Recipe: Lemon Spritz Cookies

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

1 large egg

Finely grated zest of 1/2 medium lemon (about 1 teaspoon)

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Step 1

Arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat to 350°F. Have 2 unlined, ungreased, preferably aluminum (not nonstick) baking sheets ready.

Step 2

Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.

Step 3

Place the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer and large bowl.) Beat on low speed until combined, then beat on medium speed until fluffy and lightened in color, about 3 minutes.

Step 4

Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the egg, zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. Return the mixer to medium speed and beat until well-combined, about 1 minute.

Step 5

Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl again. Add the flour mixture, return the mixer to low speed, and mix until just incorporated. Do not overmix.

Step 6

Fill the cookie press with as much dough as will fit. Fit the press with a die. Press the dough directly onto 2 baking sheets, spacing them as close together as the press will allow. Press only 1 shape per baking sheet, as different shapes (i.e., trees and wreaths) have different baking times. Refill the cookie press with more dough as needed.

Step 7

Bake the cookies for 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets between racks and from front to back. Bake until the cookies are a pale golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes more depending on the shape, removing any sheets of cookies that are ready first. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat with pressing and baking the remaining dough, being sure to cool the baking sheets completely between batches.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: Serves 12
• Calories: 276 cal
• Total Fat: 16.0 g
• Saturated Fat: 9.9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0.0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 140.1 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 30.0 g
• Dietary Fiber: 0.7 g
• Total Sugars: 9.9 g
• Protein: 3.4 g