4th of July cookies are soft, chewy, buttery sugar cookies loaded with red, white, and blue M&Ms for a kick of chocolate flavor and a burst of patriotic color. They're the perfect sweet treat for your Fourth of July celebration.
Cookies are the ultimate holiday treat, if you ask us. They're so easy to tweak for any holiday. Just change the mix-ins! With simple additions, you can make simple pink frosted sugar cookies for showers, Halloween monster cookies, and everything in between.
Why You'll Love These Cookies
- Limited Ingredients: It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe.
- Easy: This is a basic sugar cookie recipe with added M&Ms, so it's incredibly easy.
- Budget-Friendly: Everything used in this recipe is basic and affordable.
- Customizable: Change the M&M colors to suit any holiday.
- Freezer-Friendly: These freezer-friendly cookies can be frozen for future use.
Ingredients
- Butter: Butter adds classic buttery flavor to the sugar cookies.
- Vanilla: Vanilla gives the cookies a rich flavor.
- M&Ms: Red, white, and blue M&Ms add a burst of chocolate and patriotic color to each bite.
See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact quantities of each ingredient.
Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- Change the M&Ms: Use different colored M&Ms for specific holidays and events.
- Chopped Candy Bars: Try adding chopped candy bars to these cookies for a different flavor profile.
- Karo Syrup: Try adding Karo syrup for super soft, chewy cookies.
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How To Make 4th of July Cookies
Preheat oven to 350℉. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Beat the wet ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- Combine the dry ingredients.
- Mix the dry and wet ingredients until combined. Then, add the M&Ms.
- Bake until the cookies are lightly golden brown. Enjoy!
Hint
Be sure your wet ingredients are light, fluffy, and creamy before adding the dry ingredients. This creates the best cookie texture.
Storage
Store these cookies in an air-tight container for up to a week at room temperature. For longer storage, wrap the cookies in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
Defrost the cookies on the counter before serving.
What To Serve With 4th of July Cookies
These cookies make the perfect dessert for the Fourth after classic recipes like smoked meatloaf, grilled chicken, or sloppy Joe.
Of course, they also make a great addition to a larger dessert table full of red, white, and blue treats for the holiday, like coconut lime cookies, 4th of July cupcakes, or a sweet fruit pizza.
Tips
- Mix the cookie dough until just combined. Overmixing creates excess gluten which can make the cookies tough.
- Fold the M&Ms into the dough rather than stirring. This helps limit gluten production and keeps the M&Ms from breaking apart.
- Be sure to wrap your cookies in plastic wrap if you plan to freeze them to eliminate freezer burn.
FAQ
That's a matter of personal preference. Sugar cookies can be crispy or soft, depending on the recipe.
If you overbake your sugar cookies or use too much flour, your sugar cookies can come out hard and tough. Overmixing can also lead to tough sugar cookies due to creating too much gluten in the dough.
More moisture and less baking are the secret to soft cookies. Adding an extra egg or Karo syrup add moisture and will help keep the cookies soft and chewy. In addition, removing the cookies about 2 to 5 minutes before they're finished baking helps keep them soft. Carry-over cooking time from the hot baking sheet will finish baking them to soft perfection.
More Summer Dessert Ideas
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4th of July Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups red, white and blue M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cream together butter, granulated sugar, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Next, add the baking soda and salt. Mix well.
- Slowly add in the flour. Once the flour is fully incorporated, gently mix in the M&M's.
- Using a two-inch cookie scoop, place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each scoop.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn a slight golden brown color. Remove from the oven and cool completely before serving.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Mix the cookie dough until just combined. Overmixing creates excess gluten which can make the cookies tough.
- Fold the M&Ms into the dough rather than stirring. This helps limit gluten production and keeps the M&Ms from breaking apart.
- Be sure to wrap your cookies in plastic wrap if you plan to freeze them to eliminate freezer burn.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen
These a fun dessert for the fourth of July.