Somehow, I have blinked and it is now the 4th of July. July has snuck up on me just as quickly as this humidity has and I’m not sure if the time is going faster or the amount of time my make-up actually stays on these days. Even though the summer is flying by its has been a sweet summer full of pool time, Cubs games, water balloons, and some soon-to-be travel time! I pray this summer you’re able to find lots of sweetness!

Speaking of sweetness, these 4th of July cookies are so fun to make and super easy. I love them because the little ones in your life can totally help you with making them. I love taking simple recipes and just adding a slight holiday twist.

Before I share the recipe here are a few tips for these cookies:

• Search your grocery store for the specific “red, white and blue M&Ms” (we couldn’t find them and we separated all the reds and blues from a regular bag which worked too)
• If you can’t find the red, white, and blue only bag of M&Ms you can substitute white chocolate chips for white M&Ms as I did. I actually think the white chocolate chips add a cute texture to the cookie and make it look like stars.
• Don’t mix your M&Ms into your cookie mixture. My mom taught me this secret-once you have scooped your cookies onto your cookie sheet place your M&Ms and white chocolate chips (if using) on top last. Here is a similar scoop I use
• When you have about 6 minutes left in your baking, check your cookies to see if you’d like to add more M&Ms or white chocolate chips to fill your cookie. Gently press them into the hot cookie and continue baking
• Once cookies are done let them sit on your hot cookie sheet for a few minutes until more firm

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick)butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips
red, white and blue M&Ms for topping
white chocolate chips for topping

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 300. Cream together sugars and butter. Add egg, vanilla and baking and incorporate. Add flour and salt into mixture. Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Scoop and top with M&Ms. Baking for 18 minutes. Cool on a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!