15 Summer Cookies Decorated with Buttercream

Nothing says summer like a tray full of colorful, fun, and delicious cookies! Buttercream-decorated cookies are not only delightful to eat, but they’re also a canvas for your creativity. From sunny themes to fruity inspirations, these summer cookies decorated with buttercream are perfect for parties, picnics, or just a sweet afternoon treat.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner looking to try your hand at buttercream decorating, these 15 ideas are sure to inspire you.

1. Sunflower Buttercream Cookies

Bright and cheerful, sunflower cookies are a summer must-have. Use golden yellow buttercream to pipe petals and a dark brown swirl for the center. Perfect for garden-themed parties!

🌻 Sunflower Buttercream Cookies

Bright, bold, and full of summer vibes, sunflower buttercream cookies are a sunny treat perfect for garden parties, baby showers, or weekend baking fun. These cookies feature vibrant yellow petals and a rich, chocolatey center that mimics real sunflower seeds.

How to Decorate Sunflower Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Base Cookie: Start with a round sugar cookie or flower-shaped cookie as your base.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Prepare yellow, brown, and green buttercream. Use gel food coloring for rich tones.
   
3. Petals: Use a petal piping tip (like Wilton #104) to pipe yellow petals around the edge of the cookie. Start from the center and work your way out for a layered look.
   
4. Center: Pipe a swirl of dark brown buttercream in the middle using a star tip (Wilton #18 or #21). You can even sprinkle mini chocolate chips or crushed Oreo crumbs to add texture.
   
5. Leaves (optional): Add small green leaves using a leaf tip (Wilton #352) for extra detail.
   

Pro Tip:

Chill your cookies before piping to keep the buttercream from melting. Let decorated cookies set for 30 minutes before serving or packaging.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Sunflowers bloom during the peak of summer, and these cookies bring that same energy to your dessert table. They’re cheerful, colorful, and incredibly eye-catching.

2. Watermelon Slice Cookies

Make your cookies look like juicy watermelon slices with green, red, and black buttercream. Add piped “seeds” for a realistic finish.

🍉 Watermelon Slice Cookies

Fun, fruity, and festive, watermelon slice cookies are a summer classic. With vibrant red, green, and black buttercream details, these cookies are not only delicious but also a visual treat. Perfect for pool parties, BBQs, or summer-themed birthdays!

How to Decorate Watermelon Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Shape It Right: Use a round cookie cutter, then slice each baked cookie in half to mimic watermelon wedges.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Prepare red (or bright pink), green, and black buttercream. Gel food coloring works best for bold shades.
   
3. Red Flesh: Using a flat spatula or piping bag with a round tip, cover the inner triangle of the cookie with red or pink buttercream.
   
4. Green Rind: Pipe a curved band of green buttercream along the outer edge to resemble the rind.
   
5. Seeds: Pipe small teardrop shapes using black buttercream or mini chocolate chips for realistic “seeds.”
   

Pro Tip:

To keep the colors crisp and clean, chill the cookies slightly between each piping layer so the buttercream doesn’t blend.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Watermelon is the ultimate summer fruit, and these cookies capture that sweet, juicy spirit in cookie form. They’re easy to make in batches and ideal for themed dessert platters.

3. Pineapple Paradise Cookies

Give your cookies a tropical twist with piped pineapple designs. Use yellow buttercream for the body and green for the spiky top.

🍍 Pineapple Paradise Cookies

Bring the tropics to your cookie tray with these Pineapple Paradise Buttercream Cookies! Bright yellow and green buttercream transforms simple sugar cookies into adorable mini pineapples — perfect for luau parties, beach gatherings, or just soaking in the summer vibes.

How to Decorate Pineapple Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use a pineapple-shaped cookie cutter, or go with an oval/round cookie and improvise the leafy top with frosting.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: You’ll need vibrant yellow for the pineapple body and leafy green for the crown. Use high-quality gel colors for best results.
   
3. Base Frosting: Cover the body of the cookie with smooth yellow buttercream using a piping bag or spatula.
   
4. Texture Detail: Pipe small crisscross lines or tiny dots to mimic the pineapple’s spiky texture.
   
5. Leaves: Use a leaf tip (Wilton #352) and green buttercream to pipe spiky leaves at the top of the cookie.
   

Pro Tip:

Let the yellow base crust slightly before piping the crisscross detail for a cleaner, raised effect.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Pineapples are a symbol of warmth, hospitality, and vacation vibes — all of which scream summer. These cookies not only taste delicious but also add a bright and tropical flair to your dessert table.

4. Beach Ball Cookies

Bright stripes of red, blue, yellow, and green buttercream turn simple round cookies into playful beach balls. A fun option for kids’ summer parties!

🏖️ Beach Ball Cookies

Nothing says summer like colorful beach balls—and now, you can eat them too! These Beach Ball Buttercream Cookies are playful, eye-catching, and perfect for pool parties, birthday celebrations, or summer BBQs. Their vibrant colors and simple round shape make them easy to decorate, even for beginners.

How to Decorate Beach Ball Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Shape: Use a round cookie cutter to create the perfect base for your beach ball design.
   
2. Color Palette: Prepare buttercream in bright primary shades—red, blue, yellow, green, and white—for a classic look.
   
3. Section Design: Divide the round cookie into pie-like sections (usually 4–6) using a toothpick or light impression.
   
4. Piping: Fill each section with a different color of buttercream using small round tips or spatulas. Leave a small white circle in the center of the ball for an authentic touch.
   
5. Finishing Touch: Smooth each section carefully for clean lines, or pipe outlines for a cartoon-style effect.
   

Pro Tip:

Chill your cookies before adding each color to prevent the buttercream from mixing or smudging between sections.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Beach balls are a nostalgic symbol of summer fun and sunshine. These cookies add a cheerful, sporty vibe to any summer event and are sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.

5. Buttercream Ice Cream Cone Cookies

Decorate sugar cookies shaped like cones with swirled buttercream to mimic real ice cream. Try strawberry pink, chocolate brown, or vanilla white.

🍦 Buttercream Ice Cream Cone Cookies

Sweet, summery, and totally irresistible! Buttercream Ice Cream Cone Cookies are a fun way to bring everyone’s favorite frozen treat to life—without the melting mess. These cookies are perfect for summer birthdays, ice cream socials, or simply as a creative afternoon baking project with kids.

How to Decorate Ice Cream Cone Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use an ice cream cone-shaped cookie cutter. If you don’t have one, a triangle base with a scoop-shaped top works just as well.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Choose your favorite “flavors” like pink for strawberry, brown for chocolate, white for vanilla, or even mint green and purple!
   
3. Cone Base: Use tan or light brown buttercream with a basketweave piping tip to create a waffle cone texture.
   
4. Ice Cream Scoops: Pipe swirls or mounds of colored buttercream on top of the cone using a round or star tip to resemble scoops.
   
5. Toppings (optional): Add rainbow sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or a red buttercream “cherry” on top for extra flair.
   

Pro Tip:

Chill the cookies before decorating to keep your swirled scoops firm and shapely, especially on warmer days.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Nothing captures the joy of summer like ice cream—and these cookies are a fun and festive way to serve the flavor without the drips! They’re adorable on dessert tables and loved by both kids and adults.

6. Floral Garden Cookies

Create a bouquet on each cookie using piped buttercream flowers—roses, daisies, and hydrangeas are summer favorites.

🌸 Floral Garden Cookies

Elegant, colorful, and perfect for summer tea parties, Floral Garden Buttercream Cookies bring your cookie tray to life with piped blossoms that look almost too pretty to eat. These cookies are ideal for bridal showers, garden brunches, or any sunny day celebration.

How to Decorate Floral Garden Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Base Cookie: Use round, oval, or scalloped sugar cookies as your canvas. Chill before decorating for a smooth surface.
   
2. Buttercream Palette: Prepare a variety of pastel and bold shades—pinks, purples, yellows, blues, and greens—for a true garden feel.
   
3. Flowers to Try:
   
   • Roses: Use a petal tip (Wilton #104) to pipe classic buttercream roses.
     
   • Daisies: Pipe white petals with a yellow dot center using a small star or round tip.
     
   • Hydrangeas: Cluster tiny blossoms with a drop flower tip (Wilton #224 or #129).
     
4. Greenery: Add leaves and vines using a leaf tip (Wilton #352) for natural contrast and texture.
   

Pro Tip:

Pipe your flowers on parchment paper first, freeze them, and then transfer to cookies. This gives you more control and avoids smudging.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Summer is all about blooming gardens, and these cookies capture that beauty in edible form. They add a touch of elegance and charm to any dessert table and make gorgeous edible gifts.

7. Lemon Burst Cookies

Brighten up your cookie tray with lemon-inspired designs. Use yellow buttercream and white details to make lemon wedges and slices.

🍋 Lemon Burst Cookies

Fresh, vibrant, and full of citrusy charm, Lemon Burst Buttercream Cookies are the perfect treat to lighten up your summer dessert table. These cookies combine buttery sweetness with tangy lemon-inspired designs that are as pretty as they are delicious.

How to Decorate Lemon Burst Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Shape: Use round or oval cookie cutters to mimic lemon slices or wedges.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Prepare lemon yellow and white buttercream. Optional: add a hint of green for leaves or accents.
   
3. Lemon Slice Design:
   
   • Pipe a yellow circle or semi-circle as the lemon base.
     
   • Use white buttercream to pipe thin triangle “segments” like a real lemon wedge.
     
   • Add a thin white border to define the rind.
     
4. Accent Ideas: Create full lemons, lemon halves, or even lemon blossoms with leaves for variety.
   

Pro Tip:

Add a touch of lemon zest or extract to the buttercream itself for extra flavor that matches the theme.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Lemon is the ultimate summer flavor—refreshing, bright, and cheerful. These cookies not only look like sunshine on a plate but also bring a zesty pop to any occasion

8. Flip-Flop Sandal Cookies

Summery and fun, these are shaped like sandals and decorated with bright buttercream straps, polka dots, or stripes.

🩴 Flip-Flop Sandal Cookies

Fun, colorful, and full of beachy vibes, Flip-Flop Sandal Buttercream Cookies are a whimsical addition to any summer celebration. Their playful design makes them perfect for pool parties, luau-themed events, or just a fun day of baking with kids.

How to Decorate Flip-Flop Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use a flip-flop sandal-shaped cookie cutter, or create your own using a simple oval or foot shape.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Pick vibrant, tropical tones—turquoise, hot pink, lime green, orange, and purple.
   
3. Base Layer: Pipe or spread a smooth base of colored buttercream on the cookie to represent the flip-flop sole.
   
4. Straps: Use a round piping tip (like Wilton #3 or #5) to pipe Y-shaped straps in a contrasting color.
   
5. Decorative Touches: Add buttercream flowers, dots, or sprinkle accents on the straps for extra flair.
   

Pro Tip:

Let the base color crust slightly before adding the straps so the design holds better and looks more defined.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Flip-flops are the unofficial footwear of summer—and turning them into cookies makes for a fun, festive, and edible beach accessory! These cookies bring personality and playfulness to any dessert table.

9. Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Use pink and red buttercream to decorate cookies with swirls and tiny piped strawberries for a shortcake-inspired look.

🍓 Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Sweet, fruity, and oh-so-pretty, Strawberry Shortcake Buttercream Cookies are inspired by the classic summer dessert. With swirls of strawberry-colored buttercream, vanilla cookie bases, and charming garnish details, these cookies are perfect for picnics, tea parties, or any sunny-day celebration.

How to Decorate Strawberry Shortcake Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Base: Use a round or scalloped sugar cookie that mimics the look of a shortcake biscuit.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Prepare light pink or strawberry red, white, and green buttercream. Optional: add a little real strawberry puree for natural flavor.
   
3. Layered Look:
   
   • Pipe a white swirl (for whipped cream) in the center using a star tip (like Wilton 1M).
     
   • Pipe a pink or red rosette or swirl beside it to represent the strawberry layer.
     
   • Add small piped green leaves or vines for detail.
     
4. Extra Garnish: Top with a mini fondant or piped strawberry for an eye-catching touch.
   

Pro Tip:

For added strawberry shortcake flavor, consider adding crushed freeze-dried strawberries or a hint of vanilla extract to your buttercream.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Strawberries are the jewel of summer fruits, and these cookies beautifully capture their sweet, vibrant charm. They’re perfect for both casual gatherings and elegant dessert displays.

10. Rainbow Sunset Cookies

Use a palette of sunset colors like orange, pink, purple, and yellow to create ombre effects or painted skies with buttercream.

🌅 Rainbow Sunset Cookies

Capture the magic of a summer sunset on a cookie! Rainbow Sunset Buttercream Cookies are a gorgeous blend of warm, glowing colors that mimic the sky at dusk. These artistic cookies are perfect for evening garden parties, beach bonfires, or simply celebrating the beauty of summer skies.

How to Decorate Rainbow Sunset Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use round, oval, or even heart-shaped cookies to serve as your sunset canvas.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Prepare a gradient of colors—yellow, orange, pink, lavender, and light blue. Use gel food coloring for rich, vibrant shades.
   
3. Blending Technique:
   
   • Use a flat spatula or small offset knife to blend buttercream colors side by side directly on the cookie.
     
   • For a smooth ombré effect, work quickly and gently blend the edges where colors meet.
     
4. Optional Designs:
   
   • Add silhouettes of palm trees, birds, or waves with black buttercream or edible markers for an artistic finish.
     
   • Sprinkle edible shimmer dust or glitter for a magical twilight touch.
     

Pro Tip:

Chill your cookies slightly before blending the buttercream for cleaner transitions and more defined color bands.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Sunsets are one of the most breathtaking parts of summer evenings. These cookies are not only delicious but also double as edible art—ideal for impressing guests or gifting.

11. Palm Tree Paradise Cookies

Shape your cookies like palm trees or circles, and decorate with green buttercream leaves and brown trunks—add a beach background for flair.

🌴 Palm Tree Paradise Cookies

Bring the island breeze to your dessert table with Palm Tree Paradise Buttercream Cookies! These cookies are a tropical treat that feature sunny beach scenes and palm tree silhouettes, perfect for luaus, beach weddings, or any summer getaway-themed event.

How to Decorate Palm Tree Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use a palm tree-shaped cookie cutter, or go with round/oval cookies and pipe palm trees as the design.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Prepare green for palm fronds, brown for tree trunks, and soft beachy tones like blue, yellow, and beige for backgrounds.
   
3. Palm Tree Details:
   
   • Use a star or round tip to pipe a brown trunk, then fan out green fronds with a leaf tip (Wilton #352) from the top.
     
   • Add coconuts with tiny brown buttercream dots or edible pearls.
     
4. Beach Scene Variation:
   
   • Create a gradient sky with buttercream (blue to orange) and add a palm tree silhouette with darker tones.
     
   • Pipe sand using tan buttercream and sprinkle with crushed graham crackers for texture.
     

Pro Tip:

For a clean, layered beach look, chill the cookie after piping the background before adding the palm tree on top.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Palm trees symbolize tropical vacations and laid-back vibes, making them a hit at any summer-themed celebration. These cookies add a beachy charm that’s both decorative and delicious

12. Honeybee Buttercream Cookies

Pipe buzzing bees with yellow and black buttercream, and add white wings. Complement with flowers or honeycomb patterns.

🐝 Honeybee Buttercream Cookies

Buzzing with charm and perfect for summer, Honeybee Buttercream Cookies are as adorable as they are delicious. These cookies feature bright yellow buttercream, cute bee designs, and floral accents, making them ideal for garden parties, baby showers, and sunny afternoon tea spreads.

How to Decorate Honeybee Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use round, hexagon (to mimic honeycomb), or bee-shaped cookie cutters.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Prepare yellow, black, and white buttercream. Optional: add green or pastel colors for flower decorations.
   
3. Bee Design:
   
   • Pipe an oval yellow body using a small round tip.
     
   • Add thin black stripes across the back.
     
   • Use white buttercream to pipe tiny wings with a petal or round tip.
     
4. Add Florals or Honeycomb: Decorate the background with piped flowers or honeycomb patterns using small star and leaf tips.
   

Pro Tip:

Pipe the bees in advance on parchment paper and chill them—this makes it easy to place them cleanly onto the cookies without smudging.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Bees are essential pollinators that thrive during the warm months, and these cookies celebrate their playful presence. With their bright colors and cute design, honeybee cookies are a hit with both kids and adults.

13. Mermaid-Themed Cookies

Use aqua, lavender, and shimmer-toned buttercream to decorate cookies with mermaid tails, seashells, or underwater scenes.

🧜‍♀️ Mermaid-Themed Cookies

Dive into a sea of color and shimmer with Mermaid-Themed Buttercream Cookies! These whimsical treats are a summer favorite for beach parties, mermaid-themed birthdays, and ocean-inspired dessert tables. With shimmering buttercream and under-the-sea designs, they’re as enchanting as they are delicious.

How to Decorate Mermaid Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use mermaid tail, seashell, starfish, or round cookie cutters as your base.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Mix vibrant ocean shades—teal, lavender, aqua, seafoam green, and coral. Add edible shimmer dust or luster spray for that magical, scaly finish.
   
3. Mermaid Tail Design:
   
   • Pipe scales using a small round tip in overlapping patterns with gradient colors.
     
   • Add highlights with white or metallic gold for dimension.
     
4. Seashells and Ocean Waves:
   
   • Use a star tip (Wilton 1M or 2D) to pipe shell shapes.
     
   • Add piped waves or bubbles using white and blue buttercream.
     
5. Finishing Touches: Decorate with edible pearls, gold leaf, or candy pearls to mimic underwater treasure.
   

Pro Tip:

For bold, clean designs, chill your cookies before layering colors or piping fine details like scales and pearls.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Mermaids and ocean themes capture the magic of summer adventures and beach days. These cookies add a splash of fantasy and elegance to your summer dessert spread.

14. Fireworks Celebration Cookies

Ideal for summer holidays like the 4th of July, use red, white, and blue buttercream to create exploding fireworks patterns on star or round cookies.

🎆 Fireworks Celebration Cookies

Light up your dessert table with Fireworks Buttercream Cookies! These vibrant, patriotic treats are perfect for celebrating summer holidays like the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any fireworks-filled event. With bright colors and explosive buttercream designs, they’re sure to wow guests of all ages.

How to Decorate Fireworks Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use star, round, or rectangle cookie cutters as your base—stars work especially well for a patriotic theme.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Use red, white, and blue for classic Americana style. For non-patriotic events, try neon yellow, purple, pink, and orange.
   
3. Fireworks Designs:
   
   • Pipe a central dot using a small round tip, then pull outward in lines of varying lengths like a burst.
     
   • Layer colors to give the effect of depth and sparkle.
     
   • Add swirl patterns, dots, or spark shapes to mimic fireworks in motion.
     
4. Finishing Touches:
   
   • Sprinkle edible glitter or shimmer dust to simulate sparkle.
     
   • Pipe tiny stars or confetti bursts for a festive background.
     

Pro Tip:

To get clean, sharp fireworks lines, chill your cookies before piping and use a fine round tip (like Wilton #1 or #2).

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Fireworks are a classic part of summer celebrations—and these cookies bring that excitement to your dessert spread! They’re patriotic, colorful, and perfect for backyard barbecues or fireworks-viewing parties.

15. Tropical Hibiscus Cookies

Bring the islands to your kitchen with piped hibiscus flowers in pink, red, and orange buttercream. Add green leaves for a lush finish.

🌺 Tropical Hibiscus Cookies

Bold, exotic, and full of island flair, Tropical Hibiscus Buttercream Cookies are a stunning way to celebrate summer. These vibrant floral cookies bring a tropical vibe to any luau, beach party, or summer wedding, and are surprisingly simple to decorate with the right piping tips and colors.

How to Decorate Tropical Hibiscus Cookies with Buttercream:

1. Cookie Shape: Use round, flower-shaped, or even square cookies as a base to showcase the hibiscus design.
   
2. Buttercream Colors: Choose tropical shades like hot pink, orange, red, yellow, and vibrant green for leaves.
   
3. Piping the Flower:
   
   • Use a petal tip (Wilton #104 or # petal tip) to pipe five large petals in a circular pattern.
     
   • For added realism, use a two-tone buttercream bag (e.g., pink with white or yellow with orange).
     
   • Add a thin buttercream line or dot cluster at the flower center to mimic the hibiscus stamen.
     
4. Leaves & Accents: Pipe lush green leaves around the flower using a leaf tip (Wilton #352) and add dots of contrasting color for extra flair.
   

Pro Tip:

Practice your hibiscus petals on parchment paper first, then transfer them onto cookies once you’re confident with the shape and pressure.

Why They’re Perfect for Summer:

Hibiscus flowers are symbolic of warm tropical climates, relaxation, and sunshine. These cookies not only look like edible art but also add vibrant color and energy to any summer event

Tips for Decorating Summer Buttercream Cookies:

• Use a stiff buttercream: This helps in detailed piping and keeps designs intact even in warm weather.
  
• Gel food coloring: For vibrant summer shades without thinning your frosting.
  
• Piping tips: Try Wilton 1M for rosettes, #104 for petals, and #3 for outlines.
  
• Chill before serving: Prevents smudging and helps the designs set beautifully.
  
• Store in a cool place: Buttercream can soften quickly in summer heat.
  

Final Thoughts

These 15 summer cookies decorated with buttercream are as fun to make as they are to eat. Whether you’re hosting a pool party, picnic, or just want to enjoy the season’s joy, these cookies will surely impress your guests. Let your creativity flow and bring a burst of color and flavor to your kitchen this summer!