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Spritz
Cookies: Preheat
oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. You will
need two ungreased baking sheets.
In the bowl of your
electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar
until fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat
until incorporated. On low speed, gradually add the flour and salt
and mix until incorporated.
To Press Cookies: Scrape some of the dough into your cookie
press that has been fitted with a decorative plate (follow
manufacturer's instructions). Hold the cookie press perpendicular to
the ungreased baking sheet, with the tip almost touching the sheet,
and squeeze the trigger. (If you find the dough is too soft, because
the shape of the cookies is not clearly defined, then chill the
dough.) Continue to press out the cookies, spacing about 1 inch
apart. If desired, decorate the cookies with pieces of candied
cherries, nuts, colored sprinkles or colored sugars.
To Pipe Cookies: Have ready a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch
diameter open star tip. Fill the pastry bag about half full, twist
the end of the bag to close, and pipe 1 1/2 inch (3.5 cm) rosettes
or stars by holding the pastry bag perpendicular to the ungreased
baking sheet, with the tip almost touching the sheet. Squeeze the
pastry bag firmly and evenly without moving it until the shape is
the desired size. Stop squeezing and push the pastry bag down a
little and then lift the pastry bag straight up. Continue to pipe
cookies, spacing about 1 inch apart. If desired, decorate the
cookies with pieces of candied cherries, nuts, colored sprinkles or
colored sugars.
Bake cookies for about
6-9 minutes
or just until the edges of the cookies are barely tinged with brown. Remove from
oven and gently transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. These
cookies will keep at room temperature for about one week or they can be frozen
for several months.
Makes about 4
dozen cookies.
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