Make festive Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies decorated as turkeys! Easy, fun, and perfect for kids’ activities or holiday parties.
Thanksgiving sugar cookies decorated as turkeys are a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday. These soft, sweet cookies are perfect for kids and adults alike, and decorating them can be a fun family activity.
With colorful icing and simple decorations, you can create adorable turkey cookies that brighten up any Thanksgiving table. 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. You might also like No Bake Thanksgiving Desserts You Can Make Last Minute!
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Fun and festive: Perfect for celebrating Thanksgiving with colorful, turkey-themed cookies.
- Kid-friendly: Easy and engaging for children to help decorate.
- Delicious flavor: Soft, buttery sugar cookies that everyone will enjoy eating.
- Great for gatherings: Ideal for holiday parties, classroom treats, or family baking activities.
- Customizable: Decorate with icing, candy, or sprinkles to make each turkey unique.
Ingredients
Cookies
- All-Purpose Flour: Spoon the flour into the measuring cup rather than scooping to avoid packing too much, which can make the cookies dense.
- Butter: Soften at room temperature for easy mixing and a tender cookie texture.
- Egg: Use a large egg for the perfect balance of structure and moisture.
- Egg Yolk: Only the yolk is used; a large egg yolk adds richness and helps the cookies stay soft.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract provides the best flavor and enhances the sweetness of the cookies.
Chocolate Frosting
- Powdered Sugar: Sift before using to remove lumps and create a smooth, creamy frosting.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Use unsweetened cocoa for rich chocolate flavor without added sweetness.
- Milk: Whole milk works best for a creamy consistency, but you can use your preferred milk type.
Decorations
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: Use the miniature size to make perfect turkey bodies.
- Candy Eyes: Add a fun and playful touch to each turkey cookie.
- Gummy Worms: Cut in half to create cute turkey feathers or accents.
- Candy Corn: Adds a festive fall color and works perfectly as turkey feathers.
- Orange Mini M&Ms: The mini size is ideal for decorating details like feathers or accents on the turkey.
Find the complete ingredients for this recipe at the bottom of the page.
Step By Step Instructions
- 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
Room Temperature: Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve the frosting and candy decorations.
Refrigeration: If your kitchen is warm, you can refrigerate the cookies in an airtight container. Allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Freezing: To freeze, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Pro Tips
- Candy Variations: Get creative with different candy for decorating. Reese’s Pieces or M&M’s make great feathers, and you can swap in other colorful candies for variety.
- Substitute Rolo Candy: Mini Rolos can replace the mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for the turkey body if you prefer.
- Make Your Own Eyes: If you don’t have candy eyes, use a piping bag or a small zip-top bag with a tiny cut corner to pipe icing for the eyes.
- Use Store-Bought Cookies: This recipe works perfectly with pre-made sugar cookie dough, saving time without sacrificing flavor.
- Use Pre-Made Frosting: Store-bought chocolate frosting is a convenient alternative to homemade frosting, making the decorating process quicker and easier.
- Color Your Icing: Instead of candy, you can use colored icing for details. Mix a small amount of food coloring into white icing to achieve the desired color. Yellow icing works perfectly for feathers.
- Layer Decorations Carefully: Place larger candy pieces first, then add smaller details like eyes, feathers, and accents for a neat, professional-looking cookie.
More Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
- Turkey cupcake recipe
- Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispie Treats
- 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!
