Pressed Christmas Cookies

Festive pressed Christmas cookies with a buttery texture and vibrant colours, perfect for gifting, sharing, or holiday cookie exchanges!

Pressed Christmas Cookies are a holiday classic, known for their delicate buttery texture, festive shapes, and vibrant colours.

This recipe is a vintage one that has been passed down through my family. When I asked my mom for it a few years back I had asked for the “Spritz” cookie recipe to which my mom corrected me by saying that our family calls them pressed cookies. Fair enough, our recipe does differ from traditional spritz cookies in that they use a light shortbread dough.

Made with a scookie press, these cookies are as fun to create as they are to eat. Add a touch of food colouring for a festive flair, and decorate your cookie trays with these charming, melt-in-your-mouth treats.

Tips for Making the BEST Pressed Cookies

1. Start with Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure the butter is softened, but not melted, for easier mixing and a smooth dough consistency.
2. Chill Your Cookie Press: A chilled cookie press helps prevent the dough from sticking and ensures cleaner shapes.
3. Choose a Cold, Smooth Surface: Always press cookies onto a cold, smooth surface like a marble countertop or chilled baking sheet for the best results.
4. Keep the Dough Soft: If the dough starts to feel stiff or dry while pressing, knead it gently for a few seconds to soften it.
5. Space Cookies Evenly: Leave about an inch between cookies to ensure even baking without them merging together.
6. Test Bake Times: Since every oven is different, bake a small test batch first to determine the ideal timing.
7. Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack to prevent them from breaking or losing their shape.

Equipment Needed

• Stand mixer or hand mixer: For creaming the butter and sugar and incorporating the ingredients evenly.
• Large mixing bowl: To combine the dough ingredients.
• Cookie press: Essential for shaping the dough into festive designs. I used a pampered chef press, but my mom always used a vintage press that had been my grandmothers. This OXO Good Grips Cookie Press is pretty similar to what I used and includes the same classic designs.
• Clean, smooth, cold surface: For pressing the dough effectively. A cold countertop or a marble slab works best if your baking sheets don’t have a smooth surface.
• Baking sheets: For baking the cookies.
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats: To prevent sticking and ensure even baking on pans that might be more well loved.
• Cooling rack: For cooling the cookies after baking.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Icing sugar: Adds a smooth sweetness without grittiness. Substitute with powdered sugar if needed.
• Butter: Provides richness and a tender texture. You can use salted butter, but omit the added salt in the recipe if required.
• Flour: Forms the structure of the cookies. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavour. You can substitute with almond extract or another flavouring of your choice.
• Food coloring: Provides festive colors. My mother always use liquid food colouring, so these cookies always had pretty pastel colours in our home. I used 2 drops of gel colouring to achieve the same look. You can always go for more vibrant colours if that is your preference.

Looking for More Classic Christmas Cookies?

Check out more of my favourite Christmas cookie recipes!

Pressed Christmas Cookies

Yields: Approximately 48 cookies | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Bake Time: 5–7 minutes

Ingredients:

• ½ cup icing sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green and red food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough:
   • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes using an electric mixer on medium speed.
   • Gradually add the flour, one-third at a time, mixing until fully incorporated after each addition.
   • Add the salt and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
   • Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure the dough is evenly mixed.
2. Divide and Color the Dough: (Image 1)
   • Divide the dough into three equal portions.
   • Leave one portion plain.
   • Add a few drops of green food coloring to one portion and knead until the color is evenly distributed.
   • Add a few drops of red food coloring to the other portion and knead until evenly colored.
3. Prepare for Pressing:
   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or leave them ungreased.
   • Load a portion of the dough into a cookie press fitted with your chosen design plate.
4. Press the Cookies: (Image 2)
   • Press the dough directly onto a clean, smooth, and cold baking sheet (They won’t adhere to a parchment-lined surface, but you can use a spatula to carefully transfer to a parchment lined sheet.) Ensure the cookie press is firmly pressed down for a clean impression.
5. Bake the Cookies:
   • Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 5–7 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set but not browned. Check the cookies at the 5-minute mark to prevent overbaking.
   • Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Continue to Content

Yield: 48 Cookies

Pressed Christmas Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Festive pressed Christmas cookies with a buttery texture and vibrant colours, perfect for gifting, sharing, or holiday cookie exchanges!

Print

Ingredients

• ½ cup icing sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green and red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes using an electric mixer on medium speed.
2. Gradually add the flour, one-third at a time, mixing until fully incorporated after each addition.
3. Add the salt and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure the dough is evenly mixed.
5. Divide the dough into three equal portions.Leave one portion plain.
6. Add a few drops of green food coloring to one portion and knead until the color is evenly distributed.
7. Add a few drops of red food coloring to the other portion and knead until evenly colored.
8. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or leave them ungreased.
9. Load a portion of the dough into a cookie press fitted with your chosen design plate.
10. Press the dough directly onto a clean, smooth, and cold baking sheet (They won’t adhere to a parchment-lined surface, but you can use a spatula to carefully transfer to a parchment lined sheet.) Ensure the
    cookie press is firmly pressed down for a clean impression.
11. Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 5–7 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set but not browned. Check the cookies at the 5-minute mark to prevent overbaking.
12. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Cookie Press Set
• 
  Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet (2 Pack)
• 
  Cuisinart SM-50BL Stand Mixer

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

2 Cookies
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

This information is provided as a courtesy and for entertainment purposes only. This information comes from online calculators. Although frugalmomeh.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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Elizabeth Lampman

Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!