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Best Easy Adorable Turkey Sugar Cookies Recipe Perfect for Parties

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These adorable turkey sugar cookies are the perfect fall treat for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or any gathering. Made with a simple sugar cookie dough, royal icing, candy corn feathers, and pretzel stick legs, they’re fun to make and guaranteed to impress your guests.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (pure vanilla)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 3–4 tablespoons water, room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or clear almond extract
  • Candy corn (about 30 pieces per dozen cookies)
  • Pretzel sticks (thin ones)
  • Brown candy melts or chocolate chips
  • Orange and black gel food coloring
  • Small round candy eyes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add egg and vanilla, beat until combined. Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing on low until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
  2. Chill the dough: Divide dough into two discs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  3. Preheat and prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  4. Roll and cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc of dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use a round cookie cutter (2.5-3 inches) to cut out circles. Place 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
  5. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are just barely golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. Make royal icing: Combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, and 3 tablespoons water. Beat on low, then medium-high for 4-5 minutes until thick and glossy. Add more water if needed. Divide and tint with food coloring (brown, orange, black).
  7. Assemble turkey bodies: Pipe brown icing in the center of each cookie. While wet, press 3 candy corn pieces in a fan pattern behind the body for feathers.
  8. Add legs: Break pretzel sticks in half and press two pieces into the bottom of the brown icing, angling outward. Let set for 10 minutes.
  9. Add face details: Pipe a small orange triangle for the beak and two black dots for eyes. If using candy eyes, press into tacky icing.
  10. Let set: Allow decorated cookies to sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours until icing hardens completely.

Notes

Keep dough cold to prevent spreading. Don’t overbake; cookies continue to bake on hot sheet. Work in assembly line when decorating. Use a toothpick for fine details. Make dough a day ahead to save time. Store decorated cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey cookies, sugar cookies, Thanksgiving cookies, fall cookies, candy corn cookies, easy cookie recipe, party cookies

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/best-easy-adorable-turkey-sugar-cookies-recipe-perfect-for-parties/