{"id":7439,"date":"2015-12-17T11:05:14","date_gmt":"2015-12-17T17:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/?p=7439"},"modified":"2015-12-17T11:07:52","modified_gmt":"2015-12-17T17:07:52","slug":"swedish-spritz-and-christmas-cookie-trays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/17\/swedish-spritz-and-christmas-cookie-trays\/","title":{"rendered":"Swedish Spritz and Christmas Cookie Trays"},"content":{"rendered":"

While I love this time of year I must admit that it stresses me out! \u00a0I start to get bogged down in the to-do lists and parties and gifts and travel arrangements and forget to savor the season and really focus on Christ and the miracle of his birth and the wonder of it all! \u00a0I’ve been trying to reinforce with my kids that Christmas isn’t just presents, Santa, cookies and Jingle Bells, but I’m not being the best example by stressing out about all of those things. \u00a0Does anyone else have this problem?! \u00a0Any advice on how to find balance?<\/p>\n

Today\u00a0is the last day of preschool before Christmas break and I’ve tried this year to keep things simple for teacher gifts. \u00a0A cookie tray and a gift card to one of their favorite stores.<\/p>\n

\"Cookie<\/a><\/p>\n

All of the cookies on this tray can be made ahead of time and frozen for at least a couple of weeks which makes them great for the craziness of this time of year.<\/p>\n

Here is the link for the Molasses Cookies<\/a> and here is the Rosemary Pecan Shortbread<\/a>. \u00a0Both of these are wonderfully spiced and amazingly delicious. \u00a0My husband does not like sweets and the molasses cookies are some of his favorites.<\/p>\n

\"Cookie<\/a><\/p>\n

And here is the Spritz recipe! \u00a0It’s a family recipe that my mom, aunt and grandmother used. \u00a0These are straightforward butter cookies. \u00a0If you don’t have a cookie press you could maybe roll them in to balls and then roll them in sugar, but I haven’t tried that before. \u00a0Don’t be scared of a cookie press, though! \u00a0My mother in law passed down to me\u00a0the one pictured below a few years ago and I just now worked up the courage to use it. \u00a0I wish I’d not waited so long!<\/p>\n

\"20151208_230608935_iOS\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few tips:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Use an ungreased cookie sheet! \u00a0I used parchment for my first batch, which was a mistake. \u00a0The dough didn’t stick to the parchment, it just stayed on the press! \u00a0Very frustrating. \u00a0There is enough butter in these that sticking shouldn’t be an issue \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n
  2. Watch these carefully in the oven. \u00a0If they burn they’re just not very good.<\/li>\n
  3. Place the red hots on the cookie in such a way that they’re not too close to the edge. \u00a0If they get too much heat from the metal of the pan they’ll melt.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    SWEDISH SPRITZ<\/h3>\n

    Ingredients<\/em><\/p>\n

      \n
    • 1 1\/2 cups butter<\/li>\n
    • 1 cup sugar<\/li>\n
    • 1 egg<\/li>\n
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla<\/li>\n
    • 1\/2 teaspoon almond extract<\/li>\n
    • 4 cups flour<\/li>\n
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder<\/li>\n
    • coloring (optional)<\/li>\n
    • red hots or sprinkles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Directions<\/em><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Preheat oven to 400\u00b0F<\/li>\n
      2. Cream butter and sugar together thoroughly. \u00a0Add in the egg and extracts and beat well.<\/li>\n
      3. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together, then add to the butter mixture and beat until combined. \u00a0At this point you can color some of the dough if you want to. \u00a0The green trees have always been a favorite of my family!<\/li>\n
      4. Fill cookie press with dough and fit with a plate. \u00a0Force dough out according to the directions for your press on to an ungreased<\/em><\/strong> cookie sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. \u00a0Press red hots into cookies if using.<\/li>\n
      5. Bake in the preheated oven for 7-10 minutes. \u00a0You may need to rotate them if you oven bakes unevenly.<\/li>\n
      6. Cool and serve. \u00a0These freeze very well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n