Use cool, ungreased metal sheets; warm or parchment-lined sheets can stop spritz dough from adhering during pressing.
A buttery spritz dough carries orange zest and cocoa in a two-tone tree design pressed directly onto cool baking sheets.
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Orange Chocolate Spritz Shortbread Trees Recipe
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Total time includes hands-on preparation, required chilling or resting, whole-batch cooking, cooling and finishing.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- mixer
- cookie press
- tree disk
- baking sheets
- piping cone
Ingredients
US measures are approximate. Gram weights help keep portions consistent; spice weights vary with density.
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
- Prepare the ingredients: Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Mix in flour and salt; divide dough and blend zest into one portion, cocoa into the other.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Load both colors side by side in a cookie press fitted with a tree disk and press 24 trees onto cool ungreased sheets.
Bake and set
- Bake and set: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 9–12 minutes until set without browning.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Cool on the sheet, then pipe a thin chocolate garland.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
Keep the dough soft enough to press but not oily; avoid chilling before loading the press.
Technique & texture
Practice a test tree and adjust pressure until the shape releases cleanly.
Finishing & serving
Add the chocolate detail only after the cookies are completely cool.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | up to 5 days | Airtight at room temperature up to 5 days after chocolate sets. |
| Refrigeration | As described | No refrigeration needed. store away from heat. |
| Raw freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze pressed, undecorated trees on a tray and bag up to 1 month. |
| Baked freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze baked trees undecorated up to 1 month. |
| Restoring | As described | Thaw uncovered, then add chocolate detail and let set before packing. |
Notes
- Scale ingredients, including US measures, without changing cookie size or oven temperature. Extra trays increase whole-batch time.
Nutrition
Approximate values per portion from the listed ingredient weights divided into 24 equal portions. Includes required fillings and finishes. Brands, unused coatings and actual portion size affect the estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a piping bag instead of a press?
A large star tip can pipe trees, but the dough may need slight softening for consistent ridges.
Why won't the dough stick to the sheet?
Sheets may be warm, greased or lined; use cool, clean metal baking sheets.
Can I change the colors?
Yes; leave half plain or tint it with a small amount of gel color without adding liquid.
