We love 4th of July desserts - it's probably our favorite part of the holiday. But these aren't the Fourth of July cookies you're used to! 

Sure, we love firework cookies as much as the next person, but we wanted to create a cookie for Independence day that isn't covered in red, white, and blue m&ms, frosting, and sprinkles. Those cookies are delicious, but they leave us with a major sugar crash, and food coloring dyed mouths to boot.

Looking for patriotic cookies for your adult-only parties? Want an easy cookie recipe? We've got you covered! These healthier cookies are still red, white, and blue - but in the form of dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and white chocolate chips (plus some pecans for a little crunch).

We've even gone one step further in the health department to make these cookies using Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead of butter! Our Sola Stella EVOO is the perfect replacement for butter, as it's delicate, light, and even has buttery notes.

So no need to feel guilty for eating cookies this Fourth of July - just make a batch of these festive 4th of July cookies:

4th of July Cookies with White Chocolate and Dried Berries

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Sola Stella Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup dried blueberries
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil and granulated sugar until well combined.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed if you prefer.

6. Gently fold in the dried blueberries, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and chopped nuts until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

7. Scoop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough and place them onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

8. If desired, flatten each cookie slightly with the back of a spoon or rolling pin. This will help create a more even shape.

9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.

10. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

11. Either serve at room temperature, store in an airtight container or wrap in plastic wrap to bring to your Fourth of July party!

Time to Serve and Enjoy!

These cookies are our new favorite to bring to any Fourth of July celebration! Even if they're not blue cookies or made with a star cookie cutter, they capture the red, white, and blue theme, without leaving you feeling sluggish after.

They're delicious paired with some ice cream in a sundae with a little drizzle of our award-winning Blood Orange Infused Olive Oil (like in the mouthwatering picture above).

Want to take it up a notch? Use them to make ice cream sandwiches! Put some vanilla ice cream, and roll the edges in colorful sprinkles or white chocolate chips for a great addition and fun twist.

But nothing is stopping you from making these delicious cookies all year round! They're great for other holidays, like Memorial Day or any patriotic holiday, and are just an all-around perfect treat when you want something sweet, but not too unhealthy.

Our Sola Stella Extra Virgin Olive Oil is truly the BEST EVOO to bake with. With a smoke point of 410 Fahrenheit, you can create most baked goods with this healthier alternative to butter. With buttery notes and light flavors, it's the best oil to use when baking (or frying!).

And don't forget to make the baking process even easier by printing out a recipe card by clicking below!