4th of July Cookies: Patriotic Sugar Pinwheel Treats

Thick and chewy M&M pudding cookies perfect for the 4th of July! These are honestly the best 4th of July cookies — simple ingredients, zero fuss, and they come out perfectly soft every single time. I literally can’t even with how good these are!

Check out all of my 4th of July recipes right here.

Why These Are the Best 4th of July Cookies

Okay friends, can we talk about how these festive 4th of July cookies are basically everything you want at a july 4th celebration? We’re talking a yummy chocolate chip cookie base loaded with red, white, and blue M&Ms, white chocolate chips, and patriotic sprinkles. They scream july festivities and they are SO much fun to make. Whether you’re planning independence day celebrations, a memorial day cookout, labor day party, or veteran’s day gathering — these patriotic cookies work for literally any patriotic holiday on the calendar. Be still my heart! 🎉🇺🇸

These are the cute 4th of july cookies that everyone asks you for the recipe card on. People will think you spent hours on them. You didn’t. That’s our little secret. 😉 If you love easy patriotic desserts, you also have to check out my 60+ 4th of July dessert recipes — there are so many blue desserts, fun red treats, and festive cookies over there to inspire your whole spread!

Key Ingredients for 4th of July M&M Pudding Cookies

• room temperature butter
• white sugar
• brown sugar
• egg
• all-purpose flour (purpose flour)
• pudding mix
• baking soda
• vanilla extract
• almond extract
• blue M&M candies (plus red and white!)
• white chocolate chips
• blue sprinkles or patriotic sprinkles

These are truly simple ingredients — basic kitchen ingredients you probably already have on hand! The key ingredients that make these extra special are the pudding mix (hello, soft sugar cookies vibes!) and that combo of vanilla extract and almond extract for a dreamy funfetti flavor. You can also swap in lemon extract with just a tiny splash of lemon juice if you want a bright, citrusy twist — good idea for summer! 🍋

How to Make Festive Fourth of July Cookies

This easy cookie recipe comes together so fast — I promise! Use room temperature ingredients for best results; room temperature butter creams up so much better than cold butter, and that’s really what gives you those thick, chewy cookies we’re going for. In your stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), use the paddle attachment to beat together the butter and sugars in a large bowl until fluffy. Add the egg and extracts. Then in a medium bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients — purpose flour, pudding mix, and baking soda. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. White dough, here we come! 🙌

Fold in your blue M&M candies, white chocolate chips, and extra sprinkles. Use a cookie scoop to drop equal portions of cookie dough balls onto a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Keep the cookie sheet from getting overcrowded — give those babies some space! Bake until just golden brown around the edges. The bake time is quick, so don’t walk away! Transfer to a wire rack or cooling rack and let them cool before diving in (if you can wait 😂). You can also prep the dough ahead of time and refrigerate each piece of dough until ready to bake.

Recipe Tips and Flavor Variations

• Use regular pudding mix — not sugar free or fat free. This is THE secret to getting that impossibly soft, tender crumb!
• The almond extract + vanilla extract combo creates that signature funfetti flavor. No extracts? Just vanilla still makes delicious patriotic cookies.
• White chocolate chips keep the blue theme going strong — but chocolate chips work great too if you want a richer, fudgier bite.
• No chilling required! This is such an easy recipe — no waiting around.
• For flavor variations, try a splash of lemon extract for a bright july sugar cookies twist. So dreamy for a july celebration!
• Want to decorate? Pipe on some blue icing, royal icing, or powdered sugar glaze and toss on extra blue sprinkles for the most adorable, cute patriotic things ever. You can even use gel food coloring to tint your own blue colors into a simple glaze.
• Like mother like daughter — these are the cookies my kids beg to make every single summer. So much fun! 💙

These are truly perfect party treats for any july celebration. Want even more easy cookies ideas? My favorite cake mix cookies are another super easy cookie recipe that’s great for parties, and you can totally riff on them to make festive cookies for any season! Also, if you’re wondering how to decorate these beauties once they’re baked, check out how to frost cookies like a pro using canned frosting — an absolute game changer, you guys. And if you want to expand your july 4th spread, my 4th of July recipe ideas roundup has everything from breakfasts to grilling to desserts. You have to make this whole menu! 🎆

Looking for More Red, White, and Blue?

Check out these delicious patriotic recipes!

Firecracker Popcorn

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Trifle

Strawberry Jell-O Poke Cake

These easy 4th of july cookies are a delicious patriotic cookie that belongs at every summer table — from your july 4th cookout to any patriotic colors celebration you’ve got coming up. Grab that measuring cup and cookie sheet and get baking! You’re going to absolutely love them. 🍪❤️🤍💙

4th of July Funfetti M&M Pudding Cookies

Save this recipe for later: Save Pin Add to Google

Thick and chewy M&M pudding cookies perfect for the 4th of July. This simple recipe really does make the most delicious chocolate chip cookies ever!

Print

Ingredients

1 stick unsalted butter, melted 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 tsp almond extract 1 tsp butter extract 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix (not sugar free, not cook & serve) 3/4 cup white chocolate chips 1-1/2 cups Red, White, and Blue M&Ms 3 tbsp Red, White, and Blue sprinkle mix

• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1 tsp butter extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix (not sugar free, not cook & serve)
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 1-1/2 cups Red, White, and Blue M&Ms
• 3 tbsp Red, White, and Blue sprinkle mix

Instructions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350º.
   2. Whisk the brown sugar and sugar into the melted butter. Mix in the egg.
   3. Mix in the baking soda, salt, and extracts.
   4. Gently mix the flour and pudding mix into the wet mixture. Fold in the white chocolate chips, M&Ms, and sprinkles.
   5. Scoop dough (about 2 tablespoons) onto ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart
   6. Bake for 9 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet.