Enjoy your fourth of July with a simple cookie cup that is sure to get on everyone's good side this summer. Made with boxed cake mix, a cream cheese filling, and then topped with red strawberries and blueberries, these cookie cups are as adorable as they are tasty.
I love making fun colored foods and especially when they're easy to make. If you do, too, make sure to check out my Easy Patriotic Fireworks Bundt Cake.
Easy recipes are totally my thing during summer when the days are hot and heating the house with baking sounds less than ideal. That said, these red white and blue cookie cups are well worth the few minutes of oven time.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's easy. Made with boxed cake mix cookie dough, these cookie cups are a simple dessert that really hits the spot. The homemade cream cheese frosting in the middle is also quite nice, although you could cut down on time and effort by simply using a store-bought container of frosting.
- There's fresh fruit. Top off your little cookie treats with fresh berries for a nice burst of tangy flavors and a great summer-ready appearance.
- There's plenty to share. One batch of these cookies is plenty for sharing at a party, but you may want to double or triple the recipe because everyone will keep coming back for more.
🥘 Ingredients
For the cookie cups, you will need:
Boxed cake mix- You will need to use yellow or white boxed cake mix for the base of the cookie dough.
Eggs- A binding agent that is used to keep the cookies together so that they aren't too crumbly.
Vegetable oil- Use this for the necessary fats so that the cookies don't feel too dry.
Red and blue food coloring- This is optional, but using red and blue food coloring will give the cookies a nice patriotic color.
For the cream cheese filling, you will need:
Butter- Use butter for added richness and taste in the filling. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
Cream cheese- This is the base of the frosting recipe, and it adds a tangy, rich flavor that pairs perfectly with everything else.
Vanilla- A flavor enhancer.
Salt- A natural flavor enhancer.
Powdered sugar- For a sweeter flavor and smooth texture, you'll need to use powdered sugar. Granulated sugar can be used in a pinch but will make the frosting feel grainy.
Fresh strawberries- For a garnish of red color.
Fresh blueberries- For adding a blue color to the cookies.
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make patriotic cookie cups with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl mix together the cake mix, eggs, and oil until a dough forms. Divide the dough between two bowls.
Add red coloring to one bowl and blue coloring to the other and blend each until the color has been evenly distributed.
Grab a tablespoon of each dough and roll lightly together into a ball before placing it in a generously greased mini muffin pan.
Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes and immediately press down the centers with the back of a spoon to form a small bowl.
Let cool for about 5 minutes in the pan before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a large bowl prepare the cream cheese filling by blending together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar, a little at a time until the frosting is a good pipable consistency.
Either spoon the filling into the cookie centers or put the frosting in a baggie with the corner snipped off and pipe it into the cookie centers.
Garnish each cookie with a slice of strawberries and 2 blueberries.
Enjoy!
🍴 Recipe Tips
Making these 4th of July cookies cups is so much fun. I recommend using gel food coloring for stronger colors but liquid food coloring should work just fine too.
Make sure to grease the muffin pan well so that the cookies come out of the muffin cups easily. If you find yourself struggling, run a butter knife or small rubber spatula along the edges of the cookies so that they don't break during removal.
💭 FAQs
If you keep your cookies covered and in the fridge, you can expect them to last about 3-5 days and still taste great. The cookies will soften as they age, but I kind of like them nice and soft. Yum!
Yes. You can freeze these cookies in a single layer in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simply place in the fridge for a few hours to thaw before serving.
More great summer recipes to try
- Summer Raspberry Cake
- Caramel Iced Coffee
- Triple Berry Muffin Mix Cookies
- Watermelon Smoothie Bowl
- Pineapple Watermelon Banana Smoothie
- Frozen Whipped Lemonade
📖 Recipe
Patriotic Cookie Cups
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow or white cake mix ($1.00)
- 2 large eggs ($0.16)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil ($0.16)
- red and blue food coloring ($0.04)
Cream cheese filling
- ½ cup butter, room temperature ($0.75)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened ($1.98)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla ($0.02)
- ¼ teaspoon salt ($0.02)
- 4 cups powdered sugar ($0.92)
- fresh strawberries ($1.00)
- fresh blueberries ($1.00)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl mix together the cake mix, eggs, and oil until a dough forms. Divide the dough between two bowls.
- Add red coloring to one bowl and blue coloring to the other and blend each until the color has been evenly distributed.
- Grab a tablespoon of each dough and roll lightly together into a ball before placing it in a generously greased mini muffin pan.
- Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes and immediately press down the centers with the back of a spoon to form a small bowl.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes in the pan before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a large bowl prepare the cream cheese filling by blending together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar, a little at a time until the frosting is a good pipable consistency.
- Either spoon the filling into the cookie centers or put the frosting in a baggie with the corner snipped off and pipe it into the cookie centers.
- Garnish each cookie with a slice of strawberries and 2 blueberries.
- Enjoy!
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