Valentines Day “Make Ahead” Spritz Cookies
Now that the Christmas tree is down and New Year decorations are tucked away, it’s time to focus on the next holiday: Valentine’s Day.
Some of me thinks Valentine’s Day gets too much attention, but I also enjoy that it gives our family another chance to celebrate together. It’s a pleasant excuse to set a pretty table and prepare a themed meal.
One of my favorite recipe types is the make-ahead variety. Anything I can prepare in advance and freeze makes holiday planning easier. These spritz cookies are perfect to make ahead. Pop them in the freezer, then pull them out when Valentine’s Day approaches. I save a few for my daughter’s school lunch as a special treat and package the rest as gifts for teachers and neighbors. They’re a sweet, crowd-pleasing treat.
Let’s get started…
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Food coloring (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Thoroughly cream the butter and sugar.
- Add the egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract; beat well.
- Whisk together flour and baking powder, then gradually add to the creamed mixture.
- Mix until a smooth dough forms. Do not chill.
- If desired, divide the dough and add food coloring to each portion.
- Fill a cookie press and press cookies onto an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake 6–8 minutes, until set but not browned.
This recipe yields approximately six dozen cookies.
Step-by-step process
Begin by adding the butter and granulated sugar to a bowl and cream them together until light and fluffy.
Next, add the egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix until combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder, then add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
If you use a mixer the dough may initially resemble fine crumbs. Press and knead it by hand until it becomes a cohesive, smooth dough.
Divide the dough into portions based on how many colors you plan to make. For a Valentine’s theme, red, pink, and white work well.
You can use regular food coloring, but a concentrated icing color (such as Wilton Icing Color) gives richer reds and deeper hues with less dye.
Once colored, load the dough into your cookie press. Choose a heart-shaped disc for Valentine’s cookies, or any shape you prefer.
Press cookies onto the baking sheet. Practice a few presses to find the right pressure for the size you want. If the press leaves marks, gently pat the tops with your finger to flatten slightly—this step is optional but helps sprinkles adhere and gives a smoother finished cookie.
If you want sprinkles, you can either brush a very light egg-white wash on each cookie or gently press sprinkles into the dough by hand. The egg wash will give a slight gloss after baking; finger-pressed sprinkles produce a more matte finish.
Bake the cookies for 6–8 minutes. They should be set but not browned. Let them cool on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to a rack.
These cookies look lovely when packaged as gifts. You can arrange them in a decorated cup, a cellophane bag tied with ribbon, a decorative plate, or a clear bag with a bow—use what you have on hand for a charming presentation.
Whether you give them away or keep them for your family, these spritz cookies are a delightful Valentine’s treat. Enjoy!