Transform sugar cookies into turkeys with this easy Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies Recipe. These adorable sugar cookies decorated as turkeys will make a festive thanksgiving dessert.
Transform sugar cookies into fun and festive Turkeys for Thanksgiving. This cookie recipe is a ton of fun to make and really delicious. We make it every single year!
Get the entire family involved and it might just become an annual tradition for your family too. The kids will love using icing, candy and more to decorate the sugar cookies. Our family also makes Chocolate Acorns and Turkey Cake.
This treat would be so fun to make for class parties or just a fun Thanksgiving dessert for kids along with 89 Thanksgiving Cheesecake Recipes. We have a blast making 97 Easy Fall Desserts and 35 Gluten Free Thanksgiving Pies.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
If you have been hesitant to make cookies with royal icing and a lot of steps, try this easy recipe instead. There is just a coating of chocolate frosting and then the candy is so fun to decorate with.
You do not even have to roll out the dough. Just scoop and bake the sugar cookies. It’s super easy, festive and really delicious! No cookie cutters needed and the flavor taste great.
Ingredients
Cookies
- All Purpose Flour. When baking, it is important to measure the flour by spooning into the measuring cup. Don’t scoop the flour or you risk packing too much into the cup.
- Butter. Soften the butter at room temperature.
- Egg. I used a large egg in the recipe.
- Egg Yolk. Only the yolk and I would use a large egg.
- Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract is best.
Chocolate Frosting
- Powdered Sugar. Sift the powdered sugar to remove lumps.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. Make sure to use unsweetened.
- Milk. I like to use whole milk, but you can use what you prefer.
Decorations
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. You need the miniature size.
- Candy Eyes. These are so much fun.
- Gummy Worms. Cut in half.
- Candy Corn. This adds such a festive touch to the turkey cookies.
- Orange Mini M&Ms. The mini size fits perfectly.
Find the complete ingredients for this recipe at the bottom of the page.
How to Make Turkey Sugar Cookies
- Step 1. Preheat the oven. Set it to 350 degrees F.
- Step 2. Combine the flour and baking powder. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set this aside for later.
Step 3. Get out a separate large bowl. Beat together the butter and the sugar. Use an electric mixer to combine until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then add in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla. You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer.
Step 4. Reduce the speed and slowly add in the flour mixture. Be careful not to over mix the ingredients.
Step 5. Form the cookies using a cookie scoop. Place about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet.
Step 6. Bake the cookies. It will take about 9-11 minutes for the edges to get slightly brown and the cookies to set. Then allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 7. Cream together the butter, powdered sugar and cocoa powder until combined and smooth.
Step 8. Then add in the milk and vanilla extract. Mix for 1-2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Step 9. Spread the chocolate frosting on each cookie.
Step 10. Arrange the candy to make the tail. Then place a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup in the lower center of each cookie. Use the leftover frosting to place the candy eyes, orange M&M and half of a gummy worm to make the face of the turkey. Finally, allow to set and serve.
Storage
Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Make sure not to overlap the cookies so that they decorations aren’t ruined while storing.
Pro Tips
- Candy. You can use different candy to decorate the cookies. Reese’s Pieces or M&M’s can be used to make the feathers.
Rolo candy can be substituted for the mini Reese’s. Feel free to use a piping bag to make the eyes instead of candy eyes. - Store bought cookies. This recipe can also be made with pre-made sugar cookie dough. You do not have to use homemade.
- Frosting. Feel free to purchase chocolate frosting at the grocery store. This will save even more time in the kitchen!
- Food coloring. You can use icing with food coloring to decorate the cookies instead of candy. Yellow icing can be used for the feathers. Add a small amount of dye until it is the desired color.
More Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
- Turkey cupcake recipe
- Thanksgiving Cake Pops Recipe
- Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
- Turkey Cookies
- Pilgrim Cookies
- Thanksgiving Cake Recipes
It’s so fun to make Turkey Sugar Cookies. Make this tasty and festive treat for the holiday season. Come back and leave a comment once you make them.
Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE COOKIES:
- 2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 1/2 cups Sugar
- 1 cup Butter softened at room temperature
- 1 large Egg
- 1 Large Egg Yolk
- 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
FOR THE CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
- 3/4 cup Unsalted Butter softened at room temperature
- 3 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 2 Tbsp Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Brown Food
FOR THE DECORATIONS:
- 24 Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- 48 Candy Eyes
- 1 bag Candy Corn
- 24 Orange Mini M&Ms
- 24 Gummy Worms cut in half
Instructions
FOR THE COOKIES:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Then set aside. In a separate bowl, beat together with either a hand held mixer or a stand up mixer the butter with the sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy (3-4 minutes).
- Then add in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla. Beat until combined. Change the speed on the mixture to a low speed and slowly add in the flour mixture until just combined. Be careful not to over mix the ingredients.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop the cookie dough into approximately ½ Tbsp size balls onto the baking sheet approximately 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges are very slightly brown and the cookies are set.
- Then allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
FOR THE FROSTING:
- Cream together the butter, powdered sugar and cocoa powder until combined and smooth.
- Then add in the milk and vanilla extract and mix for 1-2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
FOR THE DECORATIONS:
- Decorate the top of each cookie with the chocolate frosting.
- Then use the candy corn to make the tail of the turkeys around the top of the cookies.
- Then place a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup in the lower center of each cookie.
- Use the leftover frosting to place the candy eyes, orange M&M and half of a gummy worm to make the face of the turkey on the miniature Reese’s peanut butter cup.
- Let the frosting set at room temperature and then the cookies are ready to serve and enjoy!
