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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Jul 3, 2015 · Modified: Jun 23, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe

    In celebration of the 4th of July, distinctly red, white and blue Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies. These crunchy sugar cookies are ideal for patriotic holidays or a 4th of July Care Package.

    Rows of striped flag cookies and cookies swirled with red, white and blue sugar.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Both of these beautiful cookies use the same delicious, heat resistant sugar cookie dough! They also both have heat resistant decorating using colored dough or colored sugar.

    These patriotic cookies are ideal for holiday picnics and hot weather care packages.

    Spiral Sparkler Cookies with white dough rolled up around red,white,blue sparkling sugar.

    Spiral Sparklers instructions

    The glittery Spiral Sparklers are an easy to create slice-and-bake cookie.

    1. Roll out the dough between two sheets of wax paper or parchment. The paper makes rolling out the dough a non-stick experience, plus the bottom sheet can be used to lift the dough gently as you roll it up into a cylinder.
    2. Sprinkle the dough with decorating sugar in any patchwork pattern.
    3. Then roll up the dough as tightly as possible. If the dough cracks, just squeeze it back together.
    4. Roll the cylinder in colored sugar to coat the outside, then wrap in the parchment/wax paper and refrigerate at least two hours or overnight.
    5. Cut the spirals in ⅜” slices (a little more than ¼”and a little less than ½” ).
    Cookie dough rolled out with squares of red, white, and blue sparkle sugar then rolled up.

    Flag Cookies instructions

    The Flag Cookies are also slice-and-bake easy. It’s the directions that are confusing, so bear with me.

    The easiest way to divide the dough is using a scale and weight measurements; 2 pieces of dough approximately 325 grams each and 1 piece of dough approximately 215 grams. However, I know that many people don’t use a kitchen scale, so for those bakers I suggest dividing the dough this way.

    1. Divide the dough into 4 “equal” parts.
    2. Set aside one piece to color blue.
    3. All of the remaining dough should be kneaded back together, then divided in half.
    4. Color on half red and the other half will remain white. Individually wrap each piece of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate an hour or until firm.
    Instructions; layers dough sliced into rectangles then stacked, log of blue dough in the upper left corner.


    5. Roll out the red and white dough into 8” x 10” rectangles. The 8” side should be accurate but the 10” side can vary in length as long as both the red and white rectangle are the same size.

    6. Place the white rectangle over the red.

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    7. Slice the dough into four strips; 2 x 2 ½”, 2 x 1 ½”. Pile the sliced dough using the 2 ½” slices first, followed by the thinner 1 ½” slices.

    8. Roll the blue dough into a 10” rope and fit it into the empty corner on the red and white stack. Use your fingers to flatten the sides of the blue dough.

    9. Wrap the stack in plastic wrap. Press gently to secure all of the layers and square off the sides.

    10. Refrigerate the stack for two hours before cutting into ⅜” slices.

    11. Using tweezers to apply star sprinkles to each cookie before baking is optional (depending on your perspective on the importance of sprinkles). Press the stars gently to be sure they are attached.

    More patriotic treats

    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bar in a stack with red and blue colored chips.
    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars

    4th of July Cookies are deliciously crunchy sugar cookies swirled in red, white, and blue!

    This Brownie Brittle Recipe makes thin, crunchy cookie brittle and brownie brittle. A great, festive snack!

    Surprise Inside Brownies are fudgy brownies with patriotic sandwich cookies hidden inside!

    No cookie cutters needed to make dozens of melt in your mouth cookies in minutes. This Spritz Cookie Recipe with shortening uses a cookie press to make shaped cookies in holiday colors!

    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars with homemade red, white and blue chips, are crunchy bars packed with the toasty flavor of oatmeal.

    Flag cookies and spiral sparkler cookies in red, white, and blue.

    Ready to bake? Join the free membership group to get new recipes and a newsletter delivered to your inbox! You can also stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’d love to stay in touch!

    Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies for Military Care Package #14

    Spiral Sparkler or Flag Cookies

    One sugar cookie dough for two kinds patriotic red, white, and blue cookies!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Crisco Ultimate Sugar Cookies
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 1 hour hour
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Chill time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 30
    Calories: 136kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov
    Adapted From: crisco.com

    Ingredients

    Cookies

    • 1 cup butter flavored vegetable shortening Crisco
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg room temperature
    • 2 tablespoons milk
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Decorating

    • Spiral Sparklers: red white and blue decorating sugar
    • Flag Cookies: red and blue food coloring white star sprinkles

    Instructions

    • In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together shortening and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes)
    • Thoroughly mix in egg, milk and vanilla.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
    • Gradually add the flour mixture to the shortening mixture until combined.

    Spiral Sparklers

    • Roll out the dough between two sheets of wax paper or parchment. Sprinkle the dough with decorating sugar in any patchwork pattern.
    • Roll up the dough as tightly as possible, using the wax paper to help lift and turn the dough. If the dough cracks, just squeeze it back together.
    • Roll the cylinder in colored sugar to coat the outside, then wrap in the parchment/wax paper and refrigerate at least two hours or overnight.
    • Cut the spirals in ⅜” slices (a little more than ¼”and a little less than ½”).

    Flag Cookies

    • Divide the dough into 3 pieces; 2 pieces of dough approximately 325 grams each and 1 piece of dough approximately 215 grams. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, divide the dough into 4 “equal” parts.
    • Set aside one piece. That quarter will be colored blue. All of the remaining dough should be kneaded back together, then divided in half. One half will be colored red and the other half will remain white.
    • Individually wrap each piece of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate an hour or until firm.
    • Roll out the red and white dough into 8” x 10” rectangles. The 8” side should be accurate but the 10” side can vary in length as long as both the red and white rectangle are the same size. Place the red rectangle over the white.
    • Slice the dough into four strips; 2 x 2 ½”, 2x 1 ½”. Pile the sliced dough using the 2 ½” slices first, followed by the thinner 1 ½” slices.
    • Roll the blue dough into a 10” rope and fit it into the empty corner on the red and white stack. Use your fingers to flatten the sides of the blue dough.
    • Wrap the stack in plastic wrap. Press gently to secure all of the layers and square off the sides. Refrigerate the stack for two hours before cutting into ⅜” slices.
    • Use tweezers to apply star sprinkles to each cookie before baking. Press the stars gently to be sure they are attached.
    • Place cookies 1-2” apart on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes at 350˚F. Cookies are done when top is dry and bottom is just turning golden.
    • Cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days.

    Notes

    Packing tips
    Double wrap pairs of cookies (with bottoms together) in plastic wrap. Then place columns of wrapped cookies snuggly in an airtight container or zip lock bag.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

    First Published: July 3, 2015. Last Updated: June 6, 2022. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.

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    Comments

    1. Claudia Lamascolo

      May 25, 2023 at 5:00 am

      5 stars
      My son is doing Red White and Blue wedding and I am making all the cookies. I am going to try these today and love this idea.Thanks for the tutorial. They look fantastic
      Claudia from Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine

      Reply
      • Wendy Sondov

        May 25, 2023 at 8:01 am

        What a great color scheme for a wedding!! Congratulations on your son's marriage! Let me know how you like the cookies. Have you also seen these red, white and blue cookies? Another possibility. https://themondaybox.com/fireworks-sugar-cookies-military-care-package-21/

        Reply
    2. Hannah

      June 16, 2017 at 11:09 am

      What a awesome idea!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        June 21, 2017 at 10:50 pm

        Thank you, Hannah!

        Reply
    3. Ali

      April 27, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      I can't use this on my roundup because it's food, BUT I love this...so I am totally sharing on my Facebook page. So, so cute!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        April 27, 2016 at 4:04 pm

        Thanks so much, Ali! Both cookie designs were fun to make and eat. 🙂 I appreciate your sharing them on Facebook!

        Reply
    4. shannon

      July 15, 2015 at 10:30 am

      I'm going to echo Monica's sentiments, because i've often thought the same thing: how are there enough hours in the day for you to accomplish all of this AND life stuff!? You're a better multitasker than i am, that's for sure. Once again, this care package is stellar (pun! because stars) and i love it. As many times as i've made those rolled-up cookies, i've never thought to put colored sugar in the layers...BRILLIANT. And i bet it's a lovely textural component as well. You're my cookie hero.

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        July 26, 2015 at 10:49 pm

        Thank you, Shannon, for always being in my cheerleading corner! Too funny, that you think I am good at multitasking. I stand in awe of YOUR multitasking. I waited to do all of this blogging and baking after my kids were adults and more or less independent. You blog, you are a professional food writer, and you are the "above and beyond" kind of mom to the wee one. Perhaps you can tell me how there are enough hours in the day for YOU to accomplish all you do?! I need all of the tips and hints I can get!

        Reply
    5. saltandserenity

      July 09, 2015 at 9:11 pm

      Wendy, these are spectacular! What a special package to send. I am sure they are appreciated by the very lucky military men and women who receive them. You are an artist.

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        July 14, 2015 at 6:55 pm

        Thanks, Cindy, but I just played with colored dough for some cookies. You made pizza that looked like the Canadian flag, maple leaf and all! I love being called an artist! My family leans toward, "nut case" ! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine

      July 08, 2015 at 3:53 pm

      Oh my gosh Wendy, these are so fun and I know there were lots of smiles when your box was opened!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        July 08, 2015 at 4:19 pm

        Thanks, Chris! These cookies were fun to make...didn't miss the icing at all! I hope they were enjoyed in Afghanistan as well. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Monica

      July 07, 2015 at 10:13 am

      I honestly don't know how you have time to do anything else when you are busy making these incredible care packages, Wendy! Seriously - can't be easy! Love this and all the details. Those flag cookies are particularly amazing. I know these treats cheered up a lot of people. Hope you had a great 4th and enjoyed the fireworks. It rained here but cleared up by afternoon for a great show! : )

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        July 07, 2015 at 11:00 am

        Thank you, Monica! I try to gather up "supplies" for several themed care packages in one trip to the Dollar Store. Doesn't always work, but I try. I also try to make several batches of sugar cookie dough at one time and freeze some. I don't always do that either! 😉 Truth is that it really is a labor of love. I get a lot of happiness from creating the boxes and hope the happiness transfers to the troops. 🙂 Big deal if a few nights per month my family eats frozen dinners or take-out while I stress out over having everything baked, photographed and packed for Monday shipping. Good example is those flag cookies. The original process photos were terrible, so after mailing the package, I made a new batch and took a new set of photos. Did I mention that being a wee bit crazy (in a good way, I hope) helps? 😉

        Reply
    8. Tricia @ Saving room for dessert

      July 06, 2015 at 6:46 am

      You are amazing! How wonderfully smart - I would have never thought to make flag cookies like that. Everything you make is an inspiration. Lovely! Hope you had a fantastic July 4th!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        July 06, 2015 at 8:57 pm

        Thanks, Tricia, but the idea is not original. I would never have thought of making the flags that way either! But once I saw a photo, I HAD to try. 🙂 I hope you and your family have a great weekend!

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    I'm Wendy, a baker, care package maker, and smile creator. On The Monday Box you’ll find care package inspiration and recipes for delicious treats that make it easy for you to share home baked love. Let’s spread happiness, one cookie at a time!

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