The Ultimate Spritz

These delicate, crisp cookies have a rich, buttery flavor. You often see these cookies at family celebrations during the winter holidays, but they're perfect for any occasion.

Makes 6 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract
Food color, if desired
Currants, raisins, candies, colored sugar, finely chopped nuts, candied fruit or fruit peel, if desired

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, salt, egg, almond extract and a few drops of food color.

2. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with currants.

3. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. To decorate cookies after baking, use a drop of corn syrup to attach decorations to cookies.

(Total time will vary; cook or bake time is per batch.)

Nutrition Information: 1 Serving: Calories 45 (Calories from Fat 25 ); Total Fat 3 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol 10 mg; Sodium 25 mg; Total Carbohydrate 4 g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 1 g

Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 2 %; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 0%

Exchanges: 1 Fat

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Betty Crocker 2007/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved