My Favorite Spritz

I love making spritz cookies!!  They are so easy, no rolling involved & you have lots of cookies in a small amount of time.  I've tried many spritz recipes over the years, but always come back to this one as my favorite.  The touch of orange zest & the hint of cinnamon just make this cookie special.  The recipe comes from my very old Mirro cookie pamphlet that came with my old Mirro cookie press, which sadly broke.  I do have a new, snazzy one that is very easy to use, but I kind of miss that old aluminum one with the orange top!!  My hubby really doesn't much care for spritz cookies because he thinks they're "too bland".  However, he loves this recipe.   The recipe in the pamphet is called Snowflakes.   I hope you give  it a try!

1 cup shortening (or butter, softened)
1 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 t. vanilla
1 t. orange zest (I use the zest of one orange)
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream shortening (or butter), cream cheese & sugar well.

Beat in egg yolk, vanilla & orange zest

Gradually blend in flour, salt & cinnamon which have been sifted together.

Fill press.  Form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets.  Sprinkle with any colored sugar now, before baking.

Bake for 10-12  minutes.  I only bake for 10 minutes, as I like them that way!!!  The original recipe said to bake for 12-15 minutes, but I think that's too long.

Makes 6-7 dozen

I made some royal icing, but truthfully, they taste better with just the colored sugar!

I am sharing with these wonderful blogs:

Full Plate Thursday
Foodie Friday
sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday
Mrs. Fox's Sweets Party