Memorial Day cookies are absolutely my favorite patriotic dessert to make for summer celebrations because they combine thick chewy monster cookie texture with festive red, white, and blue M&Ms that make every bite feel like a party. The combination of creamy peanut butter, chewy oats, chocolate chips, and colorful candies creates cookies that are perfect for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and all your summer gatherings — just like our crowd-favorite Ding Dong Sheet Cake, these disappear in minutes at any gathering.
What Are Memorial Day Cookies?
Memorial Day cookies are festive monster-style cookies loaded with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and red, white, and blue M&M candies that make them perfect for patriotic celebrations. Unlike regular chocolate chip cookies, these are packed with multiple mix-ins including quick oats for chewiness, semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and specially colored M&Ms. The 4th of July cookies use the same recipe but celebrate Independence Day. Think of them as the ultimate crowd-pleasing cookie that’s thick, chewy, loaded with goodies, and decorated in patriotic colors perfect for Memorial Day through Labor Day celebrations all summer long.
What You’ll Need
Let me walk you through all the ingredients for these incredible Memorial Day cookies. Everything is simple but creates amazing results together.
- Unsalted butter (3/4 cup or 1 and 1/2 sticks, room temperature): Creamy texture essential for your Memorial Day cookies. Must be softened not melted.
- Light brown sugar (1/2 cup): Adds moisture and chewy texture with caramel notes.
- Granulated sugar (3/4 cup): Creates crispy edges and sweet flavor.
- Large eggs (2): Room temperature works best. Binds ingredients together for your Memorial Day cookies.
- Light corn syrup (3 tablespoons): Keeps cookies soft and chewy for days.
- Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Pure vanilla adds depth of flavor.
- Creamy peanut butter (3/4 cup): Skippy or Jif work best. Not natural peanut butter which is too oily.
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Creates rise and helps with browning.
- Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Balances sweetness in your Memorial Day cookies.
- All-purpose flour (1 and 3/4 cups): Provides structure for cookies.
- Quick oats (1 and 3/4 cups): Creates chewy monster cookie texture. Can substitute rolled oats for chewier bite.
- Semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup): Classic chocolate flavor throughout.
- White chocolate chips (1/2 cup): Adds sweet creamy contrast for your Memorial Day cookies.
- Red, white, and blue M&Ms (1 and 1/2 cups): Festive candies perfect for 4th of July and Memorial Day. Buy extra bags because you’ll make these all summer.
Making Them Step by Step
Creating perfect patriotic cookies is easier than you think. Let me show you exactly how to make these Memorial Day cookies.
Cream Butter and Sugars
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together for 2 minutes until the mixture becomes light in color and fluffy for your Memorial Day cookies. This incorporates air for tender texture.
Make sure your butter is at room temperature, not cold or melted. Room temperature butter creams properly and creates the best texture in the final cookies.
Add Wet Ingredients
Add the eggs, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture for your Memorial Day cookies. Mix until everything is well combined and smooth. The corn syrup helps keep the cookies soft and chewy even days after baking.
Add the creamy peanut butter and mix until fully incorporated throughout the batter. The peanut butter should be completely blended with no streaks remaining.
Mix Dry Ingredients
Stir the baking soda and salt into the wet mixture until evenly distributed for your Memorial Day cookies. These leavening agents and seasoning need to be mixed in before the flour.
Add the all-purpose flour and quick oats to the batter and mix until just combined. Don’t overmix or cookies will be tough. A few streaks of flour remaining is perfectly fine.
Add Mix-Ins and Bake
Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and about half of the red, white, and blue M&Ms for your Memorial Day cookies. Reserve the remaining M&Ms to press on top of the cookies before baking for that picture-perfect patriotic look.
Line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan using your hands or a spatula.
Press the remaining red, white, and blue M&Ms on top of the dough, spacing them evenly across the surface for your Memorial Day cookies. This creates the festive patriotic appearance that makes these perfect for 4th of July celebrations too.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center is set but still slightly soft. Don’t overbake or cookies will be dry instead of chewy. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before cutting into bars.
Serving Ideas
These Memorial Day cookies are perfect for so many summer celebrations and serving styles. Cut them into bars and arrange on patriotic platters for Memorial Day potlucks, 4th of July barbecues, or Labor Day picnics. Serve alongside vanilla ice cream for incredible cookie sundaes or next to our Ding Dong Sheet Cake for a complete dessert table that feeds a crowd. Pack them in cellophane bags tied with red, white, and blue ribbon for party favors. Stack them on tiered stands with other patriotic desserts for impressive dessert tables. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Add a slice of white bread to the container to keep them extra soft and fresh.
Tips for Success
- Use room temperature ingredients: Softened butter and room temp eggs create smooth batter for your Memorial Day cookies. Set out 45 to 60 minutes before baking.
- Use creamy peanut butter: Skippy or Jif work best. Natural peanut butter is too oily and affects texture negatively.
- Don’t overmix the dough: Mix just until combined with streaks of flour okay. Overmixing creates tough cookies instead of chewy.
- Quick oats are essential: These create the classic monster cookie texture. Rolled oats work but give chewier bite.
- Buy extra M&Ms: Stock up on red, white, blue M&Ms when you see them for your Memorial Day cookies. They’re limited edition summer release.
- Reserve candies for topping: Press remaining M&Ms on top before baking. Creates beautiful patriotic appearance perfect for 4th of July too.
- Don’t overbake: Remove when edges are golden and center slightly soft. Cookies firm up as they cool.
- Press into pan evenly: Use hands or spatula to spread dough uniformly for your Memorial Day cookies. Ensures even baking throughout.
- Cool before cutting: Let bars cool 10 minutes minimum. Cutting too soon makes them crumble and fall apart.
- Store with bread slice: White bread slice in container keeps cookies soft and chewy for days longer.
Common Questions
Can I make these as individual cookies instead of bars?
Absolutely! Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto parchment-lined baking sheets for your Memorial Day cookies. Press a few reserved Mu0026amp;Ms on top of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are golden. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
Can I use natural peanut butter?
Not recommended for your Memorial Day cookies because natural peanut butter is more oily and can make the dough too wet and affect the final texture. Creamy peanut butter like Skippy or Jif works best for proper consistency and flavor.
Where do I find red, white, and blue Mu0026amp;Ms?
Red, white, and blue Mu0026amp;Ms are limited edition summer release usually available May through July at Target, Walmart, grocery stores, and online for your Memorial Day cookies. Stock up when you see them because they sell out fast after 4th of July celebrations end.
Can I substitute the corn syrup?
You can substitute honey or maple syrup for the light corn syrup in your Memorial Day cookies, but the texture will be slightly different and the cookies may spread more during baking. Corn syrup creates the signature soft chewy texture that stays fresh for days.
Can I make these Memorial Day cookies ahead of time?
Yes — these bars are actually better the next day once the flavors have melded together. Bake them the evening before your celebration, let them cool completely, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, and store at room temperature overnight. Cut into bars the morning of the event. They stay soft and chewy for up to 4 days.
Why are my cookie bars gooey in the middle?
Gooey bars usually mean they need a few more minutes in the oven, or they haven’t cooled long enough before cutting. The center should look slightly underdone when you pull them out — it firms up as it cools. Wait the full 10 minutes before cutting, and if still too soft, let them cool completely at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Why These Are Perfect
Memorial Day cookies are absolutely the best patriotic dessert for summer celebrations because they’re easy to make in one pan, feed a crowd, and stay soft and chewy for days. The combination of peanut butter, oats, and multiple types of chocolate creates incredible flavor and texture. The festive red, white, and blue M&Ms make them perfect for Memorial Day and 4th of July without any fussy decorating or royal icing required. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, attending a potluck picnic, or just want delicious cookies to celebrate summer, these deliver crowd-pleasing results every single time with simple ingredients and straightforward method perfect for bakers of all levels.
For more amazing patriotic desserts and summer baking inspiration, check out my Pinterest where you’ll find tips and creative ideas.
Memorial Day Cookies
Course: Dessert, SnacksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy24
servings15
minutes30
minutes220
kcalIngredients
Unsalted butter (3/4 cup or 1 and 1/2 sticks, room temperature): Creamy texture essential for your Memorial Day cookies. Must be softened not melted.
Light brown sugar (1/2 cup): Adds moisture and chewy texture with caramel notes.
Granulated sugar (3/4 cup): Creates crispy edges and sweet flavor.
Large eggs (2): Room temperature works best. Binds ingredients together for your Memorial Day cookies.
Light corn syrup (3 tablespoons): Keeps cookies soft and chewy for days.
Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Pure vanilla adds depth of flavor.
Creamy peanut butter (3/4 cup): Skippy or Jif work best. Not natural peanut butter which is too oily.
Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Creates rise and helps with browning.
Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Balances sweetness in your Memorial Day cookies.
All-purpose flour (1 and 3/4 cups): Provides structure for cookies.
Quick oats (1 and 3/4 cups): Creates chewy monster cookie texture. Can substitute rolled oats for chewier bite.
Semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup): Classic chocolate flavor throughout.
White chocolate chips (1/2 cup): Adds sweet creamy contrast for your Memorial Day cookies.
Red, white, and blue M&Ms (1 and 1/2 cups): Festive candies perfect for 4th of July and Memorial Day. Buy extra bags because you’ll make these all summer.
Directions
- Cream Butter and Sugars
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together for 2 minutes until the mixture becomes light in color and fluffy for your Memorial Day cookies. This incorporates air for tender texture.
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature, not cold or melted. Room temperature butter creams properly and creates the best texture in the final cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients
- Add the eggs, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture for your Memorial Day cookies. Mix until everything is well combined and smooth. The corn syrup helps keep the cookies soft and chewy even days after baking.
- Add the creamy peanut butter and mix until fully incorporated throughout the batter. The peanut butter should be completely blended with no streaks remaining.
- Mix Dry Ingredients
- Stir the baking soda and salt into the wet mixture until evenly distributed for your Memorial Day cookies. These leavening agents and seasoning need to be mixed in before the flour.
- Add the all-purpose flour and quick oats to the batter and mix until just combined. Don’t overmix or cookies will be tough. A few streaks of flour remaining is perfectly fine.
- Add Mix-Ins and Bake
- Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and about half of the red, white, and blue M&Ms for your Memorial Day cookies. Reserve the remaining M&Ms to press on top of the cookies before baking for that picture-perfect patriotic look.
- Line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan using your hands or a spatula.
- Press the remaining red, white, and blue M&Ms on top of the dough, spacing them evenly across the surface for your Memorial Day cookies. This creates the festive patriotic appearance that makes these perfect for 4th of July celebrations too.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center is set but still slightly soft. Don’t overbake or cookies will be dry instead of chewy. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before cutting into bars.
