Description
These Patriotic Crinkle Cookies are a vibrant and delicious treat perfect for celebrating the 4th of July or any patriotic occasion. Made with a simple white cake mix base and divided into red, white, and blue doughs, these cookies have a delightful crackled appearance and a fun swirl effect. They are easy to prepare, visually stunning, and offer a sweet, soft texture that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coloring and Coating
- Red gel food coloring
- Blue gel food coloring
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until a soft dough forms, making sure all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Divide the dough evenly into three separate bowls. Leave one portion plain (white), mix red gel food coloring into the second bowl until uniformly colored, and blue gel food coloring into the third bowl for the blue portion.
- Chill the Dough: Place all three dough portions in the refrigerator and chill for 20–30 minutes. Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to handle and shape.
- Form Dough Balls: Once chilled, roll about 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball. For the patriotic swirl, press together small bits of each colored dough before rolling into a single ball. This creates a festive red, white, and blue swirl effect.
- Coat in Powdered Sugar: Roll each dough ball thoroughly in powdered sugar to coat all sides, which helps create the signature crinkled crackle on the top during baking.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops have a crackled, crinkle appearance.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps them set fully without breaking.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning the dough.
- To make ahead, roll and freeze dough balls before coating in powdered sugar, then bake directly from frozen adding a few extra minutes to baking time.
