Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup sugar or 3/4 cup brown sugar, for butterscotch flavor
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (2 1/3 cups at high altitude)
• 1/4 cup sugar (optional)
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted (optional)
• 2 tablespoons orange rind, grated (optional)
• 1/2 cup pecans, very finely chopped (optional)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom (optional)
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee (optional)
• 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped (optional)
• 1/4 cup light molasses (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon clove (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger (optional)

Instructions

1. Cream together all ingredients except flour.

2. Blend in flour.

3. Divide dough in half.

4. Spread each half with floured fingers or spatula to a 12x10" rectangle on ungreased cookie sheet.

5. Run floured fork tines over top to make"spritz" marks.

6. Bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until delicately browned.

7. Cut immediately into 3x1" sticks.

8. Remove from cookie sheet.

9. Chocolate Spritz:.

10. Increase sugar to 1 cup total and add 2 oz.

11. unsweetened chocolate in the first step.

12. Don't overbake.

13. Butterscotch Spritz:.

14. Substitute brown sugar for white (only change).

15. Orange Pecan Spritz:.

16. Add 2 tbsp orange peel and 1/2 cup pecans when you add the flour.

17. Swedish Spice Spritz:.

18. Add 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cardamom in the first step.

19. Coffee Spritz:.

20. Add 1 tbsp instant coffee and 1/4 cup pecans, if desired, with the sugar.

21. Pepperkakor Spritz:.

22. Omit the egg, and add 1/4 cup light molasses, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp cloves and 1/2 tsp ginger with the sugar.