Glazed Spritz Cookies

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 2 hr
  • Active: 40 min
  • Yield: 75 to 90 cookies
Delicate, buttery and crisp, spritz cookies are a holiday classic for good reason. This version uses brown butter to enhance their richness, adding a subtle nuttiness and depth of flavor. Easily pressed into festive shapes and finished with a simple vanilla glaze and sprinkles, they’re as fun to make as they are to share.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

For the Glaze:

Directions

Special equipment:
A cookie press
  1. Make the cookies: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, swirling occasionally, until brown flecks appear, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the butter to a large bowl, scraping the bottom of the skillet. Refrigerate until completely cooled and opaque but still soft, 30 to 45 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. Add the granulated sugar to the cooled browned butter and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until well incorporated. Add the water and vanilla paste and beat again. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined.
  4. Assemble a cookie press according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Working in batches, fill the press with some of the dough. Press cookies about 1 inch apart onto 2 ungreased, unlined cookie sheets.
  5. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are set and lightly browned around the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer the cookies to racks to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  6. Make the glaze: Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla paste and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. The glaze should be very thick but pourable; whisk in more milk if needed. Dunk the tops of the cooled cookies into the glaze and let the excess drip off. Sprinkle with nonpareils.