Valentines Day “Make Ahead” Spritz Cookies
With the Christmas tree packed away and New Year’s decor put up, it’s time to turn my attention to the next special day: Valentine’s Day. I’ll admit part of me thinks Valentine’s Day can be overblown, but I also love that it gives my family another reason to celebrate together — a chance to set a pretty table and enjoy a themed meal.
One of my favorite kinds of recipes is the make-ahead variety. Anything I can prepare in advance and freeze is a win. These spritz cookies are perfect for that. I make them ahead, freeze them, then pull them out as the day approaches. A few go into my daughter’s lunch as a special treat, and the rest get packaged into little gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends. They’re a sweet, simple treat almost everyone enjoys.
Let’s get started…
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Food coloring (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cream the butter and sugar thoroughly.
- Add the egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract; beat until combined.
- Whisk together the flour and baking powder, then gradually add to the wet mixture.
- Mix until a smooth dough forms — do not chill.
- If desired, divide the dough and add food coloring to each portion.
- Fill a cookie press and press shapes onto an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake 6–8 minutes, until the edges are just set.
This recipe yields about six dozen cookies.
Step-by-step process
Add the butter and sugar to a bowl and cream until light and fluffy.
Mix in the egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract until combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
If you use a mixer, the dough may look like fine crumbs at first; press it together by hand until it forms a smooth, cohesive dough.
Divide the dough into portions based on how many colors you plan to use. I made three colors for red, pink, and white cookies.
Color the dough with food coloring. I like concentrated icing colors for a deeper, more vibrant red without using as much dye.
Once colored, load the dough into your cookie press. Any standard cookie press will work.
Choose your disc — for these I used a heart-shaped disc — and press cookies onto the sheet. Practice a few presses to get the pressure and size right.
I lightly pat down the press marks with my finger so the cookies bake flat and it’s easier to add sprinkles. This step is optional since they will smooth slightly as they bake.
If you want sprinkles to stick, you can brush a very light egg-white wash on the tops or press the sprinkles into the dough by hand. The egg wash gives a slightly glossy finish; pressing by hand preserves a more matte look.
Bake the cookies until they are set. Remove to a rack to cool completely before packaging or storing.
These cookies make beautiful gifts. Package them however you like — in decorative bags, small boxes, or stacked on a festive plate. They also look lovely piled into a goblet or arranged on a platter for serving at home.
Whether you give them away or keep them all to yourself, these spritz cookies are a delightful, buttery treat for Valentine’s Day.
Enjoy!