Holly Wreaths (Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies)

4.50 from 2 votes

Dec 07, 2011, Updated Jun 05, 2024

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Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies – these spritz cookies or holly wreaths are the perfect holiday cookie. Just like you had as a kid, and you can make any shape you like!

Christmas cookies are very traditional to certain families and even regions of the country. But I think spritz cookies are one of those more universal ones that everyone knows and loves! These cream cheese spritz cookies are so good, and you can really personalize them however you want!

When I was growing up we would have some green and add red hots, and some not colored and add sprinkles and colored sugar. You can do whatever shapes your cookie press has and make them your own!

holly wreath spritz cookies on serving tray

What Are Spritz Cookies
What You’ll Need
How To Make Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
What Is A Cookie Press
Decorating Spritz Cookies
Storage
More Fun Christmas Cookie Recipes
Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies Recipe

What Are Spritz Cookies

Spritz cookies come from the German word spritzen, which means to squirt. When you press the cookie dough through the cookie press it “squirts” out, hence the name. Cookie presses have little metal places with different designs, so you can make trees, wreaths, stars and so much more.

One of my favorite things about spritz cookies is how small they are. They don’t spread much, so you really can fit a lot on a baking tray, and that means you can have a couple without feeling guilty!

What You’ll Need

Butter
Cream Cheese
Sugar
Egg Yolk
Vanilla Extract
All-Purpose Flour
Food Coloring
Red Hots/Sprinkles

How To Make Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar till lightly fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Beat in egg yolk and vanilla until fully incorporated. Gradually blend in flour, being careful not to over mix.
Add a few drops of green food coloring until you achieve the desired color.
Shape dough into a log, about the thickness of your cookie press. Fill a cookie press, with about 1/4 of the dough, depending on the size of your press.
Form cookies into desired shapes (wreath or Christmas tree) on ungreased baking sheets. If making wreaths, add 3 little Cinnamon Red Hots to mimic a small bow.
Bake 7-8 minutes until edges are set. If the cookie looks wet on the top, it’s not quite done baking.
Remove them from the oven AS SOON as they look dry on top. Cool on the pan 3-4 minutes on the baking sheet until set and then remove to wire racks to finish cool.

It is a special device that you can buy on Amazon or lots of time you can buy old ones at thrift stores (hint, those are amazing and work the best!). You put the cookie dough in the tube of the cookie press, and it pressed the dough through this disk, onto your baking sheet. The disks have little cut outs for the different designs you might want to make.

Decorating Spritz Cookies

You really can decorate these cookies however you want! But here are just a couple of easy options.

Place red hot cinnamon candies on before you bake them. These look like holly for wreaths or the star of a christmas tree.
Sprinkle with colored sugar or colorful sprinkles right after they come out of the oven.
Dip part of all of your spritz cookie in chocolate (white, milk, or dark) or even just drizzle a little on and then top with sprinkles.

Storage

These cookies freeze better than almost any other cookie I know. Store in an airtight container for 4-5 months. Take them out and let them thaw at room temperature before serving.

You can store at room temperature in an airtight container for 4-5 days before they start drying out.

4.50 from 2 votes

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

By Erin

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies – these spritz cookies or holly wreaths are the perfect holiday cookie. Just like you had as a kid, and you can make any shape you like!

Prep: 20

Cook: 10

Total: 20

Servings:

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Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375º F.
Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar till lightly fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Beat in egg yolk and vanilla until fully incorporated.
Gradually blend in flour, being careful not to over mix.
Add a few drops of green food coloring until you achieve the desired color.
Shape dough into a log, about the thickness of your cookie press.
Fill a cookie press, with about 1/4 of the dough, depending on the size of your press.
Form cookies into desired shapes (wreath or Christmas tree) on ungreased baking sheets. If making wreaths, add 3
little Cinnamon Red Hots to mimic a small bow.
Bake 7-8 minutes until edges are set. If the cookie looks wet on the top, it’s not quite done baking.
Remove them from the oven AS SOON as they look dry on top. Cool on the pan 3-4 minutes on the baking sheet until set and
then remove to wire racks to finish cool.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 20

Course: Dessert Recipes

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 59

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