1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 tsp. almond or vanilla extract

Do not use self-rising flour in this recipe.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix butter and sugar. Mix in remaining ingredients. Place dough in cookie press; form desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set but not brown, 6 to 9 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

BOW TIE COOKIES:

Stir 2 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate (cool) into butter mixture. Place dough in cookie press with star plate; form 2 1/2 inch bow ties on ungreased cookie sheet. Place cinnamon candy in center. Bake 9 to 10 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

CHOCOLATE SPRITZ:

Stir 2 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate (cool) into butter mixture.

CHRISTMAS DECORATED SPRITZ:

Before baking, top cookies with currants, raisins, candies, nuts, slices of candied fruits, or candies fruit peels arranged in attractive platters. Or after baking, decorate with colored sugars, nonpareils, red cinnamon candies, and finely chopped nuts. Use drop of corn syrup to hold decorations on baked cookies.