Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

No cookie swap or holiday gathering is complete without these cream cheese spritz cookies. Like most of our favorite spritz cookie recipes, this one yields cookies with a tender texture and delicate flavor. However, adding cream cheese gives the cookies a unique and delightful cheesecake vibe.

Spritz cookies are a quintessential Christmas cookie recipe, and the opportunities are endless when it comes to getting creative with festive decorations and shapes.

What is a spritz cookie?

Spritz cookies are buttery, sweet cookies known for their intricate shapes. They’re often compared to shortbread cookies, but spritz cookies typically contain eggs, which make them richer and less crumbly than traditional shortbread.

The name “spritz” comes from the German word spritzen (“to squirt”), which refers to the way the cookies get their shape. They’re pushed through a cookie press fitted with a stenciled disk and can take on a variety of festive shapes. They’re the perfect canvas for decorating, making them a must-bake treat for Christmas and the other winter holidays.

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

• Shortening: Shortening gives these cookies their tender texture. It has a higher melting point than butter, which means the cookies are less likely to spread in the oven (especially helpful with intricately shaped cookies). If you prefer the flavor of butter, use butter-flavored shortening or just replace the shortening with butter, as we do in this buttery spritz cookies recipe.
• Cream cheese: Cream cheese lends richness to the dough and adds just the right amount of tangy flavor. Don’t forget to soften the cream cheese beforehand so it’s easier to work with.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the cookies and contributes to their tender texture.
• Egg yolk: One large egg yolk adds moisture and richness to the dough. It’s easier to separate eggs while they’re cold. Once separated, allow the yolk to sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature (it’s best to bake with room-temperature eggs).
• Vanilla extract: A bit of vanilla extract adds a light flavor to the cookies.
• Flour: All-purpose flour provides structure to these cream cheese spritz cookies. Make sure to measure flour correctly to avoid overly dry or crumbly spritz cookies.
• Salt: A bit of salt helps balance the flavor.
• Ground cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon adds the right amount of warmth to these spritz cookies.
• Orange zest: Fresh orange zest pairs perfectly with cinnamon, making the cookies especially well-suited for the winter holidays.
• Food coloring, decorator candies and colored sugar: Color, decorate and customize your cream cheese spritz cookies to add some personal flare!

Directions

Step 1: Cream the fats and sugar

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Cream the shortening, cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until they’re light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla.

Editor’s Tip: Spritz cookies don’t contain leavening agents like baking soda or baking powder, which trap air inside the batter to give cookies their tender texture. Instead, creaming butter and sugar creates pockets of air to ensure spritz cookies become light and tender. Use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer to beat the mixture for about three to five minutes.

Step 2: Add the dry ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the orange zest and food coloring, if desired.

Editor’s Tip: To avoid overmixing the dough (which can make the cookies tough), add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture in two to three additions. Mix on low speed until the ingredients are only just combined.

Step 3: Load the cookie press

Pack the dough into a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice.

Editor’s Tip: Make sure to pack the dough firmly and press out any air pockets as you load the cookie press. This helps the cookie dough come out more evenly. If you’re new to using a cookie press, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Or call Grandma if you’re using her vintage press!

Step 4: Press and decorate the cookies

Press the dough 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Decorate the cookies with candies and colored sugar as desired.

Editor’s Tip: If using butter instead of shortening, space the cookies 2 inches apart. Buttery cookie dough is more likely to spread.

Step 5: Bake the spritz cookies

Bake the cookies until they’re set, 9 to 12 minutes. Do not let the cookies brown. Remove the cookies from the pans and transfer them to wire racks to cool.

Editor’s Tip: To prevent browning, rotate the cookie sheet about halfway through baking time.

TMB Studio

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookie Variations

• Change up the flavor: Try out different citrus zests, extracts or spices. Get inspired by other spritz recipes, like cardamom spritz and almond cream spritz.
• Use a glaze: Instead of decorating them with colored sugar, dip the baked and cooled spritz cookies in a confectioners’ sugar glaze and finish them with sprinkles.
• Dip the spritz in chocolate: When is chocolate ever a bad idea? Check out these chocolate-dipped spritz cookies for inspiration.
• Keep it simple: Sprinkle the spritz cookies with sparkling sugar before baking to give them a simple, festive appearance and crunchy texture.

Can you make spritz cookies ahead of time?

You can make spritz cookie dough up to three days ahead of time. Keep it in the refrigerator, covered tightly, until you’re ready to press and bake the cookies.

How to Store Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

Cream cheese spritz cookies will last up to two weeks when kept in an airtight container at room temperature. Here’s exactly how to store cookies to keep them fresh.

Can you freeze cream cheese spritz cookies?

You can freeze cookies before or after baking them. Freeze baked cream cheese spritz cookies in a single layer. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container, and freeze them for up to three months.

To freeze cookie dough, shape the dough into two discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap or wax paper. Store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake cookies, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight.

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Tips

TMB Studio

Why won’t my spritz cookies come out of the press?

If your cookie dough doesn’t come out of the press, the dough may be too cold. To avoid this problem, use softened cream cheese and room-temperature egg yolk. It’s also possible the dough wasn’t packed into the press correctly. When loading the dough, pack it down and press any excess air out so it comes out uniformly.

As with any kitchen gadget, cookie presses can be finicky. Each press is different, so consult the user manual if you have problems. If your cookies don’t come out perfectly at first, don’t stress! It may take a few tries before you get the hang of it.

Why are my spritz cookies tough?

Spritz cookies can be tough if the dough has been overworked. If the dough is mixed or handled too much after the flour has been added, the gluten strands that hold the dough together will overdevelop. The texture of the cookies will be tough instead of tender and delicate. To avoid a tough cookie situation, keep the mixer set to low speed and mix only until the dry ingredients are just combined.