Patriotic Crinkle Cookies
4th of July Crinkle Cookies bring a festive touch to any summer gathering. These colorful cookies have a soft, chewy center wrapped in a crisp powdered sugar shell. The red, white, and blue doughs swirl together to create a beautiful marbled effect without losing their rich buttery flavor. Perfectly balanced sweetness and a tender texture make them a crowd favorite for the holiday.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Coloring
- red gel food coloring
- blue gel food coloring
For Coating
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar together with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Divide the dough into three bowls. Leave one plain, color one red and the other blue using gel food coloring.
- Pinch a bit from each colored dough and gently press together to form a multicolored ball. Roll until slightly blurred.
- Roll each ball in powdered sugar to coat completely.
- Place the coated dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, until puffed and cracked but still soft in the center.
- Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
If your kitchen is warm, chilling the dough for 15 minutes before rolling can help prevent excessive spreading during baking. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering dough texture.