If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to celebrate the Fourth of July, these five-ingredient cookies are it! These cookies are perfect for those who want to whip up a festive treat without spending too much time in the kitchen. They are fluffy, sweet, and light as air—the perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth at barbecues, picnics, or while watching the fireworks.
What do I need to make these 4th of July cookies?
You’ll only need a handful of ingredients here—five if you skip the sprinkles, six if you use them! For this festive treat, gather:
- Boxed cake mix. This cookie recipe calls for white cake mix, but vanilla or yellow cake mix will work just as well!
- Cool Whip. You may be tempted to use real whipped cream, but it doesn’t have the same texture as Cool Whip and the cookies may not hold together with this substitution.
- Egg.
- Powdered sugar or confectioners’ sugar.
- Red and/or blue food coloring. Gel food coloring will give the cookies a brighter, bolder color. You can find it in the baking aisle of most big craft stores.
- Festive sprinkles. These are absolutely optional!
How do I make these cookies?
- Preheat the oven and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Pour the powdered sugar into a shallow bowl. Mix the cake mix with the Cool Whip and egg.
- Separate the dough into two bowls. Add blue food dye to one bowl and red to the other.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion out one tablespoon dough balls and drop them directly into the confectioners’ sugar. Roll to coat.
- Bake the cookies for six minutes, then quickly add sprinkles to the top of each cookie. Bake for another four minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Protip: Spoons will work!
No cookie scoop? You can use a spoon in a pinch—the cookies just won’t be as uniform in size!
Can I prepare these 4th of July cookies in advance?
You sure can! Store the dough balls in the refrigerator until it is time to bake—then roll them in confectioners’ sugar and continue with the recipe as directed.
This cookie dough also freezes well. After rolling them in powdered sugar, arrange the cookie dough balls in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe zip-top bag or freezer container and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Bake the cookies directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
How do I store these Fourth of July cookies?
Allow the cookies to cool completely, and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
For a more firm cookie, these cookies can be refrigerated (again, in an airtight container). Let them come to room temperature before eating.
Want more easy summer desserts like this one?
- Almond flour chocolate chip cookies
- Peanut butter rice krispie treats
- Red, white, and blue berry trifle
- Lofthouse sugar cookies
4th of July Cool Whip Cookies
Celebrate Independence Day with these easy and delicious five-ingredient cookies. Perfect for any 4th of July celebration or picnic!
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 oz) box white cake mix
- 1 (8 ounce) tub Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- Red and blue food coloring, gel
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on low to combine the cake mix, Cool Whip, and egg together. Mix until well combined.
- Divide the mixture evenly into two small bowls. Add red food coloring to the batter in one bowl, and blue food coloring to the second bowl.
- Pour the powdered sugar into a shallow bowl. Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to drop dough balls directly into the confectioners' sugar, then roll to coat.
- Place the sugar-coated cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. If using sprinkles, add sprinkles to the tops of cookies after about 6 minutes of cooking.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
- Add sprinkles around the 6-minute cooking mark. Move quickly. At this point in the baking process, the cookie will expand, exposing cake batter so the sprinkles will stick.
- To make perfectly shaped cookies, use a glass and swirl around each cookie when it’s still hot from the oven.
- These cookie dough balls are sticky! Drop straight into the powdered sugar, do not try to roll in your hands.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 30Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 16mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 1g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
