American Flag Cookies

These easy American Flag Cookies are the perfect patriotic treat this summer – and who doesn’t love sugar cookies?

A couple months ago, one of my very dearest friend’s husband returned home from a deployment. I was with her to take photos of the occasion (their family is the SWEETEST!) and I made them some patriotic sugar cookies to celebrate the occasion.

These American Flag Cookies are super easy and also – super delicious. If you’ve been following along here for any length of time, you know my love for painted cookies, and these are no exception. Get your paintbrushes ready and let’s make some USA cookies!

American Flag Cookies

For the Sugar Cookies, you will need:

3/4 cup shortening or butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2.5 cups flour (I use this one for the best gluten free cookies EVER!)

1 tsp. baking powder

flag cookie cutter

1. Mix all ingredients together in a stand mixer.

2. Set dough in the refrigerator and let chill for 1 hour.

3. Roll flat on a floured surface with a rolling pin and use a flag cookie cutter.

4. Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes.

For the Royal Icing, you will need:

2 cups + 1 tsp. confectioner’s sugar

1 large egg white

1/2 tsp. water

1. Using an electric mixer (I use my hand mixer, because my stand up KitchenAid is too large for the job unless I’m making a ton of icing!), whip your egg white until slightly frothy.

2. Add in water and sugar.

3. Mix until smooth.

A Note About Royal Icing + Painted Cookies

For painted cookies, I typically add in a little extra water (not a lot!) so it’s easier to dip my cookies into the icing for a smoother finish. When all the cookies have been dipped, let the royal icing set up for about 2 hours (possibly shorter if you live in a cooler/less humid place), making sure to place each cookie on a piece of wax or parchment paper so they don’t stick.

When all of your cookies are dipped and the white royal icing has dried, it’s time to paint!

In order to get the best possible result, I recommend using food coloring gels. I can never find them in stores, so I recommend ordering them online. I also purchased inexpensive makeup brushes, because I couldn’t find regular paint brushes I liked in the sizes I wanted. I found that small makeup brushes (under $10 for 12 brushes) worked the best!

I used a little bit of water and gels in metal mixing cups (so nothing would get stained) to create all the colors I needed. In order to get the darker shades you see (the stars and the shading on the pole), I did a very light coat of the color and let it dry. Then I went back over it with the paint color again using a bit more gel and less water.