Tuesday, December 13, 2016

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.

29 comments:

  1. Oh, I can't decide which look the most delicious... but I'll have to go with the spritzer cookies because I'm a FOOL for cookies dipped in tea. :)

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    1. MJ, I like the way you think. Another tea lover. Happy sigh. These are divine with tea.

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    2. I have my cup of tea. The next thing is to snag a couple of my spritzer cookies out of the freezer. That sounds like a good breakfast, right?

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    3. Jan, that is a perfect breakfast. Hmm...we might have to have a tea week sometime. Shh...don't tell Ruthy.

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  2. I really like the Spritzer cookie idea!! May I make a suggestion? Many years ago, we (my husband & I) started cooking with Real Vanilla & it makes all the difference in the world!! We used to have to beg everyone who went to Mexico to bring us a fifth back but now there are Mexican groceries even in our area. It's very cheap but the real Vanilla flavor enhances your recipes more than you can imagine!!

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    1. Lisa, I totally agree about the Mexican vanilla. There is a huge difference in the flavor. Thanks for the reminder!

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  3. Mindy, you and I think alike! I love spritzer cookies. I have some in my freezer right now, waiting for Christmas Eve.

    When I start baking early, I stick the cookies in the freezer to keep them fresh...and safe from snacking cookie monsters. It doesn't always work, though - I caught Benjamin sneaking some out of the freezer last night!

    At least they disappear at a slower pace when they're hidden. :)

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    1. Jan, around here the freezer is rarely a safe place from snacking monsters. However, we do what we can, right? Out of sight, out of mind is what we hope for anyway. I'm just glad that I can whip these out so quickly. That way, if they don't last in the freezer, I can get more on a plate right away.

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    2. LOL, Jan. I think, though, that freezing only delays the inevitable. :)

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  4. I nab a cookie press at a garage sale a few years ago but I have never used it. Must dig it out and try this spritzer cookie recipe. They sure are pretty and I love a good dunking cookie -- in herbal tea, hot cocoa or milk, I'm not fussy. :-)

    I haven't started any Christmas baking yet and this is the latest I've let it go. Ack! But there's still time for some of our favourites. And, honestly, when I've baked earlier -- like in the fall -- and put things in the freezer it never seemed like there were as many cookies as I thought there were when it came time to take them out. And that meant I ended up baking the week before Christmas anyway. Funny how cookies seem to disappear in a freezer -- kinda like socks in a dryer. :-)

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    1. Kav, it's time to dust that cookie press off and give it a go. And Spritz is the perfect thing to start with. BTW, are you going to make your gingerbread cookies?

      I'm laughing at what you said about there never being as many cookies in the freezer as you thought there were. Strange how that happens. ;)

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    2. Funny, I was just talking to my daughter about those gingerbread cookies and we've decided to get together and bake them after Christmas. Since she's a student now she has some time off...but right now she's marking finals and writing her own last paper. So we're going to spread Christmas right through to January this year.

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    3. Kav, my daughter finished finals and got home yesterday. It's so nice!

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  5. i'd love this set. thanks!

    - judith

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  6. Oh, Mindy! I'm glad I had a different cookie in mind for tomorrow. Butter spritz were our big tradition when the kids were little. I've had more of those cookie presses over the years. I still love those cookies!

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    1. And I love the one's you're talking about, Mary Cate. :D

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  7. we make our goodies usually the second week of December!

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    1. Debbie, I wish I planned that well ahead!

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    2. All is one week, Debbie, or is the when things get started?

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  8. I start the early part of December making peppermint crunch and chunky peanut butter fudge, nut breads that are putin the freezer to give as gifts later and then cookies. Pies for Christmas dinner are made on 12/23. I'm enjoying these blog posts and new recipes. Thank you. Merry Christmas.

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    1. You are on the ball, Marilyn. I hope to be that organized one day. :)

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  9. Okay, Mindy, this is the year! I bought the press about two years ago but never made the cookies. LOL So I think this year it's time. Maybe I'll finally give these a try!

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    1. Yes, Missy, the time has come for the cookie press to fulfill its purpose. Don't deprive it any longer. And you will reap the benefits. ;)

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  10. I'm laughing at Missy!!!! :) I stopped making spritz years ago because my family didn't eat them.... so we stick to sugar cookies with a pile of frosting. Oh my stars, I think we make the cookies simply to hold more frosting! We're crazy folk!!!

    I missed yesterday... I was gone for half the day getting an estimate on having a barn built. OH MY STARS... It's a hoot!

    But I had to stop in and see what's going on!!!

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    1. LOL, Ruthy. I do both and they eat both. But you're right about the frosting on the sugar cookies. Please tell me you don't do that royal icing. It may be pretty, but it adds nothing to the cookie.

      A new barn? Cool. I guess that will be me in about a year. However, that's hubby's call. I'll deal with the house reno.

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  11. I just went back and refreshed my memory of the peanut butter balls and added them to our holiday list! Thank you for the reminder and the link, my friend!

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    1. Your crew will love them, Ruthy. And you have so many little helpers to make those little balls for you. Whoo-hoo!

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