• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Mug Cakes
  • Military Care Packages
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Mug Cakes
  • Military Care Packages
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Cookies » Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies

    Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies for Military Care Package #15

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Jul 3, 2015 · Modified: Jul 2, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    In celebration of the 4th of July, another Monday Box military care package shipped out to Afghanistan! A distinctly red, white and blue box of Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars speckled with patriotically colored chips, for the troops who put their lives on the line in service to our country. Those men and women define patriotism.

    Rows of cookies. Flag cookies have red and white stripes with a blue square in the corner. White star sprinkles are stuck onto the blue square. Round cookies with red, white and blue sugar swirled inside look like sparklers.

     

    Though I am late in sharing this post, the care package was actually mailed over a week ago. Luckily, should you be looking for a last minute cookie recipe for this weekend that is impressive, but easy, both Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies fit that description.

     

    4th of July Military Care Package

    Care package contents

    • Independence Day isn’t a gift wrap holiday, so decoratively lining the box with 4th of July wrapping paper wasn’t an option. That pushed me to think outside the box (no pun intended). This care package is lined with the border cut from a 4th of July plastic table cloth! I was worried that the extremely thin plastic (dollar store quality) would wrinkle or rip, but the table cloth worked out wonderfully.

     

    • I filled the box with snacks in red, white or blue packaging, some flag decorations, puzzle books, and some treats meant as substitutes for traditional 4th of July fare; jerky sticks for hot dogs, drink mix for lemonade. The caramel coated popcorn is a gamble. It may melt into a mess, but the boxes were the right colors and gooey popcorn may not be such a bad thing.

    4th of July Military Care Package
    Circle cookies

    Flag Cookies aren’t actually circles, of course, but ignore that detail. They are the ultimate patriotic cookie. Spiral Sparkler Cookies are circular and festive.

    Either of the cookie designs can be made with your favorite sugar cookie recipe, my favorite sugar cookie recipe, or the desert safe sugar cookie in this recipe recipe.

    I used one full batch of dough for each design. In keeping with my “summer heat shipping challenge”, using food coloring and decorating sugar, these sugar cookies have plenty of wow-factor without icing.

    Spiral Sparkler Cookies on a platter. The cookies have white dough that is sprinkled with red,white,blue sparkling sugar, then rolled up and sliced into cookies.

    Spiral Sparklers directions

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

    1. I suggest rolling 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” ).

    Spiral Sparkler Cookies are made by photo 1 shows dough rolled out with squares of red, white, and blue sparkle sugar. Photo 2 shows the dough rolled into a log and one cookie sliced off showing the swirl of colors inside.

    Flag Cookies directions

    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. That quarter will be colored blue.
    3. All of the remaining dough should be kneaded back together, then divided in half.
    4. 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.

    photos of Flag Cookies made in steps. Photo 1 thin layers of red and white dough are sliced into rectangles. Photo 2: the rectangles of red and white dough are stacked. Photo 3: A squared off log of blue dough is attached in the upper left corner. Photo 4: 1 cookie is cut from the stacked log looking like an American flag.
    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.

    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.


    New recipe

    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars with homemade red, white and blue chips, are the new recipe created for this 4th of July care package. These crunchy bars are packed with the toasty flavor of oatmeal sprinkled with white and dark chocolate. The homemade chips can be customized for favorite colors or holiday hues.

    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bar in a stack with red and blue colored chips.Between the stars on the Flag Cookies and the homemade colored chips in these Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars, I am going to get some raised eyebrows about the manner in which I choose to spend my time.

    Nuts? Perhaps. The fact is, I have fun baking and creating treats that are appealing to eat and to look at. The Flag Cookies can be made without stars. The bars can be made with regular chocolate chips.

    They will taste the same, but they won’t have the same pizzazz. I squeeze in as much pizzazz as possible in each and every care package I send.

    More patriotic treats

    Fireworks Sugar Cookies

    Patriotic Cookie Crunch

    Surprise Inside Brownies


    Spiral Sparkler and Flag Cookies for Military Care Package #14

    Spiral Sparkler or Flag Cookies

    0 from 0 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Crisco Ultimate Sugar Cookies
    Servings: 30 cookies
    Author: Wendy Sondov

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup butter flavor 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
    • 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.
    • FOR SPIRAL SPARKLERS: Roll out the dough between two sheets of wax paper or parchment. Sprinkle the dough with decorating sugar in any patchwork pattern. Then 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”).
    • FOR 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

    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.
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

     

    • Share
    • Tweet

    You might also like:

    Funfetti Sugar Cookies, with rainbow sprinkles, a bowl of sprinkles and cookies wrapped in  clear cellophane bags.Funfetti Sugar Cookies Lemon Sugar Cookie Lemon SlicesLemon Sugar Cookie Lemon Slices sugar cookies on white background with white bowls of colored sugar and sliced citrus fruitMexican Sugar Cookies: Polvorones Collage of different military care packages with title text overlayDeployed Military Care Package

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 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
    2. 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
    3. 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
    4. saltandserenity

      July 9, 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
    5. Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine

      July 8, 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 8, 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
    6. Monica

      July 7, 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 7, 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
    7. Tricia @ Saving room for dessert

      July 6, 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 6, 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

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Brunch Bakes

    • Tea Brack
    • Chocolate Chip Biscotti Recipe
    • Oatmeal Fruit Bars
    • Orange Olive Oil Cake
    • Oatmeal Raisin Quick Bread
    • Coconut Milk Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

    Cinco de Mayo

    • Spiced Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
    • Mexican Sugar Cookies: Polvorones

    Most Popular

    • Cake Mix Mug Cake
    • Lemon Biscotti
    • Flourless Soft Almond Cookies (Pasticcini di Mandorle)
    • Coconut Milk Snack Cake

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    As Seen On

    Copyright © 2012- 2021. The Monday Box, All Rights Reserved.