Looking for a festive sweet? These Fourth of July cookies bring all the patriotic colors, summer flavors and nostalgic feelings you want this time of year.
39 of Our Favorite Fourth of July Cookies
Updated on Jul. 09, 2024
Bomb Pop Cookies
The sound of the ice cream truck has even my husband running out to the curb with money in hand. Our neighborhood has a big potluck on the Fourth, so I decided to make cookies that resemble Bomb Pops. These Fourth of July cookies were a big hit! —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
1/39
2/39
Oatmeal S’more Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I can’t count how many times I have made these cookies—they are our favorites. I love to bake all kinds of goodies with my two daughters, and my husband loves to sample the treats. —Carmen Rae, New Haven, Indiana
3/39
Cheery Cherry Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
With a tall glass of ice-cold milk, a couple of these cherry cookies really hit the spot for dessert or a snack. The coconut and bits of cherries provide a fun look and texture.
—Judy Clark, Elkhart, Indiana
—Judy Clark, Elkhart, Indiana
4/39
Peach Cobbler Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My sister brought me fresh peaches one year, and we decided to make these fruity cookies. They also make fantastic ice cream sandwiches—just put some vanilla ice cream between two cookies for a delicious summer treat! —Anna Miller, Churdan, Iowa
5/39
Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you’re tight on time, you can use store-bought cookies, but I highly recommend making these oatmeal chocolate cookies from scratch. The dessert sandwiches are pure fun. Sometimes I decorate the sides of the sandwiches with colorful jimmies, too. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
If you’re looking for patriotic bars and brownies, check out these Fourth of July bars.
6/39
Gooey Butter Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As a native of St. Louis, I wanted to make a cookie version of the famous gooey butter cake. And although many gooey butter cake recipes use a cake mix, my cookies are made from scratch.—Julia Nouss, Richmond, Virginia
If you’re looking for sweets that are festive and simple to make, check out these easy Fourth of July cookies.
7/39
Summertime Fun Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Use this basic sugar cookie recipe to make the perfect poolside treat. Kids (and adults) won't be able to get enough. —Coleen Walter, Bancroft, Michigan
8/39
Watermelon Slice Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Once when I made these butter cookies for a party, a neighbor thought they were so attractive that she froze one to show friends. They’re easy to make and make great Fourth of July cookies! —Sue Ann Benham, Valparaiso, Indiana
9/39
Berry Shortbread Dreams
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Raspberry jam adds fruity sweetness to these rich raspberry-filled shortbread cookies. They will absolutely melt in your mouth! —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
10/39
Beach Ball Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are as colorful as beach balls and just as fun. They’re delightful for kids’ parties, school bake sales or as playful Fourth of July cookies. Use bright, bold colors, or soft pastels for springtime. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon. Here are some fun July Fourth crafts ideas for kids.
11/39
Cherry-Filled Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This luscious cherry filling peeking out of these rounds is just a hint of how scrumptious they are. Using a doughnut cutter to shape each cookie top really speeds up the process.
12/39
Air-Fryer Fried Cookies
Total Time
15 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Deep-fried Oreos are quickly becoming a county fair favorite. Now you can make them at home quickly, easily and mess free. —Margarita Torres, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
13/39
Lemon Blueberry Whoopie Pies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These pies are soft, cakey cookies studded with tart, juicy blueberries and filled with tangy cream cheese frosting. I bring them to family and school events and they are always the first thing gone! Make sure to continually scrape the side of the bowl with a spatula while mixing the batter and frosting. —Kathy Martino, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
14/39
Chocolate Malted Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips and chunks, these are the best cookies I've ever tasted … and with six kids, I've made a lot of cookies over the years! —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
15/39
Coconut Key Lime Thumbprints
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the cookie recipe I created for the Las Vegas World Food Championships in 2013. It's similar to a shortbread thumbprint cookie, but with lots more personality. —Amy Freeze, Avon Park, Florida
16/39
Cherry Icebox Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
16 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As a home economics teacher, I often supplied treats for school functions. These delectable cookies were always popular. The bright red cherries make them great 4th of July cookies. —Patty Courtney, Jonesboro, Texas
17/39
Double-Chocolate Rolo Cookies with Pretzels
Total Time
27 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate Rolo cookies were a big hit with my father. The generous size makes them wonderful for gift-giving, and they’re always the first to go at parties. —Melissa Keenan, Larchmont, New York
18/39
Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies freeze well, so it's easy to keep some on hand for last-minute munching. In summer, I often make them larger to use for ice cream sandwiches. —Mary Rempel, Altona, Manitoba
19/39
Shortbread Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I layer a creamy, coffee-flavored filling between buttery shortbread, then dip the sandwiches in chocolate. Guests always love them.—Bertha Seyer, Oak Ridge, Missouri
20/39
Miniature Peanut Butter Treats
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is one of my family's favorites, and I make the treats a lot, especially at Christmas. I have three children and eight grandchildren, and every one of them loves those "peanut butter thingies," as the grandchildren call them! —Jodie McCoy, Tulsa, Oklahoma
21/39
Old-Fashioned Whoopie Pies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Who can resist soft chocolate sandwich cookies filled with a layer of fluffy white frosting? Mom has made these for years. They're a treat that never lasts very long with my two brothers and me around. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina
22/39
Frosted Peanut Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Oats, chopped peanuts and peanut butter frosting make this a nice change of pace from a traditional peanut butter cookie. After folks sample these, compliments and recipe requests always follow. —Alicia Surma, Tacoma, Washington
23/39
Raspberry Ribbons
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I make these attractive, buttery cookies to serve at our remote guest lodge, and all the cooks in the kitchen are addicted to them! —Patsy Wolfenden, Golden, British Columbia
24/39
Orange Twists
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These soft and sweet twists have a long shelf life. You can make a number of flavor variations with this recipe, including lemon, cherry and almond. I sometimes add a confectioners’ sugar glaze. —Raine Gottess, Lantana, Florida
25/39
Grandma's Star Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband's grandma would make these butter cutouts only with a star cookie cutter. I use various shapes for celebrations throughout the year. —Jenny Brown, West Lafayette, Indiana
26/39
Berry-Cream Cookie Snaps
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom and I made up this recipe by combining two others. These cute cookies are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. You could also bake the cookies flat and serve the filling as a cookie dip if you'd like. —Crystal Briddick, Colfax, Illinois
27/39
White Velvet Cutouts
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We make and decorate these cutouts for different holidays and give lots of them as gifts. Last year, we baked a batch a week before Christmas to be sure we'd have plenty to give and plenty for ourselves, too. These rich cookies melt in your mouth. —Kim Hinkle, Wauseon, Ohio
28/39
Copycat Berger Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
35 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
After a friend who had recently traveled to Baltimore sent me a package of Berger cookies, I was hooked. They disappeared so quickly, I decided to try to re-create them at home. After many tests and tweaks, my husband and I gained 6 pounds between the two of us, but it was worth it—I landed on a reproduction of the famous cookie I’m so proud of. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
29/39
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts. I thought it would be great to capture all that wonderful flavor, so I made these strawberry shortcake cookies topped with pink strawberry frosting. —Allison Anderson, Avondale, Arizona
30/39
Rainbow S’moreo Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Homemade Oreo-style cookies are pretty great on their own, but they're even better when you add graham cracker crumbs to the cookie dough, stuff them with marshmallow creme and roll them in sprinkles. You can change the color of the sprinkles depending on the holiday or occasion. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
31/39
Lemon Meltaway Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Both the cookie and the frosting are spiked with lemon in these melt-in-your-mouth goodies. Your family won't be able to get enough of this lemon butter meltaway cookie recipe. —Mary Houchin, Lebanon, Illinois
32/39
Strawberry Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
3.50 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I learned to bake with my grandmother and mother. I knew I was giving them a sweet new family tradition when I shared this recipe with them. —Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
33/39
Red Star Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These super stars are plenty sweet and sturdy, making them great for shipping. Slip decorated cookies in stacks of three inside plastic storage bags then rest stacks in disposable plastic containers. Put containers in a cardboard box, then add crumpled newspaper so everything is tightly packed. Seal it with a kiss—or a card. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
34/39
Lemon Sugar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
14 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These wonderfully chewy cookies have a light lemon flavor from both the juice and zest. The sanding sugar on top adds sparkle and a bit of crunch. —Michael Vyskocil, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
35/39
Popcorn Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
It's so much fun to surprise people with the crushed popcorn in these yummy cookies. They're definitely a distinctive cookie on the holiday tray.—Leigh Anne Preston, Palmyra, Indiana
36/39
Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
15 sandwich cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
You’ll love to give tins of these chocolate-coated cookies to your lucky friends. The shortcut holiday recipe is almost too simple to believe! Here's how to make peanut butter cookies without eggs. —Jackie Howell, Gordo, Alabama
37/39
Homemade Honey Grahams
Total Time
25 min
Servings
32 crackers
From the Recipe Creator:
The way my boys eat them, I would spend a fortune on honey graham crackers at the grocery store. So I decided to make a homemade version that is less processed—and less expensive. These are wonderful, although they still don’t last long. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
38/39
S'mookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
10 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
S'mores are one of my favorite desserts. I wanted to create a cookie to replace the graham cracker—that's when my s'mookie was born. Just as delicious as the classic.—Maria Davis, Hermosa Beach, California
39/39
Baked Elephant Ears
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law handed down this recipe from her mother. These are a special treat—even better, I think, than those at a carnival or festival. —Delores Baeten, Downers Grove, Illinois
