Chocolate Betty Crocker Spritz Cookies

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These Chocolate Betty Crocker Spritz Cookies are a delightful twist on a holiday classic. With their buttery texture and rich cocoa flavor, they make the perfect addition to your festive cookie platter. Easy to pipe and bake, these cookies are a nostalgic treat that’s both fun to make and delicious to share. Whether you’re hosting a party or looking for an edible gift, these spritz cookies are sure to impress!

Chocolate Cookies on Red Lid

In my husband’s family, baking from the 1972 Betty Crocker Cookbook has been a cherished tradition for generations. His parents would gather in the kitchen with their kids every holiday season, flipping through the worn, batter-stained pages to find their favorite recipes. These Chocolate Spritz Cookies were always a highlight, and recreating them now feels like a beautiful way to honor that family tradition while creating new memories of our own.

If you're looking for another chocolate-ly dessert that's a real family favorite, try Puppy Chow. This recipe is so hard to put down, so eat at your own risk!

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🍴Ingredients

Ingredients for cookies on a table, with flour, two sugars, cocoa powder and butter

This is a pretty standard short-bread recipe, so everything you need is probably in your pantry.

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Butter- Because the butter is such an important part of the cookies, I try to get the best butter flavor, which I think is Kerrygold.
  • Cocoa
  • Salt
  • Egg
  • Almond Extract

See recipe card for quantities.

🍳 Instructions

Creamed Butter and Sugar in a bowl
  1. Step 1: Heat Oven to 400 Degrees F. Cream butter and sugar together.
A lot of ingredients in a bowl that is being held by a man
  1. Step 2: Add in additional ingredients into the mixing bowl. Mix until fully combined.
  1. Step 3: Fill cookie press to the near the top. Using the cookie press instructions, form cookies onto an ungreased baking sheet.
Cookies on Baking Sheet Step
  1. Step 4: Bake 7 minutes. Leave cookies on the tray to cool slightly for 1-2 minutes. Put onto baking rack to cool fully.

Hint: Chill your baking sheets in the refrigerator before pressing the cookies to help the dough stick and hold its shape better.

📋 Substitutions

  • Natural Sweeteners: Swap granulated sugar with coconut sugar for a more natural option. Keep in mind this may slightly alter the texture and flavor.
  • Vanilla Substitution: If you’re out of vanilla extract, you can use maple syrup or an equal amount of almond extract for a unique flavor.
  • Cocoa Powder: Use Dutch-processed cocoa for a richer, smoother chocolate flavor, or opt for raw cacao powder for a more intense chocolate taste.
  • Butter Alternatives: Substitute unsalted butter with vegan butter or margarine to make the cookies dairy-free.
  • Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour for gluten-free cookies.
4 cookies with cream from the Top


♨ Variations

  • Spiced Chocolate: Mix ½ teaspoon cinnamon or a pinch of cayenne pepper into the dough for a Mexican chocolate-inspired flavor.
  • Coffee Kick: Replace vanilla extract with coffee extract or add 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder to the dough for mocha-flavored cookies.
  • Mint Chocolate: Swap the vanilla extract for peppermint extract to create refreshing mint chocolate cookies.
  • Sandwich Cookies: Pipe a thin layer of frosting, Nutella, or jam between two cookies to create decadent sandwich cookies.

🍴 Equipment

You'll need a cookie spritz (also called a cookie press) for this recipe. While my husband uses a vintage one his family has had, modern cookie presses are great as well. If you want to make cookie sandwiches, try a couple of different press types to see which work best for you. We found the tree and the wreath to work best.

🍲 Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

⭐ Top tip

If the dough becomes too soft while pressing, refrigerate it for 5 minutes to make it easier to work with. If it's too cold and won't come out of the press, let it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.

Lots of Cookies From Top

💭 FAQ

What is the secret to making spritz cookies?

The secret to perfect spritz cookies is the consistency of the dough. It should be soft enough to press easily through the cookie press but firm enough to hold its shape on the baking sheet. Use room-temperature butter for a smooth, pliable dough, and avoid overmixing to prevent the cookies from becoming too dense. Also, ensure your baking sheets are cool and ungreased, as the dough sticks better for clean shapes.

Should I use parchment paper when baking spritz cookies?

No, it’s better not to use parchment paper when baking spritz cookies. The dough adheres directly to an ungreased baking sheet, which helps the cookies maintain their shape as you press them. If you use parchment paper or silicone mats, the dough may not stick properly, making it harder to form clean, defined cookies

Why won't my spritz cookies come out of the press?

If your spritz cookies won’t come out of the press, it’s likely due to one of these reasons:
Dough too stiff: If the dough is too cold or stiff, it won’t flow through the press easily. Let the dough sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly.
Cookie sheet too greasy: Dough sticks better to ungreased baking sheets. Wipe the surface clean if you’ve accidentally greased it.
Improper press usage: Make sure the cookie press is assembled correctly and you're using the right amount of pressure. Practice pressing on a test sheet until you find the perfect rhythm.

📖 Cookbook Inspiration

This recipe is inspired by the 1972 Betty Crocker Cookbook, a beloved staple in my in-laws' kitchen for generations. Passed down through the family, this cookbook has been a source of countless cherished recipes and memories. The Chocolate Spritz Cookies are a classic example of how Betty Crocker’s recipes combine ease and tradition, making them perfect for bringing loved ones together during the holidays or any special occasion.

📚 Cookbook Pairings

Looking for more ideas for baking? Check our these cookbooks:

👩‍🍳 Recipe

📖 Recipe

Betty Crocker Cookies on Red Lid

Betty Crocker Spritz Cookies

This recipe is adapted from the 1972 Betty Crocker Cookbook. These are slightly modified to use cocoa powder instead of baking chocolate, which is more pantry friendly.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Serving Size 10 Dozen Cookies

Equipment

  • Cookie press

Ingredients

  • 2 cups butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 egg
  • 2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 12 tablespoon cocoa powder

Instructions

  • Heat Oven to 400 Degrees F.
  • Cream butter and sugar together.
  • Add in additional ingredients into the mixing bowl. Mix until fully combined.
  • Fill cookie press to the near the top. Be careful not to overstuff it.
  • Using the cookie press instructions, form cookies onto an ungreased baking sheet.
  • Bake 7 minutes. Cookies should be set but not browned.
  • Leave cookies on the tray to cool slightly for 1-2 minutes. They should move off the tray in one piece once they are ready. Do not keep them on for more than two minutes, otherwise they can burn.
  • Put onto baking rack to cool fully.

Notes

It takes longer if you mix by hand like we did, but using a mixer is fine.
Make sure your butter is just softened enough to make it easy to mix but not so soft that it's very melted.

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