Ready or Not....... Shouldvknwnbetter- Fall

[Hens and Roos]

we have a cookie/pastry press, we use the cookie plates to make the cookies. Not sure who started the tradition of making them in our family but growing up these were made each year at Christmas time as long as I can remember. My dad gave me the cookie/pastry press pictured. They sure don't last long in the cookie jar here!!

 

[misfitmorgan]

we have a cookie/pastry press, we use the cookie plates to make the cookies. Not sure who started the tradition of making them in our family but growing up these were made each year at Christmas time as long as I can remember. My dad gave me the cookie/pastry press pictured. They sure don't last long in the cookie jar here!!
View attachment 55477

Is your family german, polish or italian? They are "german" cookies but have become traditional cookies for many polish and italian families as well.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Is your family german, polish or italian? They are "german" cookies but have become traditional cookies for many polish and italian families as well.

Irish, German/Austria, Polish, Czech

DH is 100% German and remembers seeing them growing up but not sure which side of the family made them.

 

[Bruce]

Found this:
"Spritz cookies is actually a type of German Christmas cookie made of flour, butter, sugar and eggs. ... Well, the full name for these German goodies is Spritzgeback. The word spritz originated from the German word, “spritzen,” which means “to squirt” in English."

The ribbon shape is one of the inserts in the Mirro cookie press. The shapes H&R show are made with a different, though similar, dough than the ribbon Spritz we make. All I know is DW does what her mother did. Don't know if she got it from her mother, who was born in Switzerland.

 

[Bruce]

we have a cookie/pastry press, we use the cookie plates to make the cookies. Not sure who started the tradition of making them in our family but growing up these were made each year at Christmas time as long as I can remember. My dad gave me the cookie/pastry press pictured. They sure don't last long in the cookie jar here!!
View attachment 55477

Yep that is the one! We have DW's mothers. I think it is from the 50's. The top part you turn got loose and try as he might DW's father couldn't fix it. DW found one on eBay, complete with instructions but not the little icing press. DW's mother kept that for gingerbread decorating.
The "ribbon" spritz maker is the one under the one top center with the 8 holes. Making the ribbons is best done with 2 people. One to turn the press and pull as the dough comes out and one to cut it off.

 

[misfitmorgan]

My family must not have liked the ribbon ones cause we never had them, or maybe that plate just got lost We mostly have the wreaths and the trees. I don't own a cookie press....i should buy one. Wilton makes them now as well but i havnt looked at reviews. No matter the shape they are good cookies, ours were always on the softer side.

Traditional things in Europe tend to spread from people moving around so it could be a swiz thing as well or maybe some Germans or something married in long ago.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Here is the recipe that we use:
Butter Rich Spritz

Bake at 400* for 6 to 8 minutes (7 minutes work best for us)

Sift together: 2 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream: 1 cup butter and gradually add 1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar, creaming well

Blend in: 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla...we use 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla (no almond) as we like the taste better.

Add: dry ingredients gradually, mix well

Press: a small amount of dough through cookie press onto ungreased cookie sheets, using any plate to make desired shapes

@Bruce is this similar to the recipe that your family uses?

 

[Bruce]

The unmodified recipe (ie the non gluten free one)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup butter
4 cups all purpose flour
1 egg
2 teaspoons almond extract

BTW, DD1 says they aren't Spritz if they don't have almond extract.
There is a caution to put the cookie sheets in the refrigerator to chill them before putting cookie dough on.

 

[Hens and Roos]

The unmodified recipe (ie the non gluten free one)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup butter
4 cups all purpose flour
1 egg
2 teaspoons almond extract

BTW, DD1 says they aren't Spritz if they don't have almond extract.
There is a caution to put the cookie sheets in the refrigerator to chill them before putting cookie dough on.

interesting about the almond extract....looks like we will have to make another batch or so to taste

 

[Bruce]

Definitely!! You can make the ribbon shape so if people do or do not like the extra almond flavor they can easily take or skip them.

Also on the cookie list is an almond cookie. Crumbly texture and I think likely more almond extract than the Spritz. Those are just small round cookies, no press involved. And then there are the jellies. Really thin pair of cookies with a bit of current jelly between them.