Last winter, I got a few requests for spritz cookie recipes. I had to be honest – I hadn’t made spritz cookies since I was a kid. I didn’t remember them being particularly good and I did remember them bing kind of a pain in the butt and making a huge mess. The spritz gun always got clogged and the shapes never seemed to come out quite right. Apparently they’ve come a long way since the ’80s though – these spritz cookies were a breeze to make.
With the addition of hazelnut meal and instant espresso, they’re also incredibly delicious. I couldn’t stop eating the raw dough and I can’t stop eating the baked cookies either. Luckily, the recipe makes a ton and they keep well (I’ve had some on the counter in plastic bags for a week and they’re still as good as the day I made them; they also freeze nicely for long-term storage.)
They’re rich and buttery and not too sweet (they might not be super popular with kids.) Along with a cup of espresso, they make a great afternoon pick-me-up.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and, once again, OXO is getting ready for their annual program benefiting Cookies for Kids Cancer and the Be A Good Cookie campaign. Cookies for Kids Cancer was started by two OXO employees when their son was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. It’s a cause that I’m always happy to support, but this year it’s especially near-and dear to my heart because one of my friends from college is going through a similar struggle with his son. Watching everything unfold is completely heartbreaking. It makes me feel so helpless and small. No family – and certainly no child – should have to deal with that.
Like last year, OXO is donating $100 for every blog post dedicated to childhood cancer. (This year, I’ll be matching that donation myself. It’s the least I can do.) Additionally, throughout September, OXO will donate 25-cents to pediatric cancer research for every item purchased that has a green “Cookies for Kids Cancer” sticker on it.*
You can see a list of eligible product here – I definitely recommend the cookie press if you don’t have one already. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to use (and clean up!) and I’ll definitely be making more spritz cookies this winter.
Ingredients
- ¾ cups 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso granules
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup hazelnut meal
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400ºF.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg. Stir in the espresso. Stir in the flour and hazelnut meal until combined into a thick dough.
- Use a rubber spatula to pack the dough into a cookie press. Press dough onto an ungreased baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between cookies.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Remove from the cookie sheet and let cool on a baking rack. Repeat with remaining dough, allowing the cookie sheet to cool between batches.
Notes
I was not paid for this post; however OXO sent me a baking kit including the cookie press and spatulas and they will be donating $100 to every post dedicated to the Cookies For Kids Cancer Campaign in September.
*In 2014, OXO will donate up to $100,000 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer through specially marked baking tools, bake sale matches and other fundraising efforts. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501c(3) public charity duly incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey. Your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. 100% of proceeds raised by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer fund pediatric cancer research.
I can imagine how good these cookies would have tasted, hazelnut and espresso are the perfect flavour combination!
Hubby would devour those most unceremoniously in a manner not fitting to their prettiness, LOL. I’ve seen and eaten cookies that looked like that but had never heard them called spritz cookies.
Gah, these look amazing. They would be perfect with an afternoon coffee/tea. Can’t wait to try my OXO cookie press – so excited to have an easy way to make spritz cookies!
My hubby would go absolutely crazy for these. I don’t make enough coffee flavoured stuff for him. These are just too pretty for words.
Oh how I love Spritz!! Takes me back to when I was little and my mom made them every year. We never had anything but a “butter cookie” flavor though, and you have me inspired to try my own.
I haven’t used a cookie press in ages. These make me want to break it out again. Gorgeous!
I adore spritz cookies! We always called them butter cookies when I was a kid but spritz sounds better. And these are an amazing twist on the classic!
I just happen to have hazelnut meal in my pantry and need to try these babies out!!
I love how great these look, that cookie press is awesome!
The only time we make spritz cookies is at Christmas. I really need to change that! Coffee and hazelnut is such a great flavor combination and I would love to dunk one of these into a latte.