Summer may bring to mind ice creams, saltwater taffy, and juicy fruit, but summer cookies are another seasonal staple. Offered in various shapes, colors, and flavors, these tasty snacks add color to any summer table and provide the perfect way to satisfy sweet cravings this summer.
What are Summer Cookies?
While fall cookies are packed with spice and bring that warm cozy feeling to mind, summer cookies are light, often fruity, and refreshing. Think lime zest, lightly whipped marshmallows, coconut, and cookies in various shapes that conjure summer fun. These light but sweet treats are the perfect snacks for hot, sunny days and balmy nights spent by bonfires. So, let’s dive in and look at some of the best and most refreshing cookies to enjoy this summer.
Where Did The Tradition Of Summer Cookies Come From?
Before we look at a few tasty summer cookie recipes, it is important to understand where the tradition of summer cookies began. So, where did the idea originate? With the humble “Graham Cracker Sandwich,” known more commonly today as S’mores.
Originally a popular treat among boy and girl scouts, the recipe for these “Some Mores” was included in a 1938 article aimed at summer camps. And the rest, as they say, is history. Today, Americans have added a few additional recipes, expanding the assortment of summertime cookies to enjoy around an evening campfire or on a hot summer’s day.
The Most Fun Summer Cookies Recipes
Although there are various delicious cookies to enjoy on summer days, like lemon-flavored whoopie pies with soft cream cheese centers and the ever-popular animal crackers, we are going to look at some more easy-to-make options. Using these summer cookie ideas, you’ll have a sweet treat on hand to offer guests and family. 
Sand Dollar Cookies
Sand dollars are a species of flat sea urchin with a uniquely flower-shaped pattern on its surface. Finding one of these washed up on the beach always brings excitement, causing these little “shells” to become synonymous with summer.
So, it makes sense then that Sand Dollar Cookies would be on our list of the best summer cookies. These tasty treats are thin and crispy and offer a cross between a snickerdoodle and a sugar cookie recipe. The exterior of these cookies is then dusted in cinnamon sugar, giving them a “sandy” look, and topped with slithers of almond to create that floral Sand Dollar look.
Summertime Flip-Flop Cookies
Summer flip-flop cookies are delicious and a great way to keep the kids entertained. While you can use cookies like Nutter Butters that already have a flip-flop shape to them, you can also use an easy recipe for sugar cookies and then use custom cookie cutters to create the flip-flop shape. This also offers an excellent way for kids to learn the essentials of baking, like how to use sugar in baking and how to use cookie cutters.
Once you have the cookies prepped, you can frost them using brightly-colored icing and various types of candy to decorate the flip-flops – pull ‘n peel Twizzlers make a great option for the straps.
While flip-flops are a fun summertime option, you can always use fun Disney cookie cutters, like the characters from Lilo and Stitch, to create exciting beach-style cookies. Another option is animal cookie cutters in the shape of dolphins, whales, starfish, and fish that offer a fun nautical-themed summer treat.
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’re looking for a refreshing mint cookie with a blast of chocolate, mint chocolate chip cookies are a must. They offer a unique, summery take on traditional chocolate chip cookies, offering a soft and chewy center with a refreshing twist.
In this case, you can use your favorite traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe and add a few tweaks. For example, while you can add chocolate and mint chips to the recipe, you can also keep the chips to chocolate only. Then, add a few drops of mint essence and a splash of green food coloring for a more exciting and minty option.
The bright lime-green cookies add a dash of color to your summer dessert table, and they will undoubtedly capture the attention of your guests.
Glazed Coconut Lime Cookies
Summer wouldn’t be summer without the tropical flavors of coconut and lime, making these glazed lime coconut cookies a must. They offer a delicious melt-in-your-mouth consistency that blends perfectly with the texture of the coconut.
While these super-moist cookies have a pop of lime juice in them, they get their extra zingy citrus taste from the glaze drizzled over the top. So, while you don’t need the glaze, it ties things together perfectly to create the quintessential summer cookie.
How To Make S’mores Cookies
S’mores are the cookies that started the summer cookie trend, making them the real OGs. So, let’s look at how to make these cookies step by step.
What are the Ingredients For S’mores Cookies
Since S’mores kicked off the tradition of summer cookies, it is only fitting to add S’mores cookies to our list. Below, you’ll find a list of ingredients you’ll need to make these delicious treats:
Wet ingredients
- Softened unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Golden brown sugar
- Egg
- Egg yolk
- Vanilla extract
Dry ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
S’mores
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Mini marshmallows
- Chopped up Hershey’s chocolate bars
- Crushed Graham crackers
Can You Freeze S’mores Cookies?
If you make S’mores cookies, you can typically freeze and keep the dough for approximately three months. If you pre-shape the dough, you can bake it from frozen without having to thaw it first.
How to Serve Cookies in Summer
Serving cookies in summer is always tricky, especially if they have chocolate chips or frosting that will quickly melt. We suggest keeping them indoors in an airtight container where it is cool. Before you’re ready to serve them, place them on a plate, and then place the plate in the shade.
How to decorate Summer Cookies?
Glazed frosting, fruity-flavored candy, candied citrus zest, chocolate chips, and M&M’s are all excellent ways to decorate summer cookies. In addition to adding an explosion of flavor, these toppings add fun summery color.
