These easy patriotic sugar cookies don’t require any chilling and are really cute for the Fourth of July or other occasions where you just need a red, white, and blue cookie recipe.
They are a bit “messier” than some other perfectly curated cookies, which means they take less time and are a more natural way of incorporating colors into your cookies.
You start with my classic sugar cookie recipe to create the batter, and then you add in some food coloring and a few special tricks to make for an explosion of color in your cookies.
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These easy patriotic sugar cookies are:
- great to take to Fourth of July parties paired with Fourth of July cake
- easy to make with no chilling required
- hits with the kids who will love helping make these
- soft and chewy
Must-Have Baking Tools (seriously)
- Silicone baking mats – I use this brand and my cookies slide right off without burning!
- a cookie scoop – get this one. It makes the perfect rounded cookies every time!
- silicone spatula – try this set. It’s the best way to get the most out of your dough and batters
- rolling pin guides – I use this one. Genius way to roll your dough out evenly!
Can You Freeze Patriotic Sugar Cookies?
Yes, you can freeze these patriotic sugar cookies for up to 3 months so you can make them in advance if you really want to, but given that you might not need patriotic cookies for 3 months down the line if you’re preparing them for the Fourth of July, just make sure to alter the recipe to make however many you’re going to want now.
Should You Refrigerate Patriotic Sugar Cookies?
I much prefer these patriotic sugar cookies at room temperature, but you are able to refrigerate them if you prefer a cold cookie.
At room temperature, however, they retain their softness and chewiness which make them a cookie worth eating and not just looking at.
Why Do You Use Brown Sugar and Powdered Sugar in these Sugar Cookies?
There are three types of sugar that go into making these easy patriotic cookies: brown sugar, regular sugar, and powdered sugar.
The brown sugar adds a deeper flavor and chewiness, while the powdered sugar helps keep them soft and not crispy.
How to Make Soft Patriotic Sugar Cookies
To make these sugar cookies, you’re going to want to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Preheating allows the oven to get up to temperature by the time you’re ready to put the cookies in.
If you don’t preheat, you run the risk of ruining your baking process as the temperature would be fluctuating while they’re baking.
First, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a small bowl.
Sifting allows for an even distribution of ingredients, though if you don’t have a sifting tool, you can go ahead and combine without it.
In a different bowl, cream the butter and sugar.
This will take a few minutes in an electric mixer or you can use a glass bowl and wooden spoon for 5 or so minutes to keep working the butter and sugar together until it’s blended.
After you’ve creamed the butter and sugar, add in the egg and vanilla to the wet mixture.
Finally, add the flour mixture gradually to the wet mixture.
Combine, without overmixing.
Then, separate your dough into three separate bowls.
Use red food coloring in one bowl (I love gel food coloring like this), adding a little bit at a time until you get the red you want.
With another bowl, add blue food coloring until you get your desired shade of blue.
Leave one bowl its natural color, as this will be your “white.”
Then, lay a large sheet of saran wrap down.
Individually, squish the batter with your hands into a rope about 8 to 12 inches long.
Do this for each color.
Lay the ropes next to each other on the saran wrap.
Use the saran wrap to cover the ropes and squish them together in a cylindrical shape.
Unpeel the saran wrap and use your fingers to grab the dough from the end of the cylinder, making sure to get all three colors.
Roll the dough into spheres, about a heaping tablespoon worth.
Place them on the baking tray about 2-3 inches apart.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
The longer you bake, the crisipier they will be and the more they may lose their color as the browning of the cookie takes over.
I like to take mine out when they’re starting to set and are getting a golden hue to the sides.
Enjoy!
Easy Patriotic Sugar Cookies
These easy patriotic sugar cookies are great to bring to Fourth of July parties or use anytime you're looking for the best red, white, and blue cookie recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups (270 grams) plain flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons (145 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Red food coloring
- Blue food coloring
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a small bowl.
3. In a different bowl, cream the butter and sugar. This will take a few minutes in an electric mixer or you can use a glass bowl and wooden spoon for 5 or so minutes to keep working the butter and sugar together until it's blended.
4. After you've creamed the butter and sugar, add in the egg and vanilla to the wet mixture.
5. Add the flour mixture gradually to the wet mixture. Combine, without overmixing.
6. Separate your dough into three separate bowls.
7. Use red food coloring in one bowl, adding a little bit at a time until you get the red you want.
8. With another bowl, add blue food coloring until you get your desired shade of blue.
9. Leave one bowl its natural color, as this will be your "white."
10. Lay a large sheet of saran wrap down.
11. Individually, squish the batter with your hands into a rope about 8 to 12 inches long. Do this for each color.
12. Lay the ropes next to each other on the saran wrap.
13. Use the saran wrap to cover the ropes and squish them together in a cylindrical shape.
14. Unpeel the saran wrap and use your fingers to grab the dough from the end of the cylinder, making sure to get all three colors.
15. Roll the dough into spheres, about a heaping tablespoon worth.
16. Place them on the baking tray, greased, about 2-3 inches apart.
17. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The longer you bake, the crisipier they will be and the more they may lose their color as the browning of the cookie takes over. I like to take mine out when they're starting to set and are getting a golden hue to the sides.
Notes
1. You can always let the dough chill longer, so leave it overnight if that works best for your baking.
2. The best way to get vibrant colors is to use gel food coloring rather than liquid food coloring.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 261Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 170mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g
If you’re interested in other patriotic cookies, check out these Red, White and Blue star cookies.
