The 1-Step Trick for Festive Fourth of July Treats

Though really you can use this fun technique any time of year.

One of the best things about Independence Day is that there is less holiday pressure. There’s no turkey to brine or presents to wrap, and store-bought dessert finds are celebrated. However, if you choose to go the homemade route, there are many options, from layered flag cakes to fruit-topped cheesecakes that resemble Old Glory. However, an excellent middle ground is the Independence Day dessert recipes that combine homemade and store-bought elements to save you time while allowing a personalized touch.

Fourth of July cakes often take center stage, but don’t forget cookies. Cookies are perfect for serving a crowd and can hold their own at the dessert table. We recently found a festive cookie that’s the ideal addition to your holiday spread. You can make the cookies from scratch in less than an hour or create them from store-bought ingredients in half the time. And the technique is so easy to master that the entire family can get involved in a fun summer activity.

How to Make Marble-Dipped Fourth of July Cookies

TikTok user @chronicallyglutenfree frequently shares various tasty gluten-free recipes; however, one video, in particular, stood out as a creative way to serve up Fourth of July treats. The cookies are dipped into multi-colored icing to achieve a marble effect. The final result is a uniquely decorated dessert; the best part is that all you need is cookie dough, royal icing, and food coloring.

While the post focuses on a red, white, and blue swirled design, the beauty is that the technique applies to any holiday or special occasion with a simple swap of cookie shape and food coloring. You can also choose any type of rolled sugar cookies you like.

You’ll need to whip up a batch of royal icing. But don’t worry, it’s easy to make and will set firm to keep your design intact. Any food coloring you have on hand will work, but consider using a highly pigmented gel. True red can be hard to achieve, but a concentrated gel will quickly reach the proper hue without requiring an abundance of food coloring.

Follow These Simple Steps:

1. Bake the cookies and let them cool completely (or use ready-made, store-bought cookies).

2. Whisk together the royal icing in a large bowl to be ready to use.

3. Add drops of red and blue food coloring to the royal icing. Then, gently swirl the colors as you like using a toothpick or butter knife.

4. Dip cookies, one at a time, by placing one straight down into the bowl of icing until it’s a third of the way submerged. Gently lift it while slowly turning it to one side and allowing the excess icing to drip and swirl over an extra bowl or napkin.

5. Add additional drops of food coloring to the bowl as needed for the remaining cookies.

Ways to Customize Marble-Dipped Cookies

• Explore shapes: For a festive shape, use a star cookie cutter. Craft stores also have specialty shapes, such as flags and USA letter-shaped cutters. Just be sure to chill your cookie dough sufficiently after cutting so that it keeps its form while baking.

• Make them shine: Brush luster dust or edible glitter lightly across the cookies after the icing hardens to add sparkle.

• Upgrade your cookies: Sugar cookies don’t have to be boring. Add lemon zest or a 1/4 teaspoon almond extract to the dough for added flavor.

• Go beyond cookies: Use this technique on doughnuts or Rice Krispie Treats for an extra colorful platter.

Read the original article on All Recipes.