Print

Quick Thanksgiving Hand Turkey Sugar Cookies

quick thanksgiving hand turkey sugar cookies - featured image
Print Recipe

These quick and easy hand turkey sugar cookies are a fun, kid-friendly Thanksgiving tradition. Made with simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, they’re perfect for busy weeknights and classroom parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (brown or orange for body, any color for feathers)
  • Candy corn (for feathers and beak)
  • Mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
  • Pretzel sticks (for legs, broken in half)
  • Red M&M’s or red hots (for snood)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet mixture, mixing on low until just combined.
  5. If dough is too sticky, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 15-20 minutes.
  6. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness.
  7. Press a hand firmly into the dough to create an imprint. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut around the handprint, leaving about ½ inch of space around fingers. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until edges are just barely golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  9. While cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and vanilla extract. Add more milk a teaspoon at a time until smooth and spreadable. Divide and tint with food coloring as desired.
  10. Once cookies are completely cool, spread a thin layer of frosting over the palm area for the turkey’s body. Use candy corn to create feather patterns along the fingers. Add two mini chocolate chips for eyes, a candy corn for the beak (pointing down), and a red M&M or red hot for the snood. Press two pretzel stick halves into the bottom of the palm for legs.
  11. Let decorated cookies sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes for frosting to set.

Notes

For best results, use truly softened butter (not melted). If using gluten-free flour, chill dough for 10 minutes before baking. Cookies can be frozen undecorated for up to 3 months. Decorated cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thanksgiving cookies, hand turkey cookies, sugar cookies, kid-friendly, easy Thanksgiving dessert, handprint cookies, turkey cookies

Find it online: https://lumalunch.com/quick-thanksgiving-hand-turkey-sugar-cookies-easy/