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This 4th of July cookie recipe is basically my best chocolate chip cookie recipe but with a festive twist from the patriotic M&Ms. It’s such a fun and easy party dessert – you can even make the cookies ahead and freeze them!

chocolate chip cookies and red white and blue m&ms baked in.


Chocolate Chip 4th of July Cookies

One thing I have learned after baking these July cookies is to fix a double batch. My July 4th chocolate chip cookies are always the first to go at any party! 

To make this 4th of July chocolate chip cookie recipe, all you really need is a bowl and a spoon. These simple chocolate chip cookies are so easy to make, and even easier to clean up afterwards. Since the ingredients will mix together easily, you won’t be needing any fancy baking supplies. 

Not to mention the fact that they’re super festive too!

ingredients in 4th of July cookies.

Ingredients Needed

  • Butter: the trick is to use melted butter to get a softer cookie 
  • Sugar: I’m using light brown sugar and granulated sugar
  • Baking soda: it’s good to know the difference between Baking Powder vs Baking Soda in baking 
  • M&Ms: Starting in May you’ll find Patriotic M&Ms at most grocery stores.
  • Chocolate Chips: we are using just a few since we will focus more on the colorful M&Ms to top off this festive cookie

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

How to make 4th of July cookies

  1. Mix melted butter and sugar until the mixture is smooth. Then mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, a teaspoon baking soda, and salt, then slowly mix in flour until the batter comes together. 
  2. Drop some chocolate chips and M&Ms to mix into your cookie batter.
  3. Scoop 1/4 cup balls of cookie dough onto the cookie sheet. 
  4. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight covered in plastic wrap.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F and space your chilled cookie dough balls 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. 
  6. Bake 11-15 minutes, or until they JUST lose their glossy sheen
  7. Add more M&Ms to the top of the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven.
  8. Cool for at least 10 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing.

Variations

  • The beauty of this cookie is you can use ANY flavor M&Ms you like!
  • Switch up the colors of the candy to make these for any holiday.
  • You can make M&M 4th of July cookies with red velvet cookies, oatmeal cookies, or even sugar cookies!
chocolate chip cookies and red white and blue m&ms baked in.

Expert Tips

  • I use melted butter because I love the flavor that it creates when mixed with the brown sugar
  • Because the butter starts off melted, you MUST chill the cookie dough. Make life easy: scoop the cookie balls then chill. Bake when ready!
  • Also because the butter is melted, you don’t even need a mixer for this recipe. It’s a one-bowl cookie recipe – just a bowl and a spoon!
  • I used fewer chocolate chips in these cookies and added M&Ms. Use any color M&Ms for any holiday or occasion!

FAQs

Can you freeze chocolate chip cookies?

Yes, these chocolate chip cookies are great for freezing. Seal your cookie dough balls in an airtight container and freeze them for up to 1 month. 

What can I use if I can’t find Patriotic M&Ms?

You can mix any color M&Ms for this chocolate chip cookie recipe. 

chocolate chip cookies and red white and blue m&ms baked in.

4th of July Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 from 11 votes
The best ever chocolate chip cookie recipe are now 4th of July Chocolate Chip Cookies! Make M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies with red, white and blue candies for a patriotic cookie perfect for a potluck.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill time 2 hours
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 36 cookies
Serving Size 1 cookie

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, melted
  • cup (134g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (200g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups (372g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups (255g) chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
  • 2 cups 4th of July M&Ms divided

Instructions

  • Note: This dough requires chilling.
  • Place melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer). Add granulated and brown sugars and mix on low speed until the mixture is smooth. Mix in egg and vanilla extract and mix on medium speed until combined.
  • Mix in baking soda and salt, then slowly mix in flour and mix just until the batter is smooth and comes together. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl during mixing. Slowly mix in chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups of M&Ms.
  • Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Scoop 1/4 cup balls of dough onto the cookie sheet. Spacing doesn’t matter because you will be chilling the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a second cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • Remove the chilled cookie dough balls from the refrigerator and space them 2-inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake 11-15 minutes, or until they JUST lose their glossy sheen, rotating the pans partway through baking. Add more M&Ms to the top of the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven. Let cool at least 10 minutes on cookie sheet before removing.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month.

Recipe Notes

  • I use melted butter because I love the flavor that it creates when mixed with the brown sugar. 
  • Because the butter starts off melted, you MUST chill the cookie dough. Make life easy: scoop the cookie balls then chill. Bake when ready!
  • Also because the butter is melted, you don’t even need a mixer for this recipe. It’s a one-bowl cookie recipe – just a bowl and a spoon!
  • I used fewer chocolate chips in these cookies and added M&Ms. Use any color M&Ms for any holiday or occasion

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Other 4th of July Recipes

Last Updated on May 25, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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9 Comments

  1. Best Choc chip cookies EVER! My crew loves it when I fix these. They don’t last very long, and I always have to fix a double batch!

  2. Made these over Memorial Day weekend. They were delicious. A hit with the family. A recipe to keep.

  3. Hi. The cookie dough recipe for the M&M cookie and the ones for the 4th of July are different. What is the difference between the two?

    Thank you,
    Cheryl

  4. I just baked these cookies. I couldn’t find red, white and blue M&M’s so I bought the mixed colors. They are delicious. I had a warm one just a few minutes out of the oven. Yummy with any color M&M’s. Thanks for a great recipe !

    1. How long did you bake them for?
      How many did it make? 1/4 cup seems like big cookies!
      Thanks!

      1. I didn’t use 1/4 cupfuls for this cookie – 2 tablespoon sized. Makes about 20