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Best Thanksgiving Turkey Sugar Cookies

Thanksgiving turkey sugar cookies - featured image
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These adorable turkey-shaped sugar cookies are soft in the middle with slightly crisp edges, topped with vanilla buttercream and colorful candy corn feathers. They’re the perfect make-ahead dessert for Thanksgiving that both kids and adults love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (pure vanilla recommended)
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream (or whole milk)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup candy corn (about 4–5 pieces per cookie)
  • Brown candy melts or chocolate chips (for turkey body details)
  • Orange and red gel food coloring (for wattle and beak)
  • Small candy eyes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and sugar: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides halfway through.
  2. Add the wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until fully combined. The mixture may look slightly curdled; that’s normal.
  3. Combine the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Mix the dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Chill the dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll one disk of dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Keep the other disk in the fridge.
  8. Cut the shapes: Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut circles. Each turkey needs two circles—one for the body and one cut in half for the wings.
  9. Assemble the turkey shape: Place one full circle on the baking sheet. Cut a second circle in half and position the two halves on either side of the full circle, slightly angled upward like wings. Gently press the edges together.
  10. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  11. Make the frosting: In a stand mixer, beat the softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed. Add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Beat on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add remaining cream if needed.
  12. Frost the cookies: Using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of buttercream over each cooled cookie.
  13. Create the feathers: While the frosting is still wet, arrange 4-5 pieces of candy corn in a fan pattern on the top half of each cookie, pointed ends facing outward.
  14. Add the turkey details: Melt the brown candy melts or chocolate chips. Transfer to a piping bag or zip-top bag and snip a tiny corner. Pipe a small turkey head and neck shape at the bottom of the cookie, below the candy corn feathers.
  15. Finishing touches: Attach two small candy eyes to the head. Use orange gel food coloring to pipe a small beak and red for the wattle. Let set for about 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Chill the dough thoroughly for at least 2 hours to prevent spreading. Don’t overbake; cookies continue to bake on the hot sheet. Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Work in batches, keeping dough chilled. Pipe turkey details with confidence; imperfect faces are cute.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thanksgiving cookies, turkey cookies, sugar cookies, holiday cookies, candy corn cookies, buttercream cookies

Find it online: https://bitesienna.com/best-thanksgiving-turkey-sugar-cookies/