These cream cheese spritz cookies are the best spritz cookie recipe ever! They’re tender, full of flavor and so pretty when dipped in chocolate and sprinkles. A must have for any holiday celebration!
If you think classic spritz cookies are boring, think again! These cute little guys are the ultimate Christmas cookie that is sure to become a family favorite.
I’m going to be honest and tell you that for the longest time I thought spritz cookies were boring. Now that I’ve discovered these amazingly delicious cream cheese spritz cookies, I’m a total convert. They’re everything a good holiday cookie should be, and when you dip them in chocolate and sprinkles? They get even better.
WHAT IS A SPRITZ COOKIE?
The name spritz comes from a German word spritzen, which means to squirt. They are named this way because a soft butter cookie dough is pushed through a cookie press to make intricate designs.
How to make spritz cookies
This recipe is actually quite simple yet yields the most impressive results. The dough takes about 5 minutes to put together and contains the usual suspects – flour, butter, sugar, vanilla, egg, along with some cream cheese. There’s no chilling required here, the dough goes straight into a spritz cookie press and you’re ready to make some beautiful treats. I used a variety of cookie designs here, all the discs came with my press and it’s easy to just unscrew the bottom and change to a different disc as you go.
These cookies don’t spread much, so you can fit a bunch of them on one pan too. I divided my dough in half and colored part of it green. That’s totally optional but it sure does look pretty. The cookies bake for just 10 minutes, then after they cool you’re ready to start decorating.
WHAT IS A COOKIE PRESS?
A cookie press is an inexpensive kitchen device that consists of a cylinder with a plunger on one end. The cylinder is filled with cookie dough and decorative discs are attached to the front of the press so that when the cookie dough is extruded, it will come out in a unique and attractive design.
I dip my cream cheese spritz cookies in white and dark candy melts, then add festive holiday sprinkles. This is a great project for the kids, my girls had so much fun with it! The chocolate coating really makes these cookies special, it adds a lot of flavor but also makes them look really fancy. These cookies keep well at room temperature in a covered container for up to 3 days, and they freeze beautifully too.
No holiday celebration is complete without the classics, and these cream cheese spritz cookies are a requirement in my opinion! You won’t believe how good they taste and you’ll get tons of compliments on how beautiful they look.
MORE FESTIVE HOLIDAY RECIPES
Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- green food coloring optional
- 10 ounces white and/or dark chocolate candy melts
- assorted holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a non stick baking mat.
- Place the butter, cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of a mixer. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Add the egg yolk and vanilla, beat until combined.
- Add the flour and mix until just blended.
- Divide the dough in half. Color half the dough green if desired.
- Shape 1/4 of the dough into a log and place into the barrel of the cookie press.
- Spritz the cookies directly onto the baking sheet, about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set and light golden brown on the edges.
- Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat the process with the remaining dough.
- After all cookies have cooled, place the dark and white candy melts into two bowls. Microwave one bowl at a time in 30 second increments until melted, stir until smooth.
- Dip the cookies halfway into the chocolate and decorate with sprinkles. If the dipping chocolate starts to harden, microwave for a few seconds to re-melt.
- Let dry completely, then serve, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on November 28, 2017 and was updated on November 15, 2018 with new content.
Robin B says
How did you get the trees such a rich dark shade of green please? They are so beautiful!
Sara says
I used a gel food coloring, Wilton and Ateco make them. And I just kept adding until I got a color I liked. Try adding 5-6 drops, mix it together, then add 1-2 more drops at a time until you get your desired shade.
Deborah Aydlott says
I have a Tye 1 diabetic grandson so we are always looking for treats with less carb count and this one fits the bill for sure..thanks so much for putting the nutrition facts on here it is so hard sometimes having to guess at the carbs to give him his insulin…this makes it so easy all the way around and I know they are going to love making these for our Christmas baking during their time off from school!
Sara says
I hope he enjoys the cookies, thanks for writing in! Happy Holidays!
Darlene says
Can I make them 3 weeks before and freeze them?
Sara says
Yes, I would recommend freezing them undecorated, then thaw at room temp and decorate with chocolate and sprinkles!
Phillip Peters says
You recommend keeping cookies in an air tight container for up to 3 days. Can they keep longer? I would like to give them as Christmas gifts!
Sara says
You could definitely go to 5 days, possibly even 7 🙂
Heather says
These cookies are so bright and pretty for the holidays. I definitely will try to make them! The shapes are the cutest and look so much better than our usual drop cookies.
David Elliott says
I can see why they would be so delicious. Always looking to make new holiday treats. I will have to try this out.
L Michelle Williams says
What a wonderful post! These look delish, I love christmas desserts–always tasty. Thanks for sharing.
Monique Starks says
These cookies look beautiful! I love how you decorated them!
bestiesnotepad says
These cookies look beautiful and delicious. The recipe looks rather simple too, I’ll give it a shot.
Keshia Richmond says
Excellent recipe that I’m eager to try especially with the cream cheese. I love these types of holiday cookies.
Schilly Construction Inc says
Wow, who new you could make these homemade and so neat. These cookies are a favorite of mine.
Lynne says
When you say sugar do you mean icing sugar or regular white granulated sugar ?
Sara says
This recipe calls for regular white granulated sugar!
T hart says
Could you use a sugar substitute?
Sara says
I haven’t tried it that way but I think it would work fine!
Abovewill says
I made as directed except opted for a piping bag as my cookie press is on the fritz. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Lisa Ramos says
I’m thinking of adding peppermint extract…should I replace the vanilla with peppermint or add in addition to?
Sara says
You can add peppermint in addition to the vanilla!
Laura says
Made these tonight for a cookie exchange at work tomorrow. However, I’m never one to leave a recipe in its original state so I replaced the vanilla extract with orange extract, added the zest of an orange and 1/2 c. finely chopped Pomegranate juice infused Craisins. I also used Baker’s White Chocolate as it has a higher cocoa butter content so isn’t waxy like some other chocolates can be with a lower or no cocoa butter content. They tasted amazing and were beautiful.
Sara says
I love the changes you made, can’t wait to try it that way!
Laura says
Thanks. I hope you enjoy my variation.
Laura says
I added a pic with the variation info on the Pinterest location.
jane row says
What about a comment on how they taste?
Sara says
I’ve noticed that people often post their reviews of recipes in other places like on Pinterest, looks like someone made them and left a note here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/283375001538741798/
Hope that helps!
Debbie says
Oh so perfect for my holiday baking group!
brianne says
These look super delicious and festive. I will have to try these for the holidays!
Carol Cassara says
Cream cheese? I am definitely game for this recipe! I like the decorations as well, it’s really nice to have in your table on Christmas or to give to guests!
AnnMarie John says
One of the things that I look forward to during the Holidays would be the cookies! I think these are adorable and I love how you decorated them!
Marissa Zurfluh says
These look absolutely delicious! I would love to make some of these for Christmas!
Rachel Ferrucci says
The cookies are amazing looking but OMG I need these. I’m bookmarking the page- Thank you
Theresa says
Ohh, these have my name written all over them! I like how you colored half green. They are so festive and pretty!
Pam says
These spritz cookies look so good. I have always enjoyed spritz cookies. I haven’t made them in ages.
Dogvills says
There are so many holiday cookie recipes coming out and I am finding it hard to choose which ones to make. However, your cream cheese spritz cookies will be on the top of my list of cookies to bake this holiday season. Yummy!
Marcie W. says
Spritz cookies are perfect for the holiday season and yours look fantastic! I bet the cream cheese makes them extra soft too.
travel blogger says
I AM TOTALLY GOING TO MAKE THESE FOR OUR COOKIE SWAP! they LOOK SO INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS AND PRETTY TOO!
SHell says
These are super cute! And a family favorite- I’ll have to make them this christmas!
Maureen says
These cream cheese spritz cookies are dangerous! Haha. I would want to eat them all up. I will be trying to make these for our holiday gatherings this year.
Stacie says
Those look AWESOME! I’ve never heard of cookies like this before, but I see several dozen of them in my future! Tasty.
Bill Sweeney says
We will have to make these cream cheese spritz cookies! I love how they look! When you mention cream cheese, I’m definitely interested!
Tracey says
These cookies looks soo good! I love anything with cream cheese so I am adding these to my holiday baking list.
robin rue says
Those cookies are so festive. I Love how they call came out. I need to make some when I host xmas.