Go Back
Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies | Fun Snoopy-Inspired Treat for Kids

Turkey Cookies

Soft sugar cookies shaped and decorated like little turkeys with candy corn feathers, a fun Thanksgiving baking project for kids.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 18 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup candy corn
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 18 small orange candies for beaks

Method
 

  1. Cream butter and sugar: Beat the softened butter and sugar with a hand mixer until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. This airy base is what keeps the finished cookies tender instead of dense.
  2. Mix in egg and vanilla: Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing just until smooth and fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl so nothing sits unmixed at the bottom.
  3. Stir in dry ingredients: Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together, then stir into the wet mixture by hand until a soft dough forms. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks remain.
  4. Chill the dough: Press the dough into a flat disk, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm to the touch. This step keeps the cookies from spreading thin in the oven.
  5. Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. A fully heated oven helps the edges set quickly instead of spreading.
  6. Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough to a quarter-inch thickness. Keep the surface and rolling pin dusted so the dough doesn't stick and tear.
  7. Cut turkey shapes: Use a round cookie cutter or a drinking glass to cut circles about 3 inches across, these will be the turkey bodies. Gather scraps, re-chill briefly, and re-roll once.
  8. Arrange on the tray: Place the cutouts about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. If the dough feels soft from handling, slide the tray into the fridge for 10 minutes before baking.
  9. Bake until golden: Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges turn a light golden color and the centers look set, not shiny. Rotate the tray halfway through for even color.
  10. Cool completely: Let the cookies rest on the tray for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool fully, about 20 to 30 minutes. They need to be completely cool so the candy decorations stick properly.
  11. Add feathers: Press 3 to 5 pieces of candy corn into the top edge of each cookie in a fan shape to form the turkey's tail feathers.
  12. Finish the face: Add two mini chocolate chips for eyes and one small orange candy below them for the beak, pressing gently so they stay in place.