"Fancified" Butter Cookies (for the Holidays) ~ Diane's Vintage Zest!

"Fancified" Butter Cookies (for the Holidays)

Today, I wanted to share with you all some cookies that I made for a friend's birthday dinner party a few months ago.  Although this is just a bit early, these cookies are perfect for the holidays because they are pretty, delicious, and just a little bit more special than your average butter cookie.

Not only that, but they are VERY easy and quick to bake.  That is a definite recipe requirement for me during the busy holiday season!  I had to get these done very fast and with my friend's help, they were in the oven in a flash.


P.S. - The recipient of these cookies told me that these reminded her of the cookies her Italian grandmother made around holiday time, which is how I got the idea to post the recipe.  Needless to say that she and her brother ended up finishing these cookies in a jiffy!




This recipe uses a cookie press, which is very affordable and sooo worth the results.  You could make them without, but the little kid in you (or your actual kids) will love pushing out the discs of perfect little cookies, just like Play-Doh!


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"Fancified" Butter Cookies
Inspired by Vanilla Cookies recipe in instruction booklet



Ingredients
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/2 tsp. almond extract
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted



Equipment



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Directions

1. In a stand mixer, combine the butter and granulated sugar, until light and fluffy.


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2. Beat in the egg, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt.


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3. Add the flour slowly, until well mixed.

4. Pack the dough into the cookie press, being careful not to overpack.  Cover with the disk design you would like to use, according to your directions.


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5. Press the dough onto ungreased baking sheet spacing the cookies 1 inch apart.  Most likely the first one will be a dud, so you can toss it back into the bowl of unused dough.  The cookies will spread a moderate amount, so make sure to leave that space between.


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6. Bake at  375 F, until lightly golden, about 10 - 12 minutes.  Gently transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool.


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If desired, you can decorate the cookies by sprinkling them with sugar.  The cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Otherwise, wrap them up in festive packaging and you're ready to gift your cookies!  I decided to box up all of the different rows of cookies, so each box had several surprise shapes.  I'm partial to the diamond and star-shaped cookies!


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I just wanted to share this simple and fun recipe that is beautiful and great for the holidays, so I hope this helps for the many, many dinners and parties that you will be invited to this season.

Bon appetit!




This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase using one of the links, a small commission will go to support Vintage Zest.  I will only recommend sites with products that I think you will love and enjoy!

48 comments:

  1. Love this as a gift idea & the recipe sounds yummy. I've always wanted a cookie press. I think it's about time I invest in one... Are there other cookies you can make with a cookie press besides butter??

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  2. I think any dough that can stand up to a squeeze would be alright, although they need to spread a little bit. Also, you couldn't have any chocolate chips, oatmeal, raisins, nuts, etc. in the dough or else it wouldn't press. It's fun to experiment with!

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  3. Great recipe & tutorial! I'm italian and yes, we do have this kind of cookies. I think your friend is really very lucky!

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  4. I didn't know it was an Italian cookie! They are scrumptious, no doubt. No wonder she wanted to trade a cookie lesson from me in exchange for a ravioli lesson!

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  5. These are so pretty and perfect for the holidays! I've always wondered how those cookie presses work and it looks like they are awesome.

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  6. Ohhh fancy :) I like that the recipe only takes 1 egg - as my son is allergic I find that egg replacer works best with this type of recipe. I'll give them a go and let you know how they turn out! Cheers :)

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  7. It's kind of addicting actually! It's like a squirt gun that shoots out pretty dough discs. I love it!

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  8. Please do! I would imagine that they will still come out beautifully. Good luck!

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  9. I pinned these on Pinterest last night to my "Heirloom Recipes" board, and then I saw your post on the Creative Princess link party & knew I had to stop by! These reminded me of Spritz cookies we made as kids. :) Yours are beautiful!

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  10. I love Christmas! I can't wait to start baking and planning out neighbor gifts! Butter cookies are seriously the best! I love how they melt in your mouth.... mmmmm.... anyway, I will definitely add these to the list of goodies for lucky friends and neighbors!

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  11. My mom has been making these for years WITHOUT a recipe. I'm so glad I found yours, can't wait to try it out! Will reblog if all goes well! I need to buy a cookies press first! http://armywifetosuburnalife.com

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  12. Thank you so much for visiting! I hope these are delicious as the ones you remember from your childhood. :)

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  13. Great! I hope that you and your friends enjoy them!

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  14. I can't understand how people can bake without recipes! It would be a disaster if I ever tried to do so. :) Definitely reblog it and make sure to leave a link here, so we can take a peek too!

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  15. Thans So much for sharing ur recipe & for ur Precious time to write a wonderful tutorial! I love my cookie press, BUT every recipe I have tried tasted SO BAD the kids wouldn't eat them.Ur recipe looks like it has flavor! I certainly will be trying these out tomm. ÷)

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  16. what a pretty, yummy gift! thanks for sharing :)

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  17. Great project !!

    I would love you to come and share @ Craft, Create & Inspire linky party !!!

    Look forward to seeing you there :)

    http://lemonpaperdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/craft-create-inspire-linky-party-2.html

    Claire x

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  18. Hi Diane,

    I just love Butter Cookies and can almost taste these awesome little treats! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a great weekend!
    Come Back Soon,
    Miz Helen

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  19. These look yummy! I found your post on Bewitch Me & Titi. Thank you for sharing!

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  20. What lovely cookies! My name is Katie and I host Fall Into the Holidays, open Saturdays. I would love to have you link up!

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  21. Of course! I hope you enjoy them. :)

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  22. These are SO pretty! I pinned them! :)

    Thanks again for joining the Link Up this week! Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

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  23. Just love these but I haven't made them for years! Really liked your recipe and now I will be on a search for my press (tucked away - hope I didn't throw it away). Stopping by from the Tuesday Tasting Party.
    Easy Life Meal & Party Planning

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  24. Thanks! I just made the dough. The fancy cookie press did all the hard work!

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  25. Sounds great! How do you use lavender to bake? I have never done it, but it sounds like it would fragrant and delicious!

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  26. Looks yummy and so pretty. I do not know if I am capable of making such a pretty cookie. Thanks for sharing with us at The HomeAcre Hop!

    Please join us again Thursday for our special harvest themed hop at:
    http://summersacres.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-homeacre-harvest-hop.html
    ~Ann

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  27. You are! The cookie press does ALL the work. :)

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  28. Hi Diane, I have one of these cookie presses but I've never once used it. Thanks for the inspiration to give it a go. Thanks so much for sharing at the Krafty Inspiration Thursday party. I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to this week.
    Happy Thursday
    Maria @ Krafty Cards etc.
    http://kraftycardsetc.com/

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  29. These look amazing, like they should be sold in stores! I bet they are just as yummy too! Thanks for linkin up to Sunday FUNday!

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  30. Beautiful, I love these dainty buttery cookies. I have made these a few times then I found another recipe that I love even more with confectionery's sugar. Come over to the wednesday baker and check it out............andi

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  31. Really, I'm also amazed how they look for being so easy. :) I probably should not have shared my secret: the cookie press!

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  32. I'm planning to do a lot of homemade gifts this year. Thanks for sharing this!
    Visiting from Raising Imperfections. :)

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  33. I love making cookies but I have yet to use one of those fancy presses. I need to give it try.

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  34. Thanks for sharing! Those are very pretty cookies and would make a great gift for someone! I'll have to try. :)

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  35. That is a great idea for holiday giving! I'm visiting today from the Raising Imperfection hop.

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  36. My mom just got a new blender, this may just be the first thing it makes! Thanks so much for sharing these look and sound awesome

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  37. Of course! Good luck with your gift baking. :)

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  38. Made them tonight. I learned on the first batch that her oven only takes 9 min to cook them. So no cute pumpkin shaped ones this time, but the rest were pretty and delicious. I'm going to be using these for some Christmas gifts for sure! Thanks again!! :D

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  39. Great! I'm glad they turned out well after the test batch. The best part is that they still taste yummy, and you have an excuse to eat the first batch!

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  40. I will be sharing this with the baker in my family..My youngest daughter. She will love making these. Thanks so much for sharing.

    http://OhMyScraps2U.blogspot.com

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  41. These are such pretty cookies! Thanks for sharing at the cookie exchange link-up. :)

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  42. Thanks for having such a fun link-up!

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I love to hear your comments! And putting in your two cents is always free. :)

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