Fun Hand Turkey Sugar Cookies: Easy Thanksgiving Treats
These crisp-edged, chewy-center sugar cookies are shaped like turkeys using hand tracings, making them a fun, kid-friendly Thanksgiving treat that holds its shape and tastes delicious.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 12-15 cookies depending on hand size 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/4 cups (280g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Gel food coloring (orange, brown, red) for decoration
Instructions
- Cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar together on medium-high speed for 3 minutes until pale and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Beat in the room-temperature egg and vanilla extract for 1 minute until fully combined and smooth.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed, mixing just until the flour disappears.
- Divide the dough into three portions. Keep one plain, color one with orange gel coloring, and one with brown/red gel coloring. Knead colors in evenly. Chill if too sticky.
- Wrap dough portions in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to ensure shape retention.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Trace hands on parchment paper and cut out shapes. Place cutouts on baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
- Roll colored dough into small balls. Attach orange balls for the beak/wattle and brown/red balls for tail feathers, pressing gently into the dough.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown but centers look slightly soft. Rotate sheets halfway through baking.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Ensure butter is softened but not melting to prevent spreading. Do not overmix the dough after adding flour to avoid tough cookies. Chill dough thoroughly to maintain the hand shape. Gel food coloring is preferred over liquid to maintain dough consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Thanksgiving cookies, sugar cookies, hand turkey, kid-friendly baking, fall treats, easy cookies, holiday baking