Fiori di Sicilia Spritz

Though not a traditional Italian recipe, Fiori di Sicilia Spritz Cookies beautifully blend Italian flair with European cookie tradition. The name Fiori di Sicilia Spritz evokes Sicily’s vibrant citrus groves, thanks to the star ingredient—Fiori di Sicilia. A fragrant extract combining vanilla with floral orange and lemon notes. While spritz cookies originate from Northern Europe, particularly Germany, Italian-American bakers embraced the buttery cookie base and infused it with this uniquely Sicilian flavoring. The result is a delicate, aromatic twist on a classic: crisp, piped cookies with a sunny Mediterranean soul. They capture the essence of Italian baking, simple, elegant, and full of flavor. Paying homage to cross-cultural creativity in the kitchen.

Fiori di Sicilia Spritz Cookies are not a traditional Sicilian treat but an Italian-American twist on a German classic — blending old-world spritz cookie techniques with the distinctive citrus‑vanilla essence of Sicily. These buttery, crisp cookies are made by pressing a rich cream cheese dough through a cookie press and flavored with Fiori di Sicilia—a fragrant blend of citrus and vanilla. Baked until golden and optionally glazed or sprinkled, they offer a delicate texture and bright, floral aroma in every bite.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 48 cookies

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Germany, Italian

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 large egg yolk
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp Fiori di Sicilia extract
• ¾ tsp vanilla extract
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Zest of lemon
• ¼ tsp fine salt
• Colored sanding sugar (decorating) Optional
• Citrus glaze (powdered sugar + lemon/orange juice) Optional

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment or leave ungreased for best cookie shape.
2. Cream butter, cream cheese & sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
3. Add egg yolk, Fiori di Sicilia, vanilla, and salt. Mix until combined.
4. Gradually add flour, mixing just until a smooth, soft dough forms.
5. Load dough into a cookie press fitted with your favorite shape. Press directly onto the baking sheet.
6. Add sprinkles if desired, and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are just barely golden.
7. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
8. (Optional) drizzle with a citrus glaze once fully cooled.

Notes

Simple Fiori di Sicilia Substitute: A quick substitute can be made by combining pure vanilla extract, pure lemon extract, and pure orange extract.

Colored sanding sugar can be purchased or made at home It is granulated sugar that has been dyed with food coloring to create a vibrant, decorative topping for baked goods.