Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats. I don’t recommend parchment paper with these cookies. You want the cookie dough to stick to the surface you press them onto and parchment paper is non-stick. Set cookie sheets aside.2

Step 2

. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. You should be able to see the mixture lighten in color and get a creamy texture and know it’s ready.3.

Step 3

Add the egg and mix until well combined.4.

Step 4

Add the vanilla extract and almond extract and mix until well combined.5.

Step 5

Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough is combined, then remove the bowl from the mixer and finish combining with a rubber spatula, if needed. Do not over mix.6.

Step 6

If coloring some of the cookie dough, divide it into parts. I used white, red and green, so I divided it evenly into three parts.7.

Step 7

Use the gel icing color to color the dough. Add small amounts to begin with, then add more as needed. You can always add additional color, but can’t remove it if you add too much. Adding too much liquid will thin out your cookie dough a bit.8.

Step 8

Add one of the colors of cookie dough to your cookie press (I use this one) and follow the directions for your press to set it up. Hold the cookie press perpendicular to your cookie sheet and press out the cookies. They can be fairly close together, since they don’t really spread.9.

Step 9

Decorate the cookies with sprinkles, if desired.10

Step 10

Bake cookies for 5-8 minutes. I prefer them nice and soft, so I went with 5 minutes, but feel free to increase that time and adjust based on your oven.11

Step 11

Remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.12

Step 12

Store cookies in an air tight container for up to about 1 week.