36 Summer Cookie Recipes

Who says you can’t enjoy sweet treats during the warmer months of the year? If you, like me, have a sweet tooth and love eating desserts all year round, you’ll love these 36 summer cookie recipes. These delicious cookies are great for birthdays, picnics, barbecues, or a 4th of July party.

What cookies won’t melt in the heat?

When choosing the best cookies to bake during the summertime, you’ll want to choose cookies that won’t melt in the heat. A simple way to do this is to avoid cookies with chocolate coatings or with ingredients that can’t stand the heat, like caramel, whipped cream, buttercream frosting, and chocolate chips as a topping. 

Some cookies that won’t melt in the heat include chewy sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, oatmeal cookies, and chocolate chips cookies, as long as they are not left out in the direct sunlight. If you know you won’t be able to keep the cookies out of the heat, you can store them in a cooler with dry ice to ensure they won’t melt.

Best Summer Cookie Recipes

If you’re planning a party this summer, you’ll want to serve any of these 36 summer cookie recipes. These flavorful summer cookies are not only refreshing but also very easy to make!

Pineapple Coconut No Bake Cookies

These no-bake pineapple and coconut cookies taste just like a glass of Piña Colada!

Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies

The cream cheese filling in these strawberry cheesecake cookies makes for the most refreshing dessert for a warm summer day.

cookies with a lime glaze - summer cookie recipes

Margarita Cookies

If you’re planning a barbecue or get-together with your loved ones this summer, you’ll want to make these jaw-dropping margarita cookies with tequila-lime glaze.

White Chocolate And Macadamia Nut Cookies

The cookie dough for these white chocolate chip cookies can be made in under 5 minutes with only two bowls, a hand mixer, and a baking sheet.

No Bake Chocolate Cookies

These simple chocolate no-bake cookies are perfect for any time of the year.

Cherry Shortbread Cookies

These cherry and almond shortbread cookies are the perfect dessert after a long day of work.

Meringue Cookies

These easy meringue cookies are so soft, they’ll melt in your mouth! 

homemade ice cream sandwiches rolled in nuts

Ice Cream Sandwiches

There’s no better way to cool off on a warm day than with these brownie cookie ice cream sandwiches!

Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies

To make the curd for these delicious lemon thumbprint cookies you’ll only need eggs, sugar, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

4th of July Pinwheel Cookies

If you’re looking for an eye-catching dessert for a 4th of July party, these red, white, and blue pinwheel cookies are the best option.

Patriotic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Don’t be afraid to play with food colorings to make these white, and blue chocolate chip cookies

Sand Dollar Cookies

These snickerdoodle sand dollars are the perfect cookie for a pool party!

watermelon slice cookies - summer cookie recipes

Watermelon Slice Cookies

If you want to wow your friends and family, give these delicious watermelon slice butter cookies a try.

Coconut Key Lime Cookies

The sweet and tangy flavors of these coconut and key lime cookies make for a refreshing summertime dessert. 

Birthday Cake Cookies

These birthday cookies topped with funfetti sprinkles are the perfect treat for a children’s birthday party.

Summer-Themed Sugar Cookies

If you have kids, making these pool party cookies or these beach ball sugar cookies with them is a sure way to bond and spend more time together!

espresso-cookies-with-sea-salt

Espresso Cookies

These chewy espresso cookies have a rich flavor and chocolate chunks that will melt in your mouth!

Neapolitan Cookies

These colorful Neapolitan cookies are the perfect treat for a birthday party or picnic.

Flip Flop Cookies

These cute flip flop cookies are the perfect snack for a pool or birthday party this summer!

Easy Lemon Cookies

Citrus cookies are a classic summertime dessert and these delicious lemon poppy seed cookies are no exception!

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

Be prepared to go back to your childhood because these orange cookies topped with cream cheese taste just like an orange creamsicle! 

oatmeal raisin cookies gluten free

Oatmeal Cookies

These gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookies are delicious and can be made with less than 10 ingredients, including pantry staples such as vanilla extract, eggs, baking soda, and sugar.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

These chewy chocolate sugar cookies are crunchy on the outside but soft and tender on the inside.

Peanut Butter Cookies

These 5-ingredient peanut butter cookies have no flour or butter, so they’re the perfect gluten-free and dairy-free treat for summer.

Whoopie Pies

These red velvet whoopie pies are the perfect treat for an outdoor movie night in the summer!

S’mores Cookies

These s’mores cookie cups have all the elements of traditional s’mores, including a graham cracker base, toasted marshmallows, and melted chocolate, but in a mess-free presentation!

Coconut Macaroons - summer cookie recipes

Coconut Macaroons

There’s no easiest dessert than these chewy coconut macaroons, they’re made in one bowl and require only five ingredients!

Lemon Mascarpone Cookies

These simple lemon and mascarpone cookies are best served with a simple powdered sugar glaze on top.

Raspberry Cookie Bars

These delicious, melt-in-your-mouth raspberry streusel bars are so good, you’ll want to eat them all day long!

Berry-Cream Cookie Snaps

These berries and cream cookie snaps are the perfect summer cookies, they’re crispy on the outside with a smooth and tasty filling inside. 

Fruit Pizza Cookies

These individual fruit pizza cookies are a healthy and refreshing treat for a warm, sunny day.

neiman marcus chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

These delicious chocolate chip cookies are so simple to make and perfect for any occasion!

Star-Shaped Cookies

These star cookies with royal icing and sprinkles are perfect for a 4th of July celebration!

Peach Cobbler Cookies

Trust me, you won’t be able to leave these crispy peach cobbler cookie cups alone once they come out of the oven!

Peanut Butter Bites

These sweet and salty peanut butter bites are so simple to make, they’re the perfect simple snack for a movie night.

Mojito Cookies

These chewy mojito cookies combine rum, mint, lime, and sugar for a refreshing summer treat!

Cookie Substitution FAQs

What if I don’t have vanilla extract?

If you don’t have vanilla extract, that’s fine. There are lots of ingredients you can use as a vanilla extract substitute.

What if I don’t have Baking soda?

If you find your cabinet missing the critical ingredient of baking soda, that’s ok. There are quite a few baking soda substitutes you can use.

What if I don’t have coconut sugar?

If you’re recipe calls for the unexpected ingredient of coconut sugar, but you don’t have it, that’s also ok. Here are quite a few options to use as coconut sugar substitutes.

What If i don’t have baking powder?

If you’re also out of baking powder, that’s ok. Check out these baking powder substitutes.

What if I don’t have vegetable oil?

Don’t have vegetable oil? That’s ok. You can use many oils as a substitute for vegetable oil.

What if I don’t have whole milk?

Not a whole milk drinker, but need some for a recipe? Here are some whole milk substitutes.

What If don’t have honey?

Out of honey? Try a honey substitute instead.

More Summer Recipes

37 Summer Casseroles

16 Summer Beef Recipes

32 Summer Chicken Recipes

Have questions or suggestions about these summer cookie recipes? Leave them in the comments below.

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