Cookie #4 Spritz

What would the holidays be without Spritz cookies, I ask you?  Yes, they are simple and ubiquitous, but they're tradition!  And you just can't argue with tradition.  Here's the recipe that I use.  It's from Land O Lakes, and I think the tastiest variety of all of the Spritz recipes I've tried.  You can always experiment (as you just know I do) by adding different flavorings.

Best Ever Spritz

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup Land O Lakes butter, softened

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine all ingredients except flour in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour. Beat until well mixed. If desired, prepare dough as directed by variations below. (If dough is too soft, cover and refrigerate, 30 to 45 minutes.) 

Place dough into cookie press fitted with template. Form desired shapes, 1 inch apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. 

VARIATIONS:

Chocolate Chip Spritz: Add 1/4 cup coarsely grated semi-sweet chocolate.

Eggnog-Glazed Spritz: Add 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup LAND O LAKES Butter, softened, 2 tablespoons water and 1/4 teaspoon rum extract in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies.

Lebkuchen Spice Spritz: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies.

Mint Kisses: Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Immediately after removing cookies from oven place 1 chocolate candy kiss on each cookie.