Description
Celebrate July 4th or any festive occasion with these delicious Patriotic Sugar Cookies. Featuring a soft and chewy texture, these cookies are studded with colorful M&Ms for a fun and shareable dessert. Perfectly balanced with vanilla and Greek yogurt for moisture, they can be made ahead and are sure to impress at any party.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 grams)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (200 grams), plus more for rolling
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
Add-ins
- 1 ¼ cup M&Ms, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This preparation ensures your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sea salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set this mixture aside to be incorporated later.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar for about 2 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure thorough mixing.
- Add Vanilla and Greek Yogurt: Mix in the vanilla extract and Greek yogurt until just combined. This adds moisture and flavor to the dough.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix for about one minute until just combined.
- Fold in M&Ms: Gently fold in 1 cup of the M&Ms into the dough. Be careful not to overwork the dough to maintain a tender texture.
- Shape Cookie Dough Balls: Scoop out 17 equally sized balls of dough, approximately 3 tablespoons each, and place them on the prepared baking sheet about 1 ½ inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Optional Rolling and Topping: If desired, roll each dough ball in about ¼ cup of granulated sugar for extra crunch and sweetness. Lightly press the remaining M&Ms on top of each cookie for a festive look.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 14-15 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. For crispier edges, add 2-3 more minutes baking time.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for about 10 minutes. Then transfer the cookies carefully to a wire rack to cool completely and set.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
- Avoid overbaking to keep cookies soft and chewy; the edges should be golden while the center remains slightly soft.
- Do not overwork the dough once combined; gently fold in M&Ms to prevent dense cookies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
