Cookie Press Butter Cookies

Cookie Press Butter Cookies

• 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoon melted butter
• Holiday sprinkles, colored sugars, maraschino cherry pieces, etc
• Food coloring

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Brush baking sheet with melted butter and place the pan in the freezer to chill.
3. In a large bowl of an electric mixer or use a hand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add egg yolks, flour, salt, vanilla and almond extract.
5. Mix until a ball is formed.
6. Remove the pan from the freezer. (The chilled pan make is easier for the cookies to stick)
7. Fill the cookie press with the dough and select your favorite shape.
8. Press the cookies out onto the chilled cookie sheet.
9. Sprinkle with your favorite sanding sugars and embellishments.
10. Bake the cookies for 7-10 minutes.
11. Remove from the oven and carefully place the hot cookies on a cooling rack.
12. Fill a cookie press with the dough, and turn out cookies 1 to 2 inches apart onto an unbuttered baking sheet.
13. Sprinkle cookies with colored sanding sugars.

**Feel free to experiment with food coloring to color the dough.