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Easy Adorable Turkey Hand Sugar Cookies Recipe

Turkey hand sugar cookies - featured image
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These adorable turkey hand sugar cookies are a fun and heartwarming Thanksgiving tradition. Made without special cookie cutters, kids can trace their own hands to create unique, personalized turkey cookies that are as memorable as they are delicious.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 3–4 tablespoons warm water
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract)
  • Orange and red food coloring (gel colors preferred)
  • Candy corn (for turkey beak)
  • Candy eyes
  • Brown sprinkles or sanding sugar (for turkey body)
  • Assorted fall-colored sprinkles (orange, yellow, red, brown)

Instructions

  1. Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes with a hand mixer on medium speed). Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat until combined.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this to the wet mixture in two additions, mixing on low speed after each addition until just combined. The dough should come together into a soft, slightly crumbly ball. If it feels too sticky, add another tablespoon of flour. If it’s too dry, add a teaspoon of milk.
  3. Chill the dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (1 hour preferred).
  4. Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Take one disc of dough out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
  5. Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use ¼-inch wooden dowels as guides to keep the thickness even.
  6. Trace and cut the handprints: Have your little helper place their hand flat on the rolled-out dough. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, carefully trace around their hand, leaving about ¼ inch of space around their fingers. Lift the handprint shape gently with a spatula and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. You can usually fit 2-3 handprints per sheet depending on hand size.
  7. Bake the cookies: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. The centers should look set but not brown. Start checking at 8 minutes.
  8. Cool completely: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Make the royal icing: In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 3 tablespoons of warm water and the vanilla extract, then beat with a hand mixer on low speed until combined. Increase to medium-high speed and beat for 3-4 minutes until the icing is thick and glossy. Add more water, one teaspoon at a time, until the icing reaches a ’15-second consistency’—when you drizzle it back into the bowl, the surface should smooth out in about 15 seconds.
  10. Color and decorate: Divide the icing into three bowls. Color one bowl orange (for the turkey feathers), one bowl red (for the wattle), and leave the third bowl white (for the body). Transfer each color to separate piping bags or zip-top bags. Snip a tiny corner off each bag. Pipe the orange icing onto the fingers (the feathers), the white icing onto the palm and thumb (the turkey body and head), and a small red dot for the wattle. While the icing is still wet, attach candy eyes and a candy corn …
  11. Let the icing set: Allow the decorated cookies to sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours, or until the icing is completely hard to the touch.

Notes

Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading. For best results, chill the cut-out handprints on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking. The 15-second icing test is crucial: lift your spatula and let the icing drizzle back into the bowl; if the surface smooths out in exactly 15 seconds, the consistency is perfect. Let kids decorate freely—wonky icing and crooked candy eyes add charm. Make the dough the night before for better flavor and less stress. Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Do not refrigerate. Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey cookies, handprint cookies, Thanksgiving cookies, sugar cookies, kid-friendly cookies, no cookie cutter cookies, hand turkey cookies

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/easy-adorable-turkey-hand-sugar-cookies-recipe/