Add a plate of these fun colored Fireworks Cookies and Cream Cookies to your holiday plans. Sprinkles and red, white, and blue M&M's will make these soft and puffy 4th of July cookies disappear in a hurry.
Cookies and Cream Cookies
Cookies are a treat I like to keep on hand all the time for our hungry kiddos, so I knew that I wanted to make another version of our popular Cookies and Cream Cookies for a Fourth of July dessert.
The bag of red, white, and blue M&M's and star sprinkles in the pantry were just the way to make these cake mix cookies a little more festive for Independence Day. The extra sprinkles on top gave them a fun and colorful fireworks look.
I love how every cookie looks different, but has the same awesome taste. To change things up in these cookies and cream cookies, we used the chocolate cream filled Oreo cookies. Honestly, you can use any cream filled cookie in this recipe.
We always have a few boxes of cake mix in our pantry, just in case we need to make a quick cake or cupcakes for something. Although, most of the time those cake mixes turn into cookies because they are just so easy to mix up.
Cake mix cookies are so easy to make and always bake up soft and fluffy. They are so easy to customize with different mix ins, so every batch can be different.
Ingredients for Cake Mix Cookies
All you need are a few simple pantry ingredients to make this firework recipe for July 4th. The sprinkles and M&M's give each one a fun color.
- White Cake Mix - you will just use the dry mix
- Butter - unsalted and softened
- Cream Cheese - softened so it mixes in easier
- Egg - helps the cookie dough come together
- Vanilla Extract - adds flavor
- Oreo Cookies - gives the cookies a delicious cookies and cream flavor
- M&M's - red, white, and blue candies make these 4th of July cookies so colorful
- Sprinkles - a red, white, and blue mix with stars
How to make Fireworks Cookies
These cookies and cream fireworks cookies come together so quickly. Once the cookie dough is made, give it time in the fridge to set up, so the cake mix cookies bake up thick and puffy.
- Mix together the dry cake mix, softened butter, cream cheese, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl until a soft dough forms.
- Gently stir the cookie chunks and sprinkles into the cookie dough.
- Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 - 60 minutes.
- Roll the dough into 24 even dough balls.
- Place on cookie sheet and bake.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving them to parchment paper to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
- Do not over mix the cookie dough once you add the cookies. To0 much mixing will break apart the Oreo cookies causing the dough to look muddy.
- Use a cookie scoop to make every cookie the same size.
- Roll the dough balls in sprinkles and press a few extra M&M's into the tops right before baking to give the fireworks cookies more color.
- Store the cooled Fourth of July cookies in a tightly sealed container.
Other Red White and Blue Recipes
- Firecracker Cupcakes
- Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars
- 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
- Red White and Blue Marshmallow Pops
- Red White and Blue Swirl Bundt Cake
- Patriotic Cookie Pie Recipe
More 4th of July Menu Ideas
- Creamy Stove Top Mac and Cheese
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe
- Picnic Potato Salad
- Deviled Eggs with pickles
Recipe
4th of July Fireworks Cookies Recipe
Add a plate of these fun colored Fireworks Cookies and Cream Cookies to your holiday plans. Sprinkles and red, white, and blue M&M's will make these soft and puffy 4th of July cookies disappear in a hurry.
Ingredients
- 1 vanilla cake mix
- 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups Oreo cookie chunks (14 chocolate cream-filled)
- ¾ cup red, white, & blue M&M's, divided
- ½ cup red, white, & blue sprinkles, divided
Instructions
- Mix together the dry cake mix, butter, cream cheese, egg, and vanilla until soft dough forms.
- Stir in the cookie chunks, ½ cup M&M's, and ¼ cup of the sprinkles gently.
- Refrigerate the dough for 30 - 60 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll into 24 even dough balls. Press the remaining M&M's into the tops of the dough balls. Add extra sprinkles to the tops of the the dough balls, if desired.
- Place the dough balls on cookie sheets and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes, before moving them to a piece of parchment paper on the counter.
- Let the cookies cool completely so they set up, then store in a tightly sealed container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 256mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Fireworks Cookies and Cream Cookies was first published on June 20, 2016. The post was updated and republished May 21, 2020.
Lyndsey
What are they measurements for each thing? Like how much butter, how much cream cheese and how many eggs?
Jocelyn
If you continue to scroll to the bottom of the blog post, you will find a recipe card with all the ingredients and measurements. There is also a "jump to recipe" button at the top of every post that will take you right to the recipe card. I hope that helps and you enjoy making the cookies!
Katie
Did I read that correctly? I buy the chocolate filled Oreos for the recipe? Not the original white filling?
Jocelyn
You can honestly use whichever Oreo you like or want. I did change it up and used the chocolate cream filled Oreos in this particular cookie. Have fun and enjoy the cookies!
Janine
I used this recipe to make Christmas cookies! Used the Christmas Oreos, mini and regular green and red m&m’s and green, red and white Jimmie’s.
Cindyann
These are SO good, if recipe cooking and cooling times are followed exactly!
I’ve made them for almost every holiday- such a fun treat to share. Everyone loves them!
Linda
I made these and I accidentally used the whole block of cream cheese instead of half the blocks I added 4 extra cookies and put it in a 9x9 parchment lined pan and baked it for 28 mins! Perfection! Such a happy accident!
Destiny
Thank you so much for this recipe! My whole family loves them, and they've become a Fourth of July tradition for us. It's also a lot of fun to experiment with flavors! I just made a batch with the limited edition Strawberry Donut flavor Oreos and used green sprinkles and the Easter colored M&Ms. It made for a very yummy, springy cookie!!
Alexandra
Great recipe! Just pulled the last batch out of my oven and they look great. I had to bake slightly longer than 10 mins (12-13), but that may just be my oven. The cookies are festive & tasty! Thank you for this awesome idea!
Keisha
I love this recipe!! It is my go to for a lot of functions. Best thing is my son's school colors are red, white, and blue, and so are my company colors! I even experimented for a nerf birthday party and used blue and orange instead. They are the best tasting cookies I've had in a long time! I highly recommend them.
Mel
Love these!!
Just tried them with chocolate cake mix, peanut butter Oreos, and Reese's pieces... supper yummy too!
Oliver
I made these for my coworkers, and they turned out great! Make sure that you don't make them too big or se they won't cook all the way through. I doubled the recipe and still made 25 by mistake, and definitely needed to do-over
Samantha Hall
I just got done making these, they are yummy and fun cookies but there are some issues with the cooking time and temp. I am an experienced baker, I know my way around a cookie recipe. I thought these might spread so I chilled the dough well, even after rolling, and at the 10 minute mark they were still completely raw. I tried a few more times and 365 degrees for 13 minutes was the closest I could get to being perfectly cooked. Sadly they still didnt have that thick cookie look. All and all these seem to need some flour to thicken them to get that thick look and the cook time was definitely way off for me.
Jocelyn
A cake mix cookie is completely different from a regular cookie. They will not spread a lot, and they will need to cool completely to set up and be perfect. 10 minutes is the max time that I recommend making these cookies. I have made so many different batches of these over the years and never bake them more than that. And I have so many other people that make and love them too. I am so sorry to hear that you didn't care for this type. But I still stand on the recipe being correct as written.
Jill
Would you recommend adjusting for high altitude? I’m in Colorado.
Jocelyn
Hi, Jill. I really do not have any experience with high altitude baking. I found this guide that looked very helpful for high altitude baking. https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/learn/resources/high-altitude-baking
Jill
Thank you!
Amanda
I had the same issue. Had to cook way longer than stated.
Plus, the flavor profile was awful. Once they were fully cooked, I couldn’t eat them they were so bad.
Jocelyn
Cake mix cookies do have a different texture than a normal cookie, and they taste like cake. I know they look undone at 10 minutes...BUT they DO set up after cooling. They are honestly one of our favorite kinds of cookie. I'm so sorry you didn't like them.
Christina
These look delicious! Do you think you could use chocolate cake mix instead of vanilla? Thanks!
Jocelyn
You sure can. Here is a link to one I did with a chocolate cake mix. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/chocolate-candy-cookies/ Have fun baking and eating cookies 🙂
Pam
Hi! Was wondering what vanilla cake mix you used? Not sure of what size I'll get to try the recipe out :/ thanks! :*
Jocelyn
Hi, Pam. I almost always buy the Pillsbury cake mixes. I think they are a 15.25 oz size...but honestly any size that is close to that will work for these cookies.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
These cookies are so fun and festive!!! And you won't catch me anywhere near a window during a storm...I'm hiding out in the basement #wimp
Jocelyn
Haha! I love watching storms! It is an amazing display of God's glory and power! Of course, if it is too bad or close I won't get near the windows.
Cakespy
The desire to have fireworks in my mouth isn't a super frequent occurrence, but it is happening right now!!
Jocelyn
Hahaha! Yeah, cookie fireworks really are the only kind of fireworks I want that close to my mouth too!
Mir
Lightning terrifies me. It always has. I just cower in the house and try not to look.
But fireworks are lots of fun! And in a cookie concept, even better!
Jocelyn
I am always in awe at lightening...as long as it isn't right beside me. There is something so amazing about watching God's power in the sky!!
Maureen Blackburn
Love the storm story...reminds me of so many beautiful storms growing up in Iowa!! The cookies are perfect for this years 4th of July, and I think the firecracker cupcakes will need to be made this year also!!
Jocelyn
There is something so amazing about watching storms...from a distance that is!
Stella
Love all your recipes, they are so festive! Too cute
Jocelyn
Thank you so much 🙂
Joanne
I love these cookies with the M&M's, and will be baking them for my family. So festive for July 4th!
Jocelyn
I hope your family enjoys them! They are definitely a fun picnic treat for the 4th!
Mallory T
Greased or ungreased cookie sheets?
Jocelyn
I usually use a Silpat on a sheet pan or ungreased air bake pans.
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
These cookies are seriously so festive and fun! I am totally loving the sprinkles and m&ms 🙂
Jocelyn
Sprinkles and M&M's are so fun in cookies. I can't get enough of the!!!