Christmas Spritz

My family has a big, epic Christmas party every year. It's a huge affair, including a million people we only see once a year, and way too much food. But alas, the house was under construction this year, and we thought having a party without four walls and a roof wouldn't be very appropriate. Being the crazy family we are, we didn't cancel it, we just postponed it. To May. Because THAT'S normal. So we're busting out the fuzzy sweaters and Canadian Brass Christmas music, because tomorrow marks the 10th annual Desrosiers Family Christmas Party, and you bet I'm baking for it!

Now, you can't have Christmas without spritz. Every year my mom and I would dig out the ancient, red-plaid cookbook and the old cookie-gun and make spritz. They're tasty, and easy, and luckily they make a good "bake the day before" treat. (Ok, so they also make a good "bake a week before and don't tell anyone they're that old" kind of treat, but don't tell!)

This was also the first time I got to use the purple kitchen-aid mixer.

Let's just say it was a learning experience! Good thing nobody was there to harass me about the disaster I made! I got flour everywhere, so I lost track of how much ended up in the cookies...whoops. Other than not coming out quite as pretty, they got the job done!

I also just realized that our Christmas cookies are spring-y flower shaped. Don't know why it took me 21 years to notice this...


Spritz
From The Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

1½ cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3½ cups flour
Colored sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Gradually add flour to beaten mixture, beating until well blended.
Force unchilled dough through a cookie press onto an ungreased cookie sheet. If desired, sprinkle cookies with colored sugar. Bake at 400 for 7-8 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Makes about 60.