This project is part of The Proper Pinwheel’s holiday series, Mission: Merry 2012.

I’m a baker, and I’m an eater. I will spend hours/days in the kitchen slaving away over hot stoves to make delicious holiday treats. Sometimes I eat those treats. Sometimes I don’t. It must be the people-pleaser in me. One treat that I love to devour is the holiday spritz cookie. These babies are so small and bite-sized that it’s tough not to eat 50+.

I have a cookie press that was given to me years ago. I only break it out at Christmas time because I used to believe it was so much work to make spritz cookies. But you know what? It’s not the actual spritzing (terminology?) that takes time, it’s the decorating afterward! I wanted to make some fancy spritz for my friends and co-workers. Spritz cookies always seem so magical. You really only need one batch of dough to make all of the cookies I’m going to share with you today. First up, the spritz. Check back later today for cut-outs and STAINED GLASS COOKIES! Oh yeah. They’ll be amazin’.

To make your own holiday spritz cookies you’ll need:

• 1 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 c. granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 c. all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling and cutting
• 1 cookie press (mine found here!)
• sanding sugar and other decorations (optional)
• powdered sugar glaze (recipe below)

These cookies know what’s up when it comes to accessories. They’ve got sprinkles. They’ve got dragees. They’re covered in glaze. They’re light-years ahead of all the other cookies.

Do you have a fave cookie that you make every year? I’d love to see pictures of you making them! Share your photos on twitter or instagram with the hashtag #missionmerry2012!

Check back later today to see another cookie variation. There will be stained-glass cookies. No, I’m not kidding. Yes, they’re freaking delicious.

photo cred: all photos by The Proper Pinwheel