Simply Spritz and Another Giveaway

♫ On the third day of Christmas Treats,
                                ♫ my true love made for me... ♫

Yes, we continue our love for Christmas at the Cafe with the Twelve Days of Christmas Treats and Giveaways. Mary Jane kicked things off Saturday with Nutella Stuffed Cookies and the best hot chocolate ever (you can find those recipes here) and Jan kept the fun going yesterday with her first ever Make and Bake a Memory Day and Grandma's Peanut Butter Fudge (recipe here).

Around the Obi house, the treat making starts right after Thanksgiving with things that freeze well.

Things like super easy Peanut Clusters (recipe here),

And Peanut Butter Balls (recipe here).

But when I need to bake something in a hurry, Spritz is my go-to cookie, not to mention one of my must-have holiday treats.

Spritz is a light and buttery cookie that's quick, easy, festive and so delicious.

And they're small,which makes them perfect for popping. As in popping them into your mouth. One can easily pop ten or twelve in a row. Not that I would have any personal experience, mind you.

To make Spritz, you will need a cookie press.

Here's the one I use, though there are plenty out there to choose from.

Now on to those cookies.

You will need:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. almond or vanilla extract (I prefer the almond extract, however I have a son-in-law who is allergic to almonds, so for him I use vanilla)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Then all you do is cream your butter and sugar.

Next, add your egg and extract of choice and beat until combined.

Now add your dry ingredients and mix well.

Then we're going to scoop out a fair amount of dough, shape it into a log that will slip nicely into your cookie press, like so.

I usually have to refill about three times per batch.

From here, I simply attach the press part and "press" my neatly shaped cookies onto a baking sheet.

And add some sprinkles for that festive touch.

Then you simply bake them for 5-7 minutes. Be sure to watch them, though, because you don't want them to brown.

Remove from cookie sheet immediately.

See, they look almost the same as they did when they went into the oven, just a little fluffier. Well, except those few on the left. They did get a little over done because someone obviously got distracted.

But they present themselves so well.

I can't tell you how many batches of these I make each year. They're perfect for gift-giving, parties, popping... ;-)  And no one ever has to know that you didn't slave for hours, making these delectable little treats.

Of course, as part of our Twelve Days of Christmas Treats, we're giving away more than just great recipes. Because, let's face it, no matter how old we get, receiving gifts and winning things are just plain fun.

Today's Christmas giveaway is a potpourri of some of my favorite things that you can enjoy all year.

Three of my favorite mini recipe books, an inspiring book that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas and a beautiful woman's journal to inspire you throughout 2017.

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

Now it's your turn. How early do you start your holiday treat making? What are some of your must-have treats for the season?

Mindy Obenhaus lives in Texas with her husband and kids. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com.