Spritzgebäck

Spritzgebäck, one among German cookies made during Christmas is made with flour, sugar, eggs and butter. It is crisp, delicate, slightly dry and buttery. The name of the biscuit stems from the German word Spritzen indicating the way it is made by way of squirting through a press or cake decorator containing designs made of holes.

History of Spritzgebäck cookie

Spritzgebäck cookies originated during the Medieval European period. The cookie developed from its predecessor, Lebkuchen or the gingerbread during the 1500s. The cookie became a household tradition following the making of Lebkuchen along with Chirstmas pudding, Pfeffernusse and Weihnachtsplätzchen.

Ingredients Used and Popular Methods of Preparation in Spritzgebäck recipe

The cookie is made using butter, confectioner's sugar, egg, almond extract, citrus extract, flour, salt and baking powder. Dough comprising of beaten butter and sugar, sifted flour, salt and baking powder is prepared and chilled for a while. Thereafter it is tucked into a cookie press, pressed over a baking sheet and baked until it turns brown. Once done, it is cooled and ready to be served. The cookies are made in a traditional way during Christmas by people joined in by their young children who inherit the special recipes from their parents.

Storing, Serving and Eating Spritzgebäck cookie

The cookies can be stored in airtight containers or kept in a refrigerator. The cookies last between 1 to 3 weeks when stored in room temperature. The cookies can be served with special icings such as rum icing which is made of confectioner's sugar, butter, water and rum or vanilla glaze made of confectioner's sugar, milk and vanilla essence.

Popular Spritzgebäck recipe Variations

• Almond Spritz is a spritz cookie made by using pure extract of almonds in place of vanilla extract.
• Chocolate Spritz is a cookie variation where unsweetened chocolate is mixed with butter and sugar for making the dough.
• Coffee spritz is a cookie where instant coffee and pecans are mixed with butter and sugar to make the dough.
• Lemon spritz is a lemon flavored cookie where the vanilla extract is replaced by lemon extract.
• Butterscotch Spritz is the cookie where sugar is substituted by brown sugar.
• Peanut butter spritz is the cookie that makes use of peanut butter instead of the butter.
• Orange spritz is made by including grated orange rind and orange pecan spritz is made by including pecans along with grated orange rind.
• Dessicated coconut can also be included on the topping of the cookie.