Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 12/18/2017

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Easy to make and fun to eat, cream cheese spritz cookies are a Christmas classic that are a fantastic addition to any cookie platter.

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (1)

I’m finally coming through with a Christmas cookie recipe, and it’s a classic. With a little Rachel Cooks twist, of course! I tuck these away in the freezer for all the upcoming Christmas events.

You’ll need a cookie press for this recipe – I’ve had mine forever but only use it at Christmas. This is the one I have and I have no complaints about it, but there are a lot of different brands to choose from.

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2)

Beyond the cookie press, these cream cheese spritz cookies are very simple. Lots of butter, full-fat cream cheese, sugar, flour. Paula Deen would be proud. You have to eat them while you’re sipping on your own homemade egg nog!

I add my own twist by sprinkling in some nutmeg. I adore the flavor that nutmeg gives to otherwise simple cookies. I always add it to my sugar cookie cut-outs. The nutmeg is what sets these apart from cookies you buy at the grocery store. It’s the ingredient that will have people asking for the recipe after they try one of these cookies.

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (3)

Spritz cookies also a super fun cookie to have the kids help with because of the press and sprinkling on the sugar. I didn’t have my kids help because I’m the worst type-A mom ever, but for a mom (or dad!) with patience in the kitchen I’m sure it would be fun.

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (4)

Fun twists on these Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies:

  • Add different extracts instead of vanilla. Try peppermint (1/4 teaspoon will likely be enough, it’s potent), almond, or lemon.
  • Add food coloring to make these cookies festive colors!
  • Dip into chocolate for extra decadence.

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (5)

Enjoy these fun cookies! Did I mention that they freeze beautifully? Cool them completely and store in an airtight container for up to a month. Take some of the pressure off by doing a little baking well in advance. I like to keep a log of slice and bake cookie dough in the freezer, too, like these crispy sand tart cookies, for easy last minute baking.

More great Christmas cookie recipes:

  • Andes Mint Cookies
  • Mexican Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
  • Easy Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats
  • Gingersnap Cookies with White Chocolate and Cranberries
  • Peppermint Sugar Cookie Sandwiches with Chocolate Ganache
  • Gingerbread Shortbread Cookies with Cranberries
  • Peppermint Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (6)

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas

4.32 from 257 votes

60 -70 cookies

Print Rate Recipe

Easy to make and fun to eat, cream cheese spritz cookies are a Christmas classic that are a fantastic addition to any cookie platter.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2sticks)
  • 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened (full-fat is best)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • decorator's sugar, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer and cream together butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light in color and fluffy.

  • Add egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

  • Add flour, nutmeg, and salt and stir until all ingredients are combined.

  • Using a cookie press, press the cookies out onto (unlined) baking sheets about an inch apart from each other. If desired, sprinkle with colored decorator's sugar.

  • Bake for 15 minutes -- they will still be light in color when baked.

Notes

  • Don't use parchment paper lined baking sheets for this recipe as it will make it very difficult to use the cookie press.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2cookies, Calories: 74kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 27mg, Sugar: 7g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Rose says

    Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (14)
    THere is no mention of baking powder/soda in the recipe and mine came out flat as wafers.

    Reply

  2. Lori L Certalic says

    Going to make these tonight, DON’T grease the cookie sheets?? Thank you :)

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Correct! If you grease the pan, the cookies won’t release from the cookie press. Hope you love them!

      Reply

  3. Joan Wasdovitch says

    I don’t have fresh nutmeg, can I use the ground nutmeg that comes in a container?

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Yes, definitely!

      Reply

  4. Liz says

    Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (15)
    These turned out sooooooo great!! Super easy and very yummy. Put a batch in the freezer to save for Christmas Eve. Thank you for another great recipe!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I’m so glad you liked them! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply

  5. Denise says

    Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (16)
    sounds easier than a recipe I used in the past.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Awesome!

      Reply

  6. Judi says

    My mother made canisters and canisters of a very similar recipe every Christmas when I was a child. I made this recipe for the first time this past December (as my mother’s recipe has somehow disappeared) and they brought back a very happy memory. I just made a batch of hearts for Valentines Day. Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I love how food is tied to memories! Thank you for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  7. Judy says

    I just made this recipe. I was able to make 10 cookies but once I reloaded the cookie press I had a problem with the dough appearing to be gummy and thick which would not allow the dough to express.
    What could have happened?

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Hmm, it could be the dough got too soft and sticky. Was it quite warm in your kitchen?

      Reply

      • Stacey Wierzbicki says

        The same thing happen to me. But it wasn’t that warm in the kitchen. I have no idea how to fix this. The first batch I did get done was tasted wonderful!

        Reply

        • Rachel Gurk says

          Try popping it in the fridge for a bit and see if that helps!

          Reply

  8. Rachel says

    Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (17)
    Been making there for years. Always a staple of my Christmas and Work cookie exchange.
    Thanks for the wonderful recipe! (I don’t have a cookie press and so I shape them by hand)

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      So glad you like them! They look great!

      Reply

  9. Tia says

    Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (19)
    I made these for the first time today. They came out great!! I had a bit of trouble with the electric press, so I just pushed the dough out manually, but the recipe was perfect. They stuck to the baking sheet just like they are supposed to. I’m currently living in the EU, in a country that doesn’t have brick style cream cheese. They only have cream cheese in containers, and that type of cream cheese has a higher water content than US brick style. What we have to do, even when making cream cheese frosting , is to add corn starch to the sugar. I’m wondering if those people who’ve had issues with the dough used container style cream cheese vs a block.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Great thought, you might be right!

      Reply

Older Comments

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for Christmas Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a spritz cookie and a butter cookie? ›

What is the difference between spritz and butter cookies? These cookies are nearly identical, except for one ingredient: egg. Egg makes the Spritz cookie dough a bit easier to work with, but it also helps the cookies keep their shape when baked.

Should you use parchment paper when baking spritz cookies? ›

No do not use parchment paper and do not grease the cookie sheet either. Spritz are butter cookies so they need something grippy to grip onto. And since there is so much butter in the recipe they come off the cookie sheet very easily.

When making spritz cookies do you decorate before or after baking? ›

If you decide to use icing make sure the cookies are cooled completely before decorating them and don't add any sprinkles before baking. This spritz cookies recipe bakes quickly so keep an eye on them, you don't want them to brown they should just be starting to turn ever so slightly golden at the edges.

Why are my spritz cookies tough? ›

Simply adding the flour to the stand mixer and beating it in runs the risk of overdeveloping gluten and giving you a tough or dense cookie (not what you want after all that work with the creaming). Instead, the best method is to add the flour and mix it in by hand, stopping as soon as no dry flour remains.

What is the best cookie sheet for spritz cookies? ›

Insulated Cookie Sheets

Pros: Cookie sheets are insulated to prevent the bottoms of the cookies from browning too much or too quickly and are ideal for when you're baking thin or delicate cookies, or treats should be lightly colored, such as spritz cookies and shortbread.

Why do my spritz cookies stick to the press? ›

If the dough is sticking to the bottom of the press instead of adhering to the pan, it might be too soft. Place it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 minutes and try again. Butter is highly recommended when making Spritz cookie dough.

Why won t my spritz cookies stick to the cookie sheet? ›

*If your cookies are not sticking to the cookie sheet well, try refrigerating the pans for 10 to 15 minutes to chill them. Dough sticks better to a cooler sheet. Never use non-stick cookie sheets!

What is the secret to using a cookie press? ›

Here are some tips whether you're using a manual or electric cookie press.
  • Allow sufficient time. ...
  • Use only cookie press recipes. ...
  • Don't grease your cookie sheet. ...
  • Remove air from the press. ...
  • Hold the press flat on the baking sheet. ...
  • Don't overload the cookies. ...
  • Practice. ...
  • Pause before lifting.
Oct 30, 2019

Why won't my spritz cookies stick to the pan? ›

So check your disc if your Spritz dough is not sticking to your pan. You must use cooled off cookie sheets so the cookies will stick to pan and come out of the press with no problem. Cookie sheets can not be warm. That is the answer.

Why did my spritz cookies spread in the oven? ›

Warm Cookie Sheets

If you're batch baking your cookies, make sure you're placing cookie dough on cooled cookie sheets. If the cookie sheets are too warm, they can cause the cookies to spread.

Why do my spritz cookies taste like flour? ›

Generally that floury taste can be attributed to several things. Too much flour, bad recipe, improper mixing or underbaking, but the most common culprit is too much flour. Too much flour is most usually caused by scooping with the measuring cup and is probably the most common kitchen mistake made today.

How do you keep spritz cookies from spreading? ›

Helpful Hints and Tips for Perfect Spritz Cookies:

Do not chill the dough before using. The dough should be at room temperature so it can be piped through the press. If your cookies start to spread or your kitchen is warm, try chilling the pans in the refrigerator for a few minutes before piping the cookies on the pan.

Why is my Spritz cookie dough crumbly? ›

First, try adding more liquid to the dough. This can be milk, water, or even just a little bit of extra oil. If that doesn't work, you can try kneading the dough for a few minutes to help it come together. Lastly, if all else fails, you can always add in a few tablespoons of flour to help bind the dough together.

What ingredient makes cookies harder? ›

Baking powder

Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate and acidic salts. The reaction of these two ingredients results in a cookie that is soft and thick, but slightly harder.

What is the difference between a spritz cookie and a shortbread cookie? ›

Spritz cookies are tender and have an enriched dough.

You can take most spritz cookie and shortbread recipes and side by side the only difference in ingredients is a single egg. An egg doesn't seem like anything extraordinary, but in a recipe with only four other ingredients, that single egg changes a lot.

Why are they called butter cookies? ›

Butter cookies, also known as Danish butter cookies, are cookies originating in Denmark consisting of butter, flour, and sugar. They are similar to shortbread cookies. The butter cookie is often categorized as a "crisp cookie" due to its texture, caused in part by the quantity of butter and sugar.

What is the difference between spritz and sugar cookies? ›

What are the differences between spritz cookie dough and sugar cookie dough? Mainly texture. Sugar cookie dough is firm enough to be rolled out and cut. Spritz dough has to be soft enough to extrude through a press.

Is there a difference between sugar cookies and butter cookies? ›

Butter cookies (probably unsurprisingly) also contain a higher percentage of butter while sugar cookies have a higher flour to butter/fat ratio. Here is my favorite recipe for sugar cookies (and it's a good one, just check out all those 5 star ratings!).

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