Holiday Spritz Cookies ( Anna Olson's Spritz Cookies)

Total Time: 47 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup sugar (granulated)
• 1 large egg (separated, yolk for dough, reserve whites and beat for brushing tops)
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups sifted flour (start with 2 1/4 cups, may need up to 2 1/2 cups of flour)
• sugar, for sprinkling (i use the granulated, you may use tinted sugar)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350.
• 2 using an electric beater beat butter and sugar - i beat until nice and fluffy.
• 3 add egg yolk and almond extract; beat well.
• 4 add 2 1/4 cups of the sifted sifted flour over the butter mixture with wooden spoon or mixer on low.( a wooden spoon works best for me) thoroughly incorporate the flour and form dough into a ball.
• 5 note: if dough is too sticky add 2 - 4 tablespoons flour - chill dough before moulding ( i cover bowl and chill in the fridge for 1/2 an hour) a chilled baking pan makes forming cookies much easier.
• 6 if using cookie press, press on sheet, wait a few seconds, then twist the press slightly as you lift it straight up.
• 7 note: if dough is too stiff to press out beat another egg yolk into the dough - (moulding by hand you may need to use all of the 2 1/2 cups flour - flour hands lightly makes moulding by hand easier).
• 8 if you don't have a cookie press form into 1/2 inch balls - push a cherry into the centre.
• 9 brush cookies with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar; bake at 350 for 8 - 12 minutes or until golden around the edges.
• 10 cool on a wire rack.yield will vary as to size of cookies.