It's a Spritz!

I've wanted a cookie press for the better part of the past 30 years.  Sometime along the way I saw one in a cookbook and thought they were wonderful--beautiful cookies combining the joy of piped cake decorations and play-doh, what's not to love?

My mother did not think a cookie press was a good idea at all, she said spritz cookies don't taste very good (note: not true with these cookies!), so the idea went into the backroom of wishes, the same place where I put those other wayward plans like being on Dance Fever with Deney Terrio and becoming the first woman to play Major League Baseball (obviously there are many good reasons for many plans to go directly to that wayward plan place and stay there, please just STAY THERE).

Well, along came my recent Pampered Chef gift certificate and the catalog included this beautiful piece of cookie forming gorgeousness: The Beautiful New and Improved Pampered Chef Cookie Press (cue angel music...).  How could I refuse?

So it arrived and Little Miss K and I mixed up a batch of the Spritz Recipe from Joy of Cooking.  Apparently some recipes are more cake like and some are crisper--these were heaven itself with buttery crispness and just the right amount of sweet, vanilla, and almond--these are very, very good cookies.

But, I do hear you, that's all well and good, but what about the cookie press?

Fabulous fun!  Little Miss K and I took turns trying out the press and we used every disk except the extruder and the potato ricer.  It takes some practice, each disk requires a slightly different touch and some are easier that others.  We had some perfectly lovely cookies, some a little off, and some that we just scooped up and put in the bowl to be put back in the cookie press for another shot.

Next time I think we'll also use parchment instead of greased cookie sheets.  It's sometimes a fine line between not enough dough to stick to the sheet and too much dough making a smooshy mess.  I think parchment might cling the dough better and make that fine line a little less fine--we will see.

Fortunately, we were just baking for us--I would definitely recommend practice before you plan to use these in public.  The good thing is the cookies are delicious.  Very, very, very good.  I think we'll find the time to practice again soon!