4th of July Cookies
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Get ready to dazzle your taste buds and impress your guests with these festive 4th of July cookies loaded with M&Ms! Perfectly chewy, delightfully colorful, and bursting with patriotic spirit, these cookies are the ultimate treat for your Independence Day celebrations. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or just want to indulge in some sweet, star-spangled fun, this 4th of July cookie recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Need even more sweet treats to help show your patriotism? I’ve got you! Try my cherry pie bars or mini cherry pies!
Recipe Features
- Festive and Fun: These cookies are colorful and festive, making them perfect for celebrating Independence Day.
- Crowd-Pleaser: They are sure to be a hit with guests of all ages at any 4th of July gathering.Easy to Make: The recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, even for novice bakers.
- Patriotic Theme: The red, white, and blue M&Ms add a patriotic touch that perfectly matches the holiday theme.
- Delicious Treat: The combination of chewy cookies and crunchy M&Ms creates a delicious and satisfying treat.
Ready for the EASIEST red white and blue cookies? We make these every year and get rave reviews. The secret is the light and fluffy dough made with all pantry staples! I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked for this very easy cookie recipe. You cannot go wrong with these M&M cookies.
Bonus, this dough is actually delicious with any candy or mix-ins. Save it and use it as a base to any holiday or flavor combination.
Ingredients You’ll Need
We call these Patriotic Cookies because they are perfect for the 4th of July and memorial day. The biggest difference between these and my easy M&M cookies is simply the color of candy that we use. Pro tip- After searching store after store we found that Target carries all of the seasonal candy colors.
- All-Purpose Flour, Baking Soda, and Salt: Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl and whisk them together before adding to the wet ingredients. This ensures even distribution and helps prevent clumping, making your dough smoother and more consistent.
- Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar: Use the spoon and level method for both sugars to ensure you get the right amount. This helps maintain the proper sweetness and texture of your cookies. Cream the sugars with butter until light and fluffy to incorporate air, which leads to a lighter cookie.
- Butter: Use butter that is at room temperature for easier creaming with sugars. If you forgot to take it out of the fridge, cut it into small cubes to speed up the softening process.
- Eggs: Bring eggs to room temperature before using. If you’re in a hurry, place them in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. This helps them blend more smoothly into the batter.
- Vanilla: Add vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture before adding the dry ingredients. This ensures the vanilla flavor is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Red, White, and Blue Candy-Coated Chocolate Pieces: Add the candy-coated chocolate pieces last and fold them in gently with a spatula to avoid breaking them and to distribute them evenly without causing color bleeding.
4th Of July Cookies with M&M’s
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this bowl aside.
- Combine Sugars and Butter: In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter. Beat on low speed for about 2 minutes until the mixture is fully combined and looks fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Mix in Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the dough just starts to form and the flour is fully incorporated, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add Candies: Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the red, white, and blue candy-coated chocolate pieces.
- Shape and Chill Dough: Spoon and roll the dough into 1-inch round balls. Place the dough balls on a plate or baking tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the chilled dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking trays. Optional: Press a few extra candies onto the tops of each dough ball for decoration.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn lightly brown.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the cookies from the baking tray and let them cool on a wire rack before storing.
Helpful Tools
These tools will help streamline the baking process and ensure your cookies turn out perfectly.
- Mixing Bowls: (affiliate) One medium-sized bowl for the dry ingredients and one large bowl for the wet ingredients.
- Electric Mixer: (affiliate) A stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer for creaming the butter and sugars and mixing the dough.
- Spatula: (affiliate) For folding in the M&Ms and scraping down the sides of the bowls.
- Baking Sheets: (affiliate) Two or more baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for baking the cookies.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats: (affiliate) To line the baking sheets, preventing the cookies from sticking.
Expert Tips:
- Cream Butter and Sugars Well: Beat the butter and sugars together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This incorporates air into the dough, making the cookies tender and light.
- Add Eggs One at a Time: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure they are fully mixed in and the dough is smooth.
- Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking and enhances the flavors.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: For evenly sized cookies, use a cookie scoop to portion out the dough. This ensures consistent baking.
- Press Extra Candies: Press a few extra M&Ms on top of each dough ball before baking for a more colorful and festive look.
- Don’t Over-Bake: Bake the cookies until the edges are just starting to brown. They might look slightly underdone in the center, but they will continue to set as they cool.
- Rotate Baking Sheets: If baking multiple sheets at once, rotate them halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking.
Recipe FAQs
Creaming the butter and sugars means beating them together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process incorporates air into the dough, which helps make the cookies tender.
Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking. It also enhances the flavor and texture of the cookies.
You can use a hand mixer or even mix by hand with a sturdy spoon. Just make sure to mix until the ingredients are well combined and the butter and sugars are creamy.
The cookies are done when the edges are lightly browned. They may look slightly underdone in the center, but they will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. You can add a slice of bread to the container to help keep them soft and chewy.
Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough balls. Once rolled into balls, place them on a baking sheet to freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
More 4th of July Recipes
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Ingredients
- 2¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter (room temperature)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1½ cups M&M candies (divided)
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this bowl aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter. Beat on low speed for about 2 minutes until the mixture is fully combined and looks fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the dough just starts to form and the flour is fully incorporated, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the red, white, and blue candy-coated chocolate pieces.
- Spoon and roll the dough into 1-inch round balls. Place the dough balls on a plate or baking tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the chilled dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking trays. Optional: Press a few extra candies onto the tops of each dough ball for decoration.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn lightly brown.
- Remove the cookies from the baking tray and let them cool on a wire rack before storing.
Notes
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- Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking and enhances the flavors.
-
- Use a Cookie Scoop: For evenly sized cookies, use a cookie scoop to portion out the dough. This ensures consistent baking.
-
- Press Extra Candies: Press a few extra M&Ms on top of each dough ball before baking for a more colorful and festive look.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
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- Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars
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- Best Rice Krispie Treats
- Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
- 3-Ingredient Oreo Truffles
- Salty Brownie Cookies
- How to Freeze Cookie Dough
- Red White and Blue Oreo Cookies
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