Spritz Cookies Iii Food

TRI-COLOR BULLSEYE SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add and mix in 1 egg at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl between each addition. Add the vanilla and mix. Whisk together the flour and salt in a medium bowl and add to the butter mixture, beating until the flour is just incorporated.
• Separate the cookie dough into 3 bowls as follows: a small amount for the center of the bullseye then divide the rest equally for the other 2 rings. Add 2 to 3 drops of one of the food colors to the small bowl, stirring to distribute the color evenly. Repeat with a different food color for each of the remaining bowls of dough.
• Place each colored dough in separate piping bags, making sure to put the smallest amount of dough in the bag with the smallest tip. Starting with the outside of each bullseye, pipe 3-inch rings onto the baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Use the next bag to pipe the second colored ring inside the first ring, then use the third bag to fill in the center of the bullseye. If the edges of the piped rings overlap, use a bit of water to moisten a finger and smooth out the uneven section.
• Freeze the bullseyes for 10 minutes before baking. Then bake until the cookies are set but not yet golden brown, about 11 minutes, rotating the pan 180 degrees at the halfway mark.
• Allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack before serving.

SPRITZ COOKIES WITH VARIATIONS (AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN)

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position; heat the oven to 375°F In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk, cream, and vanilla with a fork until combined; set aside.
• In a standing mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and salt at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. With the mixer running at medium speed, add the yolk-cream mixture and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the bowl. With the mixer running at low speed, gradually beat in the flour until combined. Scrape down the bowl and give a final stir with the rubber spatula to ensure that no flour pockets remain.
• If using a cookie press to form the cookies, follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill the press; if using a pastry bag (see TECHNIQUE below). Press or pipe cookies onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until the cookies are light golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through the baking time. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet until just warm, 10 to 15 minutes; using a metal spatula, transfer them to a wire rack and cool to room temperature.
• FOR LEMON SPRITZ COOKIES: Follow the recipe for Spritz Cookies, adding 1 teaspoon lemon juice to the yolk-cream mixture in step 1 and adding 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest to the butter along with the sugar and salt in step 2.
• FOR ALMOND SPRITZ COOKIES: Grind ½ cup sliced almonds and 2 tablespoons of the flour called for in Spritz Cookies in a food processor until powdery and evenly fine, about 1 minute; combine the almond mixture with the remaining flour. Follow the recipe for Spritz Cookies, substituting 3/4 teaspoon almond extract for the vanilla.
• TECHNIQUE: Filling a Pastry Bag: (1) Make a C shape with one hand and hold the piping bag. Fold the bag over that hand about halfway down, insert the tip, and scrape the dough into the bag. (2) When the bag is about half full, pull up the sides, push down the dough, and twist tightly while again pushing down on the dough to squeeze out any air. (3) Grab the bag at the base of the twist. Using the other hand as a guide, hold the top at a 90-degree angle about 1/2-inch above the baking sheet and squeeze to form the shape.

SPRITZ COOKIES II

Steps:

• Stir together flour and baking powder.
• Beat butter for 30 seconds; add sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Add egg, vanilla and almond extract; beat well.
• Gradually add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating till well combined.
• Do not chill.
• Force dough through a cookie press onto an ungreased cookie sheet. If desired, sprinkle with colored sugars or with ground almonds dyed red or green with food coloring.
• Bake in a 400° oven for 7-8 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack.

THE BEST SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Thirty minutes or longer before baking, set an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C.
• Spread the almonds evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes, or until pale gold. Stir once or twice to ensure even toasting and avoid over-browning. Cool completely.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and salt.
• Food processor method: In a food processor, process the almonds and sugar until fairly fine. Cut the butter into several pieces and add it with the motor running. Process until smooth and creamy. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and process until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour mixture and pulse in just until blended. Stand Mixer Method: Use a nut grater to grate the almonds powder fine and then whisk them into the flour mixture. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the flat beater, on medium speed, beat the sugar and butter until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and beat for 30 seconds, or until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and mix until incorporated.
• Scrape the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and use the outside of the plastic wrap to knead together the dough until it is completely even and soft enough to pipe smoothly.
• Scoop the dough into the pastry bag (or spoon some of the dough into the cookie press and cover the remaining dough). Pipe 7 rosettes or 14 stars about 13⁄4 inches in diameter onto the cookie sheet, no less than 1 inch apart.
• To get the best possible shape for the rosettes, use your fingers to smooth the ends of the rosettes after piping. For the stars, hold the bag in a vertical position (straight up and down) with the toothed edge of the tube just slightly above the cookie sheet. Squeeze the bag firmly without moving it until the shape is as wide as desired, just at the point when the lines in the dough are on the verge of curving. Stop squeezing the tube and push the tube down slightly. Lift the tube straight up and away. Decorate with the glacéed cherries set in the centers, and/or top with sugar sprinkles or dragées.
• Bake for 5 minutes. For even baking, rotate the cookie sheet halfway around. Continue baking for 5 to 7 minutes, or until pale gold.
• Set the cookie sheet on a wire rack and use a pancake turner to lift the cookies onto another wire rack. Cool completely.
• While each batch of cookies is baking, shape the dough for the next batch. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 month, or refrigerated or frozen for 6 months.

GRANDMA'S SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add egg and almond extract; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture until blended., Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press dough 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. If desired, sprinkle with toppings. Bake until set (do not brown), 7-8 minutes.