There's something delightfully nostalgic and tender about buttery, melt-in-your-mouth spritz cookies, especially when they have that gentle tang from cream cheese. This Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe takes the classic buttery cookie up a notch, turning simple ingredients into little festive bites that are as fun to decorate as they are to eat.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made plenty of spritz cookies, but adding cream cheese into the mix makes them wonderfully tender and just a little richer. It’s like rediscovering a childhood favorite but with a surprisingly soft texture that you don’t expect from spritz cookies.
- Perfect Texture: The cream cheese gives the cookies a tender crumb without sacrificing that classic spritz snap.
- Easy to Customize: With the dough so soft and pliable, you can easily add colors or sprinkles to suit any holiday or mood.
- Reliable and Foolproof: I’ve found this recipe forgiving — it holds its shape beautifully and bakes evenly every time.
- Bright Orange Zest Flavor: The subtle hint of citrus balances the richness, making bites refreshing and addictive.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient here plays a key role in achieving the texture and flavor that make this Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe stand out. From the tangy cream cheese smoothing the dough to the punch of orange zest, it's all about balance.
- Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level and gives the cookies a tender, creamy base.
- Cream Cheese: This adds moisture and richness that keeps the cookies soft without being greasy.
- Granulated Sugar: This sweetens just enough while helping with the crisp edges spritz cookies are known for.
- Egg Yolk: It binds everything together and enriches the dough for that melt-in-your-mouth feel.
- Orange Zest: Fresh zest brightens the dough with a fresh citrus note, my secret to making spritz cookies feel special.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and depth to the flavor.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances all the sweetness and balances the richness perfectly.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives structure while letting the dough stay soft enough for pressing shapes.
- Colored Sugars & Sprinkles: Fun for decorating! Choose your favorites to dress up the cookies.
- Gel Food Coloring: Optional, but great for adding cheerful color without changing dough texture.
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to tweak according to your style — whether you want classic white cookies or a rainbow of colors. I love dividing the dough and tinting it with different gel colors to create festive assortments.
- Citrus Switch-Up: Swap orange zest for lemon or lime zest for a tangy twist — I tried lemon once and it was fresh and bright!
- Dietary Modification: For a gluten-free version, use a trusted gluten-free flour blend, but watch the dough consistency—it might need a tad more flour.
- Decorations Galore: Feel free to get creative with royal icing, edible pearls, or even a light dusting of powdered sugar after baking.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream Together Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar
Start by softening both your butter and cream cheese — room temperature is key here. I usually let them sit out for about an hour, or pop soft blocks in the microwave for 15 seconds (don’t melt them!). Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, I cream these together with the sugar on medium speed until it’s fluffy and smooth, scraping down the sides halfway through so everything combines evenly.
Step 2: Add Egg Yolk, Orange Zest, Vanilla, and Salt
Next, toss in the egg yolk, freshly grated orange zest, vanilla extract, and kosher salt. Beat again for about a minute until everything’s incorporated. The orange zest makes all the difference, offering freshness that I find keeps these cookies from tasting too rich.
Step 3: Incorporate the Flour & Add Color
Slowly add in half the flour first while mixing on low speed to avoid a flour cloud in your kitchen (been there!). Then add the rest and beat just until combined. This is also where I sometimes divide the dough into separate bowls and knead in different gel colors to brighten up the batch.
Step 4: Shape Your Cookies with a Cookie Press
Attach your favorite cookie press disk and pipe the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them at least an inch apart. If you don't have a cookie press, a large star tip on a pastry bag works perfectly. Feel free to sprinkle with colored sugar or sprinkles before baking.
Step 5: Bake & Cool
Bake in your preheated 325°F oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies should be set but not browned. Cool them on the pan for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key here — pulling them too soon might cause breakage, and too hot to handle means misshapen cookies.
Top Tip
After baking dozens of batches, I’ve learned a few key things that make this Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe truly shine.
- Keep Dough Cool: If your dough gets too warm while pressing, pop it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes — it firms up and presses better.
- Don’t Overbake: The cookies bake quickly and keep their delicate texture best if you pull them right at the set-but-not-browned stage.
- Spacing is Key: Give enough room for the cookies to expand slightly without sticking together; I space at least an inch apart.
- Cool Before Next Batch: Let your baking sheets cool completely before pressing dough again to avoid the cookies spreading too much.
How to Serve Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually go for a sprinkle of colored sugar or festive nonpareils right before baking — it adds a nice sparkle and crispness. Sometimes, when I’m feeling fancy, I drizzle melted white chocolate over the cooled cookies for a little extra indulgence.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or a lightly spiced tea, like chai or cinnamon black tea. During holidays, I like setting them alongside some creamy eggnog or hot chocolate for the ultimate cozy combo.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I arrange them in colorful stacks on tiered trays or wrap sets in cellophane bags tied with ribbon as thoughtful gifts. If you’re hosting a cookie exchange, putting each color variation in separate mini boxes really impresses!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover spritz cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layering with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They stay fresh and tender for up to a week, which feels like a minor miracle with these tempting treats around.
Freezing
You can definitely freeze these dough-pressed cookies before baking! I like to pipe the shapes onto parchment-lined trays, freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. When ready, bake from frozen by adding a couple extra minutes to the baking time — this is great for prepping ahead of big holidays.
Reheating
If you want to refresh cookies that have softened, a quick 2-3 minute warm-up in a 300°F oven usually brings back that just-baked crispness without drying them out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Full-fat cream cheese is best for the rich, tender texture in this recipe. Low-fat or fat-free versions tend to change the dough consistency and can make the cookies drier.
No worries! You can use a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip to pipe shapes onto your baking sheets, or simply roll dough into small balls or logs and gently flatten for an easier shape.
Absolutely! You can make the dough up to 24 hours in advance. Just wrap it tightly in plastic and refrigerate. Before using, let it come to room temperature slightly so it presses more easily.
If the dough is too warm or the baking sheets are hot when pressing more cookies, they can spread too much. Make sure your dough is cool and your pans are completely cooled between batches to keep shapes crisp.
Final Thoughts
This Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe holds a sweet little piece of my holiday memories. It’s simple enough to make with kids and special enough to impress at any gathering. I love how the cream cheese creates this tender bite that's easy to decorate and fun to share. I hope you’ll give it a try and make some joyful cookie moments of your own — trust me, once you do, these will become part of your rotating favorites too!
Print
Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 48 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies are tender, buttery, and subtly flavored with orange zest and vanilla. Softened cream cheese adds a delightful richness, while the cookie press shapes create charming designs perfect for decorating with colored sugars and sprinkles. Ideal for celebrations or everyday treats, these cookies bake to a perfect light golden hue and pair wonderfully with tea or coffee.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 8 ounces unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
To Decorate
- Colored sugars
- Sprinkles
- Gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the softened unsalted butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar at medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again to ensure thorough combination.
- Add Flavorings and Egg: Add the egg yolk, orange zest, vanilla extract, and kosher salt to the bowl. Mix for another minute to combine well. Scrape down the bowl sides once more to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add half of the all-purpose flour to the batter, mixing at a slow speed to prevent flour dust. Then add the remaining flour and mix until just combined. At this stage, fold in gel food coloring if desired, either all into the batter or by dividing dough into portions for different colors.
- Pipe the Cookies: Using a cookie press with a chosen shape, pipe the dough onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Leave at least one inch between cookies to allow for spreading. Decorate each cookie with colored sugars or sprinkles as you like. Alternatively, use a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip if a cookie press is unavailable.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until the cookies are set but not browned. For multiple batches, allow sheet pans to cool completely before piping the next batch to avoid excessive spreading.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the pans for 2 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are at room temperature to achieve a smooth dough texture.
- Use a cookie press or pastry bag to create uniform shapes; if unavailable, shaping small dough balls and flattening them lightly also works.
- To add color, mix gel food coloring thoroughly into the dough. Divide dough into portions for multicolored cookies.
- Do not overbake; cookies are done when set but not browned to maintain tenderness.
- Cool baking sheets completely between batches to prevent spreading.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
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