Description
Cozy Christmas Chocolate Spritz Cookies are buttery, chocolatey, and festive treats perfect for holiday celebrations. These delicate cookies combine cocoa powder and classic spritz dough, decorated with white or dark candy melts and colorful holiday sprinkles to add charm and sweetness. Ideal for cookie exchanges and festive gatherings, they offer a delightful crunchy texture with a rich chocolate flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Decoration
- 10 ounces white and/or dark candy melts
- 3/4 cup holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
- Shape the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Load the chocolate dough into a cookie press fitted with your preferred spritz cookie disc. Press the cookies onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the cookies are firm to the touch. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies tender.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Melt the Candy: While the cookies cool, melt the candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted and smooth.
- Decorate: Dip the cooled cookies partially into the melted candy melts or drizzle the candy melts over them using a spoon. Immediately sprinkle the holiday sprinkles onto the melted candy before it sets to ensure they stick properly.
- Set and Serve: Place the decorated cookies on parchment or wax paper and allow the candy coating to harden completely at room temperature. Once set, the cookies are ready to enjoy or package for gifting.
Notes
- For softer cookies, reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes.
- If you do not have a cookie press, use a piping bag fitted with a star tip to pipe the dough onto baking sheets.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- The candy melts can be substituted with white chocolate or colored candy melts for variation.
- Make sure cookies are completely cool before dipping to prevent melting the candy melts unevenly.
Keywords: christmas cookies, chocolate spritz cookies, holiday treats, festive cookies, spritz cookie recipe