Celebrate Independence Day in the sweetest way possible-with perfectly baked 4th of July sugar cookies! This isn't just any sugar cookie recipe-it's a fun, festive way to bring some star-spangled spirit to your baking. These cookies have soft, chewy centers, crisp edges, and bright red, white, and blue decorations that are sure to be a hit at any July 4th gathering.
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If you're a fan of holiday treats, you might also love these Fourth of July cake pops! They are super easy to make with a cake box mix and are ready in just 1 hour.
Growing up, my family would always celebrate the Fourth of July with a big barbecue and fireworks. But one of my favorite parts was always the desserts.
From these S'Mores Chocolate Chip Cookies to a slice of my Red, White, and Blue Cake, we always had a delicious spread of festive treats. Now that I'm older and have started baking more, I love creating my own 4th of July-themed desserts to share with friends and family.
Plus, these star-spangled sugar cookies are definitely a crowd-pleaser! They're soft, chewy, and bursting with patriotic colors. And, thanks to Laura from Butterfly Bakes Atlanta and her cookie icing tips, my sugar cookie recipe is better than ever!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Perfect Texture: Soft, chewy centers with golden-brown edges-these cookies nail it every time.
- Fun Decorations: Bright red, white, and blue royal icing make these cookies as fun to look at as they are to eat.
- Easy Recipe: Whether you bake all the time or are just starting out, this step-by-step guide keeps things simple and enjoyable.
- Make Ahead: Bake the cookies ahead of time and decorate whenever you're ready-no last-minute stress.
- Great for Kids: Get the kids involved! They'll have a blast with the icing and sprinkles.
Key ingredients
Here's why my 4th of July cookies stand out from the cookie crowd, thanks to these key ingredients:
Unsalted Butter: Butter is key to any amazing sugar cookie recipe. Using unsalted butter lets you control the flavor completely and gives your cookies that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Baking Powder: Baking powder helps the cookies rise and gives them that light, fluffy texture.
Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract adds a delicious flavor to your sugar cookies. For an extra special touch, use pure vanilla extract instead of imitation.
Heather's helpful hints
- Chill the Dough: Pop your cookie dough in the fridge for at least an hour-this keeps it from spreading too much while baking.
- Roll Evenly: Grab some adjustable rolling pins to get an even thickness, so your cookies bake nice and evenly.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: When decorating, gel food coloring is the way to go. It gives you bold colors without messing up your royal icing texture.
How to make 4th of July sugar cookies
Making patriotic sugar cookies has never been easier! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make it...
Step 1
Mix together your wet ingredients and then gradually mix in your dry ingredients to form a dough. Wrap your dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Step 2
Once firm, roll it out to about ¼-inch thickness. Use star-shaped or circular cookie cutters to cut out your cookies. Bake in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes, just until the edges are lightly golden.
Step 3
Mix together confectioners' sugar, water, and meringue powder in a large bowl using a stand mixer. Beat it for about 7 to 10 minutes until you get soft peaks. Add in gel food coloring.
Step 4
Add royal icing to a piping bag and design your sugar cookies just the way you like them!
Tips for making the best homemade royal icing
I had the amazing chance to chat with Laura from Butterfly Bakes in Atlanta, and let me tell you-she's a rockstar cookie decorator! She does amazing work with Ann Clark and was kind enough to drop some super helpful tips for beginners.
If you're just starting out in the cookie decorating world, this is definitely for you. Feel free to grab her royal icing guide for more great tips!
1. Stick to Two Icing Consistencies
Laura's advice? Keep it simple with two consistencies to start:
- Outline consistency should feel like toothpaste. Yep, go grab a tube and check it out if you're not sure-it's a great reference.
- Flood consistency is thinner and perfect for filling in your outlines.
Using both bags of icing, draw the outline of your cookie with the outline consistency and then fill it in with the flood consistency. This creates a smooth and even layer of icing on top of the cookie, giving it a professional look.
Note - Make sure to let each layer dry completely before adding additional layers or designs.
2. Keep It Simple!
No need to jump into fancy designs right away. Stick with easy shapes and basic patterns while you get the hang of it. Building confidence and technique takes time!
Laura's motto: Fake it till you make it.
If you have some extra cookie dough, I recommend baking a few extra cookies for practice.
3. Think Like a Painter
One of my favorite things that Laura shared was that cookie decorating is a lot like painting-it's all about creativity and practice. So, there is no need for stress or making everything look "perfect."
The goal is to have fun, nothing more and nothing less!
Variations and substitutions
Want to make these cookies uniquely yours? Here's how to shake things up!
Rolled out cookie dough
If you prefer thicker cookies, roll the dough out to ⅜-inch instead of ¼-inch and adjust baking time slightly.
No royal icing?
Use a simple powdered sugar glaze made with 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk. You can still add a few drops of food coloring to achieve the same colorful effect.
Gluten-free sugar cookies
Use this cookie recipe from Gluten Free On A Shoestring to make your patriotic cookies gluten-free! These cookies are super easy to make and taste just as delicious as the ones I made.
Fun cookie cutters
Don't limit yourself to just stars and stripes! Get creative with your cookie-cutter shapes and make fireworks, flags, or even Statue of Liberty-shaped cookies.
Patriotic toppings
Add some extra flair to your cookies by sprinkling on red, white, and blue sprinkles or edible glitter. You can also add patriotic-themed candy pieces such as mini American flags or red, white, and blue M&Ms.
Recipe
Fourth of July Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- parchment paper
- Piping bags
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- 2 ¾ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional
Royal Icing
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar sifted
- 6 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit 20 minutes before baking your cookies. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder together and set aside.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the room-temperature butter and sugar together on high speed for about three minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Add your flour mixture to the dough one cup at a time. The dough will be very stiff (it does not need to be refrigerated).
- Divide the dough into two sections and roll out to ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters to make shapes and transfer the cookies to your parchment-lined pans.
- Bake in the oven for 6-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on the cookies, and remove them when the edges are light brown. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, and then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the royal icing, mix the confectioners' sugar, water, and meringue powder in a large bowl with a stand mixer until soft peaks form, 7 to 10 minutes. You may need to add some extra water to achieve your desired consistency.
- If you want red or blue frosting, you can tint the icing using gel food coloring. Royal icing is the easiest to manage using a piping bag (couplers and tips are optional). Your frosted cookies will need to dry at room temperature for several hours before the icing is hard.
Notes and Tips
- Food Coloring: I always use gel food coloring for vibrant colors!
- Meringue Powder: Sometimes, I like to use a flavored meringue powder to give my royal icing a boost of flavor.
- Rolling the Dough: An adjustable rolling pin can help ensure that all your cookies are exactly ¼ inch. I love using mine!
- Flavoring: I love adding a little lemon zest to this dough for a bright pop of citrus flavor. You can also add ½ teaspoon of almond extract or maple extract.
Nutrition
Frequently asked questions
Done with your royal icing? Don't throw away those piping bags! Pop them in the freezer instead.
When you're ready to use them again, just let them thaw a little and give them a good squish. They'll stay fresh for months!
Note - If the icing feels gritty or sandy when defrosted, it's crystallized-time to whip up a new batch.
Absolutely! You can make the cookie dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. This will save you time on the day of baking and still result in delicious cookies.
Once the royal icing has set completely, layer the 4th of July sugar cookies between sheets of parchment paper and store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Stacey says
Love this, Heather! Can't wait to give these a try!
Heather says
This is such a great recipe, definitely let me know how they turn out!