Spritz Cookies

[duh]

I've ordered my cookie press with cutouts and they should be here by mid December.  Can anyone give me any hints or tips about using the cookie press or making these kinds of cookies?  All information is appreciated.

[patches]

Duh, I've been looking for a recipe that was given to me years ago for Chocolate Spritz Cookies, since I didn't like the almond flavor in them, and I didn't like the recipe for Lemon Spritz either, but I love chocolate. 

Well, as far as any tips or hints, all I can say is a lot of practice and patience.     Of course, when I tried making these I still had two small children running around, so I was a little short in both of these areas.  I do remember that the chocolate cookies were very good, but they really weren't much to look at.  Geesh, if I would had a dog at the time, I don't anyone would have even tried them, if that gives you any idea what they looked like.    I think I tried making them another time or two, then finally gave the cookie press away.   

[duh]

wow, I hope I have better luck.  I'll definitely make them one of several recipes I make so that if they don't turn out I'll still have something for the trade.

Thanks for the heads up.

It's a good thing that the press I bought doubles as a decorator tip press.  I can't think of what to call it.  But instead of using bags I can use the press instead.  It comes with about 6 different tips.

[patches]

Actually, Duh, the press I bought had a sheet of hints and tips on how to use it, so maybe the one you're getting will have that too.  It probably wasn't that hard to do, but at that time I really didn't have the time or energy to try to perfect the technique. 

[duh]

I found a chocolate butter spritz recipe.  Maybe this would be the best one to do.

Chocolate Butter Spritz

If you're in a hurry, you can also make these as drop cookies simply by dropping rounded teaspoonfuls of the dough onto the cookie sheets.
 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons creme de cacao or milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
Chocolate sprinkles or finely chopped nuts (optional)

In a large mixing bowl beat the butter or margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the powdered sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa powder; beat till combined. Beat in the egg yolk, creme de cacao or milk, and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Do not chill dough.

Pack the dough into a cookie press fitted with desired plate. Force dough through press 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. If desired, sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles or chopped nuts.

Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or till edges of cookies are firm but not brown. Remove cookies from pans and cool on a rack.

[patches]

Hey, Duh, this sounds terrific,    and I might try this since it won't require a cookie press.   I love Sprita cookies.     Thanks a bunch for posting this!   

[duh]

Your very welcome.  I was searching for something else and just happened to come across this.  We get lucky from time to time don't we?

[patches]

Duh, I think I'm going to try to make these as soon as I'm finished at school.    They should be really rich with a whole cup a butter in them.  I'm also thinking about doing part of the batch with a half of maraschino cherry on top of it to see how it turns out.   

[Penny]

Oh wow, do these ever sound yummy!!!!
Thanks for sharing Duh!!

[patches]

I was wondering if anone else has tried making Spritz cookies without using a cooke press?   If so, how did they turn out?   

[duh]

It does look like it's going to be very rich.  But, it's christmas so splurging is allowed right?

[patches]

Boy, it sure is, Duh!  Actually, I always thought that what Christmas was all about and then you get to follow it with your New Year's resolution about how you're going to start your new diet on January 1st!   

[duh]

lol @ patches.  Don't mention the dreaded "D" word yet it's still December lol.

[patches]

Actually, Duh, I've always been so active I've never had to worry about dieting,    so I guess I'm lucky because I really do love to eat!    I know most of my friends always order the diet drinks and I don't know how they can tolerate the taste. 

[duh]

I agree with you about the diet drinks.  When I became disabled I began putting on weight big time because I couldn't be as active as I used to be.  Your lucky that you can still do the things you want to.

My candy themometer arrived yesterday but not the cookie press.  Maybe today or tomorrow. 

[patches]

Actually, Duh, if I accidently get served a diet drink I can always tell when I take the first sip!  It seems to leave an aftertaste that stay with me.     I thank God every day that I'm as mobile as I am because I have one friend who has MS and another who has to use a walker if she's walking any distance!   

When I got up this morning I was in a cooking mood and was going to make the Chocolate Spritz Cookies. Unfortunely, I was out of powdered sugar  and I didn't want to venture out in the lousy weather, so I passed on the idea.  I'm really anxious to try them.   When you get your cookie press, let me know if it comes with any instructions.  Maybe I've got a little more patience now and could manage it.   

[duh]

I will do that.  Yesterday the cookie iron came in for the rosettes and I can't wait to do those.  They are another one that is very fattening.  Just the way I like my cookies.

I doubled up on my stock of everything other than brown sugar for all the baking I plan to do.  I hope everything turns out because I spent a bucket of money that should have went to pay down bills.

[patches]

Actually, I haven't bought any of my baking stuff yet and won't do that until I get my grades turned in.  It's juist that it was so cold yesterday that I thought it would be a good idea to kill two birds with one stone!  It would warm up the house more and I would have some great cookies to eat!   

[duh]

I've been doing the rosette cookies today.  They are labor intensive so I'm taking a break after the first 15 cookies.  I'll go back to it after I've visited all the topics. 

[patches]

Duh, I never tried messing with those, but I remember one of my aunt's used to make them and they looked like too much work for me.    Of course, I do make Krusczyki, which is a fried Polish cookies that I love!    Just how many of these cookies are you making?   

[duh]

I think the recipe must make about a million.  I stopped at 30.
I still have batter leftover lol.  Maybe i'll get ambitious and make somemore tomorrow.

Here is the information that came with my cookie presser that arrived today.

- For best results, do not use nonstick cookie sheets or parchment paper.  Use an ungreased cookie sheet or cover a nonstick surface with foil.

- Always use smooth cookie dough, fillings, icings or frostings.  Chopped huts, fruit and chips may not pass through the disks or tips.

- Dough and mixtures should be soft and pliable before using.  Always use room temperature dough.

I'm glad you asked me to look at these directions.  I wouldn't have considered 1 and 3 and might have had a really bad time with the cookies.  Not something I need.

[patches]

I think the recipe must make about a million.  I stopped at 30. 

Hey, Duh, it sounds like you're really on a roll and doing great with your Rosette cookies!  Now you only have to make 999,970 more!!!      

Geesh, the directions for the cookie press don't sound bad at all.  It seems to me that the ones I had made it sound like I would have to be double-jointed to make them.  I remember trying to practice holding my wrist the way they said and then turning it  another way when I tried to drop the dough, but the chocolate ones still looked like something the dog left behind!    

[duh]

sounds like your dough was too pliable lol.  I'll be making these spritz cookies right before the last sunday before Christmas.  I'll let you know how it does.  Or maybe I'll make them for the pot luck on the sixteenth.  That soulds like a good idea.  So I'll let you know.

[patches]

Well, looking back and knowing what I know now, you're probably right, Duh!  I was young and impatient and thought I could be the next Betty Crocker,  so when something I tried wouldn't work like I wanted, I went on to try something that would.     I probably, didn't give the cookie press much of a chance back then.   

[duh]

I still have that problem most of the time.  Since I don't have much belief in myself as a cook if something doesn't turn out I usually don't try it again. 

I'm getting better at it with practice but, the old feelings are still there to be dealt with.