These 4th of July Sugar Cookies are an ideal treat for Independence Day or Memorial Day. The royal icing gives each cookie a polished, festive look that’s perfect for parties and cookouts.
Decorated in red, white, and blue, these star-shaped cookies look like they came from a bakery but are simple to make at home. They’re fun to decorate and great for impressing friends and family. For another patriotic snack idea, try chocolate-dipped pretzel rods or other red, white, and blue desserts.
Why We Love This Recipe
This sugar cookie dough is straightforward and yields tender, flavorful cookies that hold their shape well, making them perfect for cutouts. The royal icing dries smooth and creates beautiful, long-lasting decorations.
Ingredients
Cookies
- Flour. Measure by spooning into the cup rather than scooping to avoid packing.
- Unsalted butter. Softened to room temperature.
- Eggs. Use room temperature eggs for best texture.
- Vanilla extract. Pure vanilla gives the best flavor.
Icing
- Egg whites. Separate carefully to avoid any yolk.
- Powdered sugar. Sift to remove lumps for smooth icing.
- Gel food coloring. Gel colors provide vibrant shades without thinning the icing.
The full ingredient list and quantities are included in the recipe card below.
How to Make 4th of July Sugar Cookies
- Step 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
Step 2. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until smooth and not grainy.
Step 3. Add the eggs and mix until incorporated.
Step 4. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 5. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl.
Step 6. Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until evenly blended.
Step 7. Continue mixing until the dough is uniform and smooth.
Step 8. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 6 hours or overnight.
Step 9. When ready, let the dough soften slightly. Lightly flour the cutting board and rolling pin as needed.
Step 10. Roll the dough to about 1/2 inch thick and use a star cookie cutter to cut shapes.
Step 11. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the cookies with a metal spatula. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Step 12. While cookies cool, prepare the royal icing using a stand or hand mixer.
Step 13. Mix the icing (excluding food coloring) on medium speed for about 4 minutes. If the icing is too soft, add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until it reaches the right stiffness.
Step 14. Aim for a 15-second consistency: when you drag a spatula through the icing, it should take about 15 seconds to smooth back out.
Step 15. Divide the icing into three bowls for red, white, and blue.
Step 16. Color the icing with gel food coloring until you reach the desired shades.
Step 17. Transfer icing to piping bags for easy decorating.
Step 18. Pipe a base layer onto the cooled cookies. Let this layer dry completely (2–3 hours) before adding final details with a smaller piping tip.
Step 19. Decorate as you like — flags, stripes, dots, or additional stars — and allow the icing to harden undisturbed.
FAQs
Store fully cooled, iced cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5–7 days.
If icing is too thin, it may have excess air or not enough powdered sugar. Mix on low speed and pop bubbles, and add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until you reach a 15-second consistency. If it’s too thick, add a few drops of water at a time until it loosens to the desired texture.
Use a mason jar, glass, or any round object to cut cookies. They won’t be star-shaped but can still be decorated patriotically.
Drying time varies with humidity and temperature. Expect at least a couple of hours; in humid climates it can take up to 24 hours.
Pro Tips
- Cool completely. Make sure cookies are fully cooled before adding icing so the design sets smoothly.
- Avoid overmixing. Overmixing dough or icing can change texture and affect how the cookies bake and how the icing sets.
- Dough thickness. Roll dough to about 1/2 inch for best structure and even baking.
More 4th of July Desserts
- Red White and Blue Strawberries
- American Flag Charcuterie Board
- Red White and Blue Bark
- Red White and Blue Popsicles
- Easy 4th of July Cookies
- Patriotic Whoopie Pies
Try this festive cookie recipe for your next gathering and leave a comment or rating if you enjoyed it.
4th of July Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- Cookie Ingredients:
- 5 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Icing Ingredients:
- 2 egg whites
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- Gel food coloring
Instructions
- Cookie Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Cream the softened butter and sugar until smooth.
- Add all 4 eggs and mix until combined.
- Add vanilla and continue mixing.
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and blend thoroughly.
- Form the dough into a ball, wrap it, and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Let soften slightly before rolling.
- Flour the work surface and rolling pin as needed, then roll to about 1/2 inch thick and cut with a star cutter.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the cookies using a metal spatula.
- Bake at 325°F for 8–10 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
- Icing Instructions:
- Combine icing ingredients (except food coloring) and mix on medium speed about 4 minutes. If needed, add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until you reach a 15-second consistency.
- Divide icing into three bowls and color with red, white, and blue gel food coloring.
- Place about half of each color in piping bags and pipe a base layer on the cookies. Let dry 2–3 hours before adding final decorations with the remaining icing.
- Allow icing to harden completely, then store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5–7 days.