• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Mug Cake Recipes
  • Military Care Packages
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Mug Cake Recipes
  • Military Care Packages
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cookie Press (Spritz) Cookies

    Spritz Cookies Recipe with Shortening

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Jun 18, 2022 · Modified: Jun 23, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Spritz Cookies recipe with shortening is a melt in your mouth cookie to enjoy all year! The ingredients are especially ideal for hot weather snacking and shipping.

    Spritz cookies plain and in patriotic colors.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Spritz cookies, made with a cookie press, are the fastest way to make lots of beautiful cookies in all kinds of shapes in minutes. No cookie cutters or extra decorating needed!

    The discs available for cookie presses make it easy to create lots of different shapes and flavors of cookies year round. Simply change colors or sprinkles to match seasons or holidays.

    This spritz cookie recipe is made with heat resistant ingredients that help the cookies stay fresh for hot weather shipping or for summer picnics.

    Pipe these cookies in any color or try the easy method in the recipe for making cookies with a tie dye look! Perfect fireworks cookies for the 4th of July and a great addition to a 4th of July Care Package!

    Ingredients

    Ingredients labeled: flour, sugar, egg, shortening, vanilla, baking powder.

    Instructions

    This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    Instructions labeled: make dough, add color, make dough log and twist, cut dough in thirds.
    1. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the sugar and shortening until fluffy, then incorporate the egg and vanilla. Add the flour and baking powder and stir until combined. Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of water until a soft, plyable dough forms.
    2. For tie dye cookies, separate the dough into thirds. Add a few drops of gel food coloring to each portion or leave one portion plain. Mix until the color is uniform.
    3. Roll/form each dough color into a rope about 9" long. Combine the ropes and twist gently to form a spiral.
    4. Cut the spiral dough log into thirds.
    Instructions labeled: add ⅓ dough to cookie press, press cookies onto ungreased baking sheet.
    1. Add one of the dough thirds to the barrel of the cookie press.
    2. Press the spritz cookies onto an ungreased, unlined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake cookies for 5-7 minutes.

    Would you like to save this?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! Plus, you’ll get more great recipes and tips from us each week!

    Storage

    Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

    Tips and variations

    • Do not line or grease the cookie sheets, which could cause the dough to stick to the press rather than releasing onto the cookie sheet. The shortening in the recipe will keep the cookies from sticking to the baking sheet after baking.
    • Hold the cookie press upright against the cookie sheet and click the handle once. Lift the cookie press upward off the cookie sheet.
    • It can take a few trial cookies to position the dough for “perfect” shaped cookies. If you aren’t pleased with the first few cookies (or any others while pressing), simply remove them from the cookie sheet and add them back into the remaining dough.
    • If you are using the same cookie sheet for multiple batches of cookies, be sure that the cookie sheet is completely cool before reusing. A warm cookie sheet will cause the spritz dough to spread and loose its shape.
    • Add additional flavoring to this cookie. Use the one teaspoon vanilla extract in the recipe plus a half teaspoon of fiori di sicilia, fruit or almond extract.

    Spritz cookies in flower shapes on a plate.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you use any dough in a cookie press?

    No. A soft dough must be used in order to be pressed through the disc into shapes.

    Why don't my spritz cookies stick to the pan?

    Be sure the cookie sheet is cool. Spritz cookies must be pressed onto an ungreased cookie sheet so that the cookie dough sticks. Don't use parchment paper. The high fat content in these cookies will keep them from sticking to the pan after baking.

    Do you put sprinkles on spritz before or after baking?

    It is easiest to put sprinkles on the cookies before baking. However, a simple glaze can be used to stick sprinkles onto the cookies after baking as well.

    Is this a good care package recipe?

    Yes! Shortening and white sugar are ingredients that are the best choices for heat resistant cookies that will travel well and arrive tasting delicious even in hot summer weather. These cookies will stay fresh without vacuum sealing for up to 2 weeks.

    More Spritz cookies

    This cookie press recipe is super quick and easy because it starts with a cake mix! Dozens of buttery cookies in minutes!

    Cinnamon Spritz cookies are crisp butter cookies warmed with lots of cinnamon flavor.

    Chocolate Espresso Spritz Cookies will delight both chocolate and coffee lovers. Sandwich them together with melted chocolate for a gourmet treat!

    These adorable Strawberry Spritz Cookies are perfect for summer snacking. Get creative with the cookie press discs you already have!

    Ready to bake? Join the free membership group to get new recipes and a newsletter delivered to your inbox! You can also stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’d love to stay in touch!

    Spritz cookies, some plain and some colored, on a red plate.

    Spritz Cookies Recipe

    Use a cookie press to make these crunchy, melt-in-you-mouth cookies with shortening, a heat resistant cookies especially suited for hot weather snacking and shipping. An easy way to make lots of beautiful cookies in minutes!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American, European, German
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 70
    Calories: 50kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov
    Adapted From: Glitterandgoulash.com

    Equipment

    • cookie press
    • baking sheet

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup butter flavor vegetable shortening
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1-2 tablespoons water
    • food coloring gel optional
    • decorating sugar optional

    Instructions

    Basic Spritz cookie dough

    • Heat oven to 350° F.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the sugar and shortening until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
    • Mix in the egg and vanilla.
    • Add the flour and baking powder. Mix until combined.
    • Mix in 1 tablespoon of water. If needed, in tiny amounts continue to add additional water in tiny amounts, up to one more tablespoon, until a soft, plyable dough forms.
    • For uncolored spritz cookies, place dough into the barrel of the cookie press and press out cookies onto a cookie sheet. Add sprinkles, if desired, before baking.

    Tie Dyed decorating

    • Separate the dough into thirds.
    • Add a few drops of food coloring gel to each portion or leave one portion plain. Mix until the color is uniform.
    • Roll/form each dough color into a rope about 9" long.
    • Combine the ropes and twist gently to form a spiral. Cut the spiral dough log into thirds.
    • Add one of the dough thirds to the barrel of the cookie press. Press the spritz cookies onto an ungreased, unlined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
    • Bake for 5-7 minutes or just until the bottom edges of the cookies begin to turn golden brown.
    • Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, use a spatula to move the cookies onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
    • Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

    Notes

    • Do not line or grease the cookie sheets, which could cause the dough to stick to the press rather than releasing onto the cookie sheet. The shortening in the recipe will keep the cookies from sticking to the baking sheet after baking.
    • If you are using the same cookie sheet for multiple batches of cookies, be sure that the cookie sheet is completely cool before reusing. A warm cookie sheet will cause the spritz dough to spread and loose its shape.
    • Add additional flavoring to this cookie. Use the vanilla extract in the recipe plus a half teaspoon of almond, fiori di sicilia, or fruit flavoring.
    Packing tips
    Wrap stacks of cookies in plastic wrap. Place the stacks in a freezer weight ziplock bag. If vacuum sealing, wrap stacks of cookies in plastic wrap first to make the cookies sturdy enough not to crumble when sealing. Place the stacks in the vacuum seal bag and watch carefully to avoid too much pressure on the cookies.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

    You might also like:

    No related posts.

    « 4th of July Cookies
    4th of July Care Package »
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Wendy, a baker, care package maker, and smile creator. On The Monday Box you’ll find care package inspiration and recipes for delicious treats that make it easy for you to share home baked love. Let’s spread happiness, one cookie at a time!

    More about me →

    Brunch favorites

    • Ball shaped cookies with white icing and pastel nonpareil sprinkles.
      Italian Easter Cookies (Taralli Dolci Di Pasqua)
    • Orange Creamsicle Bars
    • Lemon and Lime Butter Cookie Rosettes
      Lemon and Lime Butter Cookie Rosettes
    • Closeup of sliced Italian Lemon Pound Cake
      Italian Lemon Pound Cake
    • Pastel colored cookies with crackled tops.
      Flourless Soft Almond Cookies (Pasticcini di Mandorle)
    • Bob Evans Cherry Bread Recipe

    Super easy mug cakes

    • Microwave Peach Cobbler
    • 3-2-1 Molten Lava Cake
      Lava Cake in a Mug
    • Chocolate cake in a mug topped with cherries and almonds.
      Black Forest Mug Cake
    • Orange Mug Cake in a white mug topped with orange marmalade.
      Orange Mug Cake
    • Piña Colada Mug Cake
    • Closeup of pineapple slice and maraschino cherry on top of vanilla mug cake.
      Pineapple Upside Down Mug Cake

    Most Popular

    • Closeup of raisin biscuit squares with golden crust speckled with raisins.
      Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies
    • Sliced loaf of honey cake on a white platter.
      Honey Applesauce Cake
    • Espresso Chocolate Shortbread Cookies- melt-in-your-mouth buttery shortbread made even better with added espresso and chocolate! | The Monday Box
      Espresso Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
    • Chocolate frosted mug cake a bowls of mix-ins
      Cake Mix Mug Cake

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    As Seen On

    Copyright © 2012 - 2025 The Monday Box, All Rights Reserved.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.