Cream Cheese Spritz

A hint of orange and cinnamon highlights these Christmastime classics.

Ingredients

1 cup shortening

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg yolk, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Green food coloring, decorator candies and colored sugar, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream shortening, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, salt and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in orange zest. If desired, add food coloring.

Using a cookie press fitted with a disk of your choice, press dough 1 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Decorate with candies and colored sugar as desired. Bake until set (do not brown), 9-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.