Patriotic Crinkle Cookies With a Buttery Twist | Red, White, Blue & Delicious
Samantha
These Patriotic Crinkle Cookies With a Buttery Twist are soft, chewy, and full of red, white, and blue flair. A no-chill cookie recipe made with a rich vanilla-butter base and dusted in colorful powdered sugar, they’re the perfect treat for your Fourth of July celebration. Quick to bake, easy to adapt, and absolutely gorgeous on any holiday dessert table.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 130 kcal
For the Cookie Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Coating:
- ¾ cup powdered sugar divided into 3 bowls if using color
- Red and blue gel food coloring or natural alternatives
Preheat Oven: Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In one bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
Cream Butter & Sugar: In another bowl, beat butter with both sugars until fluffy.
Add Eggs & Vanilla: Mix in eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
Combine: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet. Divide dough into thirds.
Color: Leave one third plain, dye one red, and one blue. Use gloves to knead in color evenly.
Shape & Roll: Scoop 1-inch dough balls and roll in powdered sugar.
Bake: Arrange 2 inches apart and bake for 9–11 minutes until edges are set.
Cool: Let cool on baking sheet 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.
Secret Tips for Perfect Patriotic Crinkle Cookies
1. Use Gel Food Coloring for Maximum Vibrance: Liquid food coloring tends to water down the dough, which can affect texture and baking time. Stick with gel-based colors for bold red and blue results without sacrificing structure.
2. Double Roll for a Bigger Crinkle: For an extra crackly finish, roll each dough ball in granulated sugar first, then in powdered sugar. The initial layer of granulated sugar helps prevent the powdered sugar from melting too much during baking.
3. Don’t Overmix After Adding Food Coloring: Overmixing can lead to tough cookies. Once you’ve tinted your dough, fold the color in gently to maintain a soft, tender crumb.
4. Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before mixing. This ensures a smooth, even dough and helps your cookies bake evenly and rise properly.
5. Chill Dough Briefly for Clean Scoops (Optional): Though the dough doesn’t require chilling, 10 minutes in the fridge can make it easier to handle and shape—especially in a warm kitchen.
6. Bake One Sheet at a Time: To ensure consistent oven heat and even baking, bake one tray of cookies at a time in the center rack.
7. Don’t Overbake—Pull While Centers Are Soft: The cookies should look slightly underbaked in the center when you remove them from the oven. They’ll finish setting on the pan and retain their chewy interior.
8. Let Them Rest Overnight for Even Better Texture: If you can resist eating them all right away, these cookies develop an even deeper buttery flavor and slightly fudgier center by day two. Perfect for make-ahead party prep!Keyword 4th of july cookie platter ideas, butter crinkle cookies for holidays, easy red white and blue cookies, festive crinkle cookies, fourth of july crinkle cookies, no chill holiday cookies, patriotic cookies recipe, soft sugar crinkle cookies
