon water
Instructions
Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Place a cookie sheet in the refrigerator to chill.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon on high speed for 7 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl several times. The mixture should be light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and beat for another 7 minutes, scraping the bowl every few minutes.
- By hand, stir in the flour just until combined.
- Fill the cookie press cylinder, fitted with an owl disc, with about half of the dough. Press the cookies onto the chilled cookie sheet about 1” apart. If a cookie shape doesn’t come out properly, remove it from the cookie sheet and return the dough to the mixing bowl to reuse.
- Add the candy eyes and heart sprinkles (beaks) to the cookies. A tweezer can be helpful for placing and pressing the decorations into the dough.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes or until the bottom edges begin to brown.
- Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before placing on a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorating
- To add chocolate sprinkle feathers, prepare confectioners’ sugar glue by mixing together about ¼ cup of confectioners’ sugar with just enough water until a little thicker than white glue.
- Use a decorating brush to paint the sugar glue onto the wings or chest of the owl cookie, then drizzle sprinkles over the glue. Allow to dry for 1 hour before packaging or storing.
- Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies stay crisp for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Fill a plastic storage container with cookies.
- Place crinkled wax paper on top of the cookies to keep the cookies from moving within the container.
- The cookies can also be stored in freezer weight ziplock bags.
- Use packaging material to ensure that the storage container or ziplock bags can’t move around in the shipping box.
Nutrition
I was not compensated for this post, however I did receive free products from OXO for use in this recipe. All opinions are 100% my own. I only use and recommend products I believe in.
BABS
Thanks and very cute. I have had two different Spritz Cookie presses, and they cookies do not come out easily, or if they do not in the shape of the press. I have tried all different recipes and will give yours a try.
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Babs. Once you get the press going it gets easier. My most important tips are 1. The first several cookies pressed rarely come out right. Just pick the blob up and reuse the dough. 2. Don't line or grease the baking sheet. If the cookies still don't stick, try chilling the baking sheet. 3. Measure the flour carefully (spoon into the measuring cup, don't scoop) so that the dough isn't too thick to press. 4. If the dough is for some reason too thick, add a tiny bit of liquid (milk, water) to thin the dough but add it in tiny amounts because if the dough is too thin it won't hold it's shape. Good luck! I hope you will let me know how it goes.
Miz Helen
The cutest little owl's ever! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great weekend and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls
SOooo cute! I totally want to make them now.
The Monday Box
Thanks Ann! Spritz cookies are so easy to make with a cookie press. I couldn't help smiling at these cuties!
Jenny
These are so cute!! My kids would love them! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday
Lisa
Super Cute! Pinned it and will give them a try. Thanks for the recipe.
The Monday Box
Thank you, Lisa! I hope you enjoy making AND eating these. 🙂
Nicole
These owl shaped cookies are so cute! I have never used a cookie press, but I love that you can make shaped cookies like this with them. Thanks for the tip about baking Wilton candy eyes.
Stopping by from the #HomeMattersParty - hope you will link up with us again on Friday.
The Monday Box
Thank you, Nicole! I am a total beginner with a cookie press and am in love with how quick and easy it is to make dozens of shaped cookies! The animal shapes are my favorite. 🙂 Thanks for hosting the Home Matters Party.
Cindy Magee
SO adorable! I actually have some of those chocolate sprinkles right now at home and could try these out. 🙂
Visiting from last week's Wonderful Wednesday hop
The Monday Box
Thank you, Cindy! Sprinkles are a kitchen essential! 🙂 I hope you will give these a try! Thanks for hosting Wonderful Wednesday.
Miz Helen
Wendy,
Your Owl Cookies are just adorable and perfect for fall! I really appreciate you sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a safe and enjoyable weekend.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Susan @ Culinary Envy
Absolutely Adorable! I will take a dozen to go please!
April J Harris
What a wonderful campaign, and what delicious cookies! They are so cute too - what lovely little owls! Thank you so much for sharing, and for being a part of Hearth and Soul, Wendy. Will be pinning and sharing around.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
Oh Wendy these are such a perfect cookie! Adorable and tasty with great baking tips included. Love the tip about creaming the butter and sugar - will try that next time! What a great back-to-school themed cookie perfect for any smarty-pants 🙂 Have a terrific week!
Helen Reynolds
I love owls, so of course I pinned these! Thanks!
saltandserenity
You made me smile again! Mission accomplished. These are so cute. I have never made spritz cookies. I always thought it was so difficult to use one of those presses correctly. I have been properly schooled and I am now ready to try making them. I need more cookie tools like the South needs more rain, but I can not resist these OXO cookie presses. With all your tips and tricks, i am sure to succeed. Thanks
Chris Scheuer
Adorable is right! And I can eat my weight in Spritz cookies. They're so irresistible!
Monica
A great cause and what awesome cookies! They are just too adorable - I am amazed to see these great shapes in the cookie press. I always think of owls for a fun Halloween treat and this is so nice for the Fall or Halloween. You did a great job and thanks for the tip about the candied eyes. I had no idea! I've always been afraid of using a cookie press though I've wanted to make spritz cookies that way. You're giving me courage.