The baking has begun!!!! There is no way I can get through the holidays without whipping up a batch (or ten) of cookies. There is a reason they call them Christmas cookies after all! One of my favorite childhood Christmas cookies are spritz. If you have never had them, they are like buttery little sugar cookies, but the best part about them is that you get to use a cookie press with different shaped openings to form the cookies into fun shapes. I used to love to help make these cookies as a kid and now I get to make them with my kids which I love! Traditionally I have seen these cookies in either regular, red, or green with a few sprinkles, but today I am bringing them into the modern world with a little ombre action. These pink ombre spritz trees covered with just a tad of “snow” (okay, you got me, it’s really frosting) are the perfect addition to your colorful and modern Christmas.

Now don’t you just want a big plate of these?! I may or may not have eaten my body weight in these as I took all these pictures. They are just so pretty and tasty!

Ombre Spritz Cookies:

• 1 Cup Butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (or you can use almond)
• Red and pink food coloring

 Preheat oven to 400°F

Begin by creaming the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes), then add the egg, salt, and vanilla. Finally stir in the flour. Spoon the dough onto a clean counter and divide into 6 equal pieces. Color the first piece red, the next bright pink, then medium pink, pink, light pink, and no food coloring.

Load your first dough into the cookie press fitted with the tree plate (I used this one) and press your cookies out onto your greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes or until just set, then remove from the oven and let cool. Repeat with the next color until all of your colorful cookies are baked.

Once cool, whip up a quick powdered sugar icing using powdered sugar and cream until it resembles and thick frosting. Dip the tips of the trees into the frosting to give them the perfect snow covered look.

Have you started on your holiday baking yet? Any go to recipes you love to make year after year? I have several other desserts to share with you, so if you haven’t begun baking yet, I have you covered!