Summer is a season filled with fireworks, parades, and backyard barbecues. And what better dessert to celebrate summer than these Patriotic Chocolate Chip Cookies?
After all, chocolate chip cookies are the most popular cookies in the country, so let’s give them a patriotic makeover! Add some vibrant red, white, and blue M&Ms and some shimmering star sprinkles for a dessert that is both different and familiar.
These patriotic cookies are the perfect solution for busy summer celebrations. They are easy to make, and you can make them a day or two ahead of time and skip the last-minute rush (though there are no guarantees your family won’t sneak a few – or maybe that’s just my problem?).
These cookies are like fireworks at a July 4th celebration—gone in a flash! I made these for a Memorial Day picnic last month, and they disappeared before the burgers even hit the grill. I guess I’m making a double batch for the Fourth of July!
In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know to whip up a batch of these festive treats. From ingredient notes and expert tips to serving ideas and storage solutions, I’ve got you covered. And, of course, I’ll share some of my best tips for baking cookies with the perfect balance of crispy edges and chewy centers.
Want more fun patriotic treats for your summer celebrations? Try patriotic parfaits, mini pavlova, or a red, white and blue smoothie!
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
The ingredients are the standard ingredients for chocolate chip cookies: butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, and mini chocolate chips. There are just two extra ingredients:
- Red, White, and Blue M&Ms
- Star Sprinkles: These are optional but highly recommended. They are pressed into the tops of the cookies to give them an extra festive flair.
🥣How to Make Patriotic Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Start by beating together the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes.
- Next, add vanilla extract and eggs to the creamed mixture. Beat until everything is well combined.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating at low speed until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make your cookies tough.
- Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips and red, white, and blue M&Ms. Make sure the chips and M&Ms are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least one hour. Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop to form dough balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra M&Ms and star sprinkles into the top of each dough ball for that festive look.
- Bake the cookies for 11 to 13 minutes until the edges are golden brown, and the centers are still soft. Every oven is a little different, so keep an eye on them. You want them to be just set but not overbaked.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
🍴Serving Ideas
Here are some fun and creative ideas to make your patriotic cookies the star of any gathering.
- Arrange your cookies on a large, festive platter. Add a few extra red, white, and blue decorations like mini flags or red, white, and blue Rice Krispie treats to make the presentation pop.
- Turn these cookies into delicious ice cream sandwiches. Sandwich a scoop of vanilla or strawberry ice cream between two cookies. Roll the edges in extra M&Ms or star sprinkles for a festive touch. These are a huge hit at summer parties, and they’re so easy to make ahead of time and freeze.
- Package a few cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red, white, and blue ribbon. These make adorable party favors or thoughtful gifts for friends and neighbors. It’s a great way to share the cookie love!
💭How to Store
Whether you’ve got leftovers (a rarity in my house) or are prepping for a party, here’s how to keep them fresh and tasty.
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh for up to a week. To keep them soft, add a slice of bread to the container. The bread will absorb any excess moisture, keeping your cookies perfectly chewy. This trick is a lifesaver, especially when you’ve baked a big batch.
If you want to make your cookies ahead of time, you can freeze them. Place the baked and cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating the layers with parchment paper. They’ll keep well for up to three months. To enjoy, just let them thaw at room temperature or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds.
You can also freeze the cookie dough for later use. Scoop the dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to bake, add a couple extra minutes to the baking time. They’ll be ready for those times when a cookie craving hits, and you need a fresh batch, fast.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Chilling the dough for at least an hour helps the cookies hold their shape while baking and prevents them from spreading too much. If you’re short on time, you can speed up the process by popping the dough in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Too much flour can make your cookies dry and crumbly. Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife to measure flour correctly. Don’t scoop directly from the bag; this can pack the flour and result in too much.
- When folding in the M&Ms, make sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough so every cookie gets a good amount of colorful candy. Don’t forget to press a few extra M&Ms and star sprinkles on each dough ball before baking for that extra festive touch.
- Every oven is different, so keep an eye on your cookies. They should be golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center. It usually takes about 11-13 minutes. Overbaking can make them hard, so it’s better to take them out a bit underdone—they’ll continue to set as they cool.
- If you prefer more M&Ms and fewer chocolate chips, you can swap them out. Keep the total add-ins to about 2 cups to maintain the correct dough consistency.
- You can make the dough up to 3 days in advance and keep it refrigerated. Keep it well covered in the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before scooping and baking, as it will be pretty firm straight from the fridge.
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Patriotic Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 cup red white, and blue M&Ms, plus extra for decorating
- 1/4 cup star sprinkles optional for decorating
Instructions
- Beat the butter, sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.1 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar
- Add the vanilla and eggs and beat to combine.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 eggs
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and beat to mix.3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Fold in the mini chocolate chips and M&Ms.1 cup mini chocolate chips, 1 cup red
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to scoop the dough into balls.
- Press more M&Ms and star sprinkles into the top of each cookie dough ball.1/4 cup star sprinkles
- Bake the cookies for 11 to 13 minutes until the edges are golden brown, and the centers are still soft.
- Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Chilling the dough for at least an hour helps the cookies hold their shape while baking and prevents them from spreading too much.
- Every oven is different, so keep an eye on your cookies. They should be golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center. It usually takes about 11-13 minutes. Overbaking can make them hard, so it’s better to take them out a bit underdone—they’ll continue to set as they cool.
- If you prefer more M&Ms and fewer chocolate chips, you can swap them out. Keep the total add-ins to about 2 cups to maintain the correct dough consistency.
- You can make the dough up to 3 days in advance and keep it refrigerated. Keep it well covered in the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before scooping and baking, as it will be pretty firm straight from the fridge.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
