Description
Delight in these festive Patriotic Crinkle Cookies, perfect for celebrating with vibrant red, white, and blue colors. Soft and chewy with a sweet crackle exterior, these treats bring a burst of classic American flavor and eye-catching appeal to your holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Coloring & Coating
- Red gel food coloring
- Blue gel food coloring
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure they are evenly combined, which will help achieve a uniform cookie texture.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and 1 cup granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next, then stir in the vanilla extract for flavor depth.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to form a soft dough without overworking it.
- Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough into three equal portions. Leave one portion plain, color one with red gel food coloring, and the other with blue gel food coloring, kneading until the color is evenly distributed. Cover and chill all dough portions for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Roll each dough ball first in granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar to create the iconic crinkle effect.
- Bake Cookies: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 10–12 minutes until the cookies look set on the outside but remain soft in the center.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preserving their shape and texture.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly before rolling in sugar to enhance the crackle effect during baking.
- Use gel food coloring over liquid food coloring to maintain dough consistency and achieve vibrant colors.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days to keep them fresh.
