Spritz Butter Cookies

Christmas cookies can evoke such powerful emotions.  I can honestly remember helping my mom make spritz cookies when I was younger and as a young wife was thrilled to make them myself.  Through the years these cookies have signaled the start of the Christmas baking season in our household.

I'll be sharing my mom's recipe as soon as I can find it (did I just admit that I can't find something???), but in the meantime here's a recipe I made from a recipe a friend gave me.  This one is absolutely the easiest recipe ever - 3 ingredients! - and you can even make these without a cookie press.  And yes, the amounts listed are correct.  Do not blame your cholesterol level on me if you make and eat these!  ;)

Jeanie's Butter Cookies

4 sticks butter (I warned you!)
2 3/4 cups flour
1 white cake mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Microwave 2 sticks of butter on high until melted. Slice remaining sticks of butter into 1/2" pieces and add to melted butter, tossing to coat.  Allow to stand 3-5 minutes til softened, then whisk butter until smooth.

Whisk flour into cake mix.  Pour the butter into the dry ingredients, mix until smooth.

Use in cookie press and drop onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Decorate with sprinkles and bake 10-13 minutes. Or roll out dough, cut with cookie cutters and bake 13-15 minutes. Or drop by tablespoonful and bake 15-17 minutes.