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Holly Wreaths (Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies)

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

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
spritz cookies on baking sheet

How To Make Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

  1. Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar till lightly fluffy, about 2 minutes. 
  2. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla until fully incorporated.  Gradually blend in flour, being careful not to over mix. 
  3. Add a few drops of green food coloring until you achieve the desired color.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Bake 7-8 minutes until edges are set.  If the cookie looks wet on the top, it’s not quite done baking. 
  7. 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.
1 holly wreath cookie on baking sheet

What Is A Cookie Press

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.
spritz cookies on serving tray

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.

More Fun Christmas Cookie Recipes

close up spritz cookies for pinterest
Yield: 65

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

holly wreath spritz cookies on serving tray

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 Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • Green Food coloring
  • Cinnamon Red Hots

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375º F.
    2. Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar till lightly fluffy, about 2 minutes. 
    3. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla until fully incorporated. 
    4. Gradually blend in flour, being careful not to over mix. 
    5. Add a few drops of green food coloring until you achieve the desired color.
    6. Shape dough into a log, about the thickness of your cookie press.
    7. Fill a cookie press, with about 1/4 of the dough, depending on the size of your press.
    8. 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.
    9. Bake 7-8 minutes until edges are set.  If the cookie looks wet on the top, it’s not quite done baking. 
    10. 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 Information

Yield

65

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 59Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 12mgSodium 18mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 0gSugar 3gProtein 1g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

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Elies_Lie

Thursday 8th of December 2011

what a lovely and yummy cookies jen, tq fr sharing the recipe and nice to meet u :) tq erin fr featuring jen today, good looking cookies! ;)

Elies_Lie

Thursday 8th of December 2011

what a lovely and yummy cookies jen, tq fr sharing the recipe and nice to meet u :) tq erin fr featuring jen today, good looking cookies! ;)

Gourmantine

Thursday 8th of December 2011

These cookies look picture perfect! So so cute! :)

Gourmantine

Thursday 8th of December 2011

These cookies look picture perfect! So so cute! :)

Ann

Wednesday 7th of December 2011

These are stunning, Jen! I had a friend who made spritz cookies every year and we exchanged at that time (we no longer live near each other). They were always so delicious! Thanks for sharing such a warm memory!

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