Best Ever Spritz Cookies

2/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine all ingredients except flour in large bowl.
Beat at medium speed until creamy.
Reduce speed to low; add flour.
Beat until well mixed.
If desired, prepare dough as directed by variations below. (If dough is too soft, cover and refrigerate, 30 to 45 minutes.)
Place dough into cookie press fitted with template.
Form desired shapes, 1 inch apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

VARIATIONS:

Chocolate Chip Spritz: Add 1/4 cup coarsely grated semi-sweet chocolate.

Eggnog-Glazed Spritz: Add 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup butter, softened, 2 tablespoons water and 1/4 teaspoon rum extract in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies.

Lebkuchen Spice Spritz: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies.

Mint Kisses: Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Immediately after removing cookies from oven place 1 chocolate candy kiss on each cookie.

Makes approximately 5 dozen

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