Celebrate America’s Independence with a festive and delicious treat – cute donut-shaped 4th of July cookies! These cookies are easy to make and will be sure to please your family and friends at your fourth of July celebration. Not only do these colorful treats look cool, they taste great too!
4th of July cookies
These 4th of July cookies are so cute! Shaped and decorated like donuts, not only are they pretty to look at, they’re really delicious. They’re very festive, and would make such a great addition to any party, or dessert table they’re placed on. These are sure to please young and old alike, and the Royal icing tastes like it came from a professional bakery. Everyone is sure to love these, and they’ll love you for making them!
These patriotic cookies are perfect for parties, picnics, or just to have around the house. They’re also an easy way to get into the festive spirit of the 4th of July.
Follow the simple steps below and you’ll be able to make your own amazing 4th of July donut cookies in no time!
Want more cookie goodness?
- PB&J sandwich cookies
- Air fryer peanut butter cookies
- Easy almond macaroons
- The best turtle cookies
- Watermelon sugar cookies
- Blue sugar cookies
What ingredients do I need to make the 4th of July donut cookies?
This cookie recipe calls for the following ingredients:
- For the cookies:
- Butter – softened
- Sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla
- Flour
- Salt
- For the Royal icing:
- Warm Water
- Meringue Powder (I used Wilton)
- Powdered Sugar
- Karo Syrup
- Sprinkles of choice to decorate
You’ll also need some equipment:
- stand mixer (or a hand mixer)
- mixing bowl
- whisk
- parchment paper
- rolling pin
- cookie cutter
- plastic pastry bags
- wire rack
How long do the 4th of July donut cookies take to bake?
The baking time will vary depending on the size of the cookie, but in general it should take about 10-12 minutes.
Do I need to use Royal icing to decorate the 4th of July donut cookies?
No, you can use any type of icing or frosting that you prefer. You could also get creative and use sprinkles or other decorations to make them look extra festive.
Can I make the 4th of July donut cookies ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to two days before baking. You can also make them in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Are these 4th of July cookies easy to make?
Yes, these donut cookies are surprisingly easy and fun to make. With a few basic ingredients and some simple steps, you’ll have delicious 4th of July donut cookies in no time!
Is it better to let cookie dough chill before baking?
Usually it is best to let the cookie dough chill for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will help prevent the cookies from spreading out too much as they bake. It also helps create even and consistent results. But for this recipe it’s not necessary to chill the dough as it will not spread much.
Can I make these 4th of July donut cookies vegan?
Yes, you can substitute butter with a plant based butter substitute such as vegan margarine or coconut oil. You can also use a flax egg instead of a regular egg.
How to decorate fourth of July cookies?
You can get creative with your decorations! Try using different colors of icing or sprinkles to create a fun and colorful design. You can also use chopped nuts, white chocolate chips, white sugar, marshmallows, chocolate chip cookies, red velvet cookies or crushed candy such as red, white and blue m&m to add some crunchiness. You can also opt to add a different flavor to your cookies using almond or rum extract.
Can I store these cookies in the freezer?
Yes, you can store the cookies in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just be sure to thaw them before serving. I would also recommend storing them without the icing for the best results. Make the royal icing and decorate the cookies after they’re completely thawed.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make these delicious fourth of July cookies in no time. So get your oven ready and let’s bake some patriotic-themed treats! Here is a step-by-step guide to making the perfect donut-shaped 4th of July cookies. Enjoy!
How to make 4th of July cookies?
To make the cookies
- In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter, sugar, and egg, and blend with the whisk attachment until smooth, and creamy. Add the vanilla, and mix until blended.
- In a separate medium bowl, add the flour, and salt, and mix well to blend. Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl, and mix until blended, and smooth.
- Place a large piece of parchment paper on the kitchen counter, and sprinkle with flour. Place half of the cookie dough on the parchment paper, and with a floured rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out the donuts with the cookie cutter, and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cookies being to turn golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven to a wire rack, and cool completely.
To make the Royal icing
- In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, place the warm water, meringue powder, and Karo syrup, and blend at medium speed using the whisk attachment until completely blended and smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, about 2 cups at a time, and mix on low, until all the powdered sugar has been added. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed, and blend until the icing is smooth and creamy.
- In two bowls, place about 1/3 of the Icing in each bowl, and leave the remaining icing in the mixing bowl. In one of the bowl, add several drops of blue food coloring gel, until you have the desired color of icing. In the other bowl, add a couple drops of red food coloring gel, and stir well. If needed, add more red food coloring gel, until you have the desired color.
- Place the icing in a plastic pastry bag, (you’ll have three bags, one red, one white, and one blue), and snip off the very end of the bags. Pipe the icing around the outside of the cookies, (see photos) and pipe around the inside of the donut hole. Fill in with the Icing, and add sprinkles of choice. Allow about 1 hour for Icing to completely set.
Making 4th of July cookies is a fun and easy way to celebrate the holiday. With a few basic ingredients, you can have delicious patriotic-themed treats in no time! And with some creativity, you can make these cookie look as festive as they taste. So don’t wait any longer and get baking!
If you want to more delicious desserts and creative ideas, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter! You won’t regret it.
Pin to save for later
Print the recipe card
4th of July cookies
Equipment
- stand mixer (or a hand mixer)
- cookie cutter
- plastic pastry bags
- wire rack
Ingredients
For the cookies
- 1 cup Butter softened
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups Flour
- 1 tsp Salt
For the royal icing
- 3/4 cup Warm Water
- 1/3 cup Meringue Powder I used Wilton
- 2 x 16 oz Powdered Sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp Karo Syrup
- Sprinkles of choice to decorate
Instructions
To make the cookies
- In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter, sugar, and egg, and blend with the whisk attachment until smooth, and creamy. Add the vanilla, and mix until blended.
- In a separate medium bowl, add the flour, and salt, and mix well to blend. Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl, and mix until blended, and smooth.
- Place a large piece of parchment paper on the kitchen counter, and sprinkle with flour. Place half of the cookie dough on the parchment paper, and with a floured rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/2 inch thickness.
- Cut out the donuts with the cookie cutter, and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cookies being to turn golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven to a wire rack, and cool completely.
To make the royal icing
- In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, place the warm water, meringue powder, and Karo syrup, and blend at medium speed using the whisk attachment until completely blended and smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, about 2 cups at a time, and mix on low, until all the powdered sugar has been added. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed, and blend until the icing is smooth and creamy.
- In two bowls, place about 1/3 of the Icing in each bowl, and leave the remaining icing in the mixing bowl. In one of the bowl, add several drops of blue food coloring gel, until you have the desired color of icing. In the other bowl, add a couple drops of red food coloring gel, and stir well. If needed, add more red food coloring gel, until you have the desired color.
- Place the icing in a plastic pastry bag, (you'll have three bags, one red, one white, and one blue), and snip off the very end of the bags. Pipe the icing around the outside of the cookies, and pipe around the inside of the donut hole.
- Fill in with the Icing
- Add sprinkles of choice. Allow about 1 hour for Icing to completely set.
Leave a Reply