When Thanksgiving rolls around, we all think about the turkey, the stuffing, and the mashed potatoes. But what about the sweets? Sometimes the dessert table needs a little bit of extra joy. Something beyond the usual pumpkin pie.
That is where these adorable turkey cookies come in. They are one of my favorite Fun Thanksgiving Desserts to make. They are playful, delicious, and bring a huge smile to everyone’s face. Plus, they are surprisingly simple to put together. Let’s get baking!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, this recipe is incredibly straightforward. You do not need to be a professional baker to make these. The steps are clear and the results are always great. It is a fantastic starting point for anyone new to baking.
These are also amazing Thanksgiving Desserts For Kids. Little ones can help with almost every step. They love adding the candy corn feathers and putting the cute candy eyes on the turkeys. It is a wonderful way to make memories in the kitchen.
Honestly, these cookies are just so charming. They have a real visual appeal that brightens up any dessert spread. Friends and family will be so impressed with your creative skills. It is one of the most Cute Thanksgiving Desserts Easy to find.
Another great thing is the taste. You get a soft, buttery sugar cookie base. Then you have the rich chocolate frosting. The combination of candy toppings adds a fun texture and sweetness. It is a well rounded treat.
This recipe for Fun Thanksgiving Desserts is also very forgiving. You can even use store bought cookie dough or frosting if you are short on time. It is all about having a good time and making something yummy.
Ingredients
Here is what you will need to gather. I have broken it down into three parts: the cookies, the frosting, and all the fun decorations. It makes things a little easier to organize before you begin.
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
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
Step By Step Instructions
Ready to create some Easy Thanksgiving Treats? Let’s walk through the process together. It is simpler than it looks!
Step 1: Prep The Oven And Dry Ingredients
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Getting the oven ready at the start is always a good habit. While it heats up, you can get everything else ready.
Grab a medium sized bowl. In it, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mixing the dry ingredients separately helps ensure everything is evenly distributed. Once mixed, just set that bowl aside.
Step 2: Mix The Wet Ingredients
Now for the wet ingredients. In a separate, larger bowl, beat the softened butter with the sugar. You can use a hand held mixer or a stand mixer for this part. You want to beat them together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about three to four minutes.
Next, add the egg, the extra egg yolk, and the vanilla extract. Beat everything again until it is just combined. The extra yolk adds a nice richness to the cookies, making them soft and chewy.
Step 3: Combine Wet And Dry
Time to bring it all together. Change your mixer speed to low. Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. You want to mix until the dough is just combined. Be careful not to over mix. Over mixing can make the cookies tough.
Step 4: Bake The Cookies
Use a cookie scoop to make dough balls. Aim for about a half tablespoon size for each one. Place them on a baking sheet about two inches apart. This gives them space to spread out a little as they bake.
Bake for about nine to eleven minutes. You are looking for the edges to be very slightly brown. The centers of the cookies should look set. Once they are done, let them cool on the baking sheet for five minutes. Then, move them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Step 5: Prepare The Chocolate Frosting
While the cookies cool, you can make the frosting. In a bowl, cream together the softened butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. Mix until it is all combined and smooth.
Then, add the milk and vanilla extract. Mix for another one to two minutes. This will make the frosting light and fluffy, and really easy to spread on your cookies.
Step 6: Decorate Your Fun Thanksgiving Desserts
This is the best part! Once the cookies are totally cool, spread the chocolate frosting on top of each one. Be generous. This is the glue for all your decorations.
Use the candy corn to make the turkey’s tail. Arrange them in a fan shape around the top edge of the cookie. Three or four pieces usually looks great.
Next, place a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup in the lower center. This will be the turkey’s head. It is such a clever and delicious idea.
Use a tiny bit of leftover frosting to stick on the details. Add two candy eyes and an orange M&M for the beak onto the Reese’s cup. Finally, add half of a gummy worm for the wattle. They turn out so cute!
Let the frosting set at room temperature. After that, your Fun Thanksgiving Desserts are ready to serve. Enjoy the looks on everyone’s faces when they see these!
How To Store Leftovers
If you have any leftover turkey cookies, storing them is easy. Place them in an airtight container. You can keep them at room temperature for up to five days. They will stay fresh and tasty.
The most important thing is to store them in a single layer. Do not stack them. Stacking them can ruin all the cute decorations you worked so hard on. If you need to use multiple containers, that is perfectly fine.
These cookies are great to make ahead for the holidays. I love making them the night before serving them. It is one less thing to worry about on the big day.
Tips
Want to make these Easy Thanksgiving Treats even simpler? Here are a few handy tips. These little tricks can help make the process smoother and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
If you are in a hurry, you can use pre made cookie dough. A tube of sugar cookie dough from the store works well. You can also buy a can of chocolate frosting. It saves a lot of time and still results in delicious, Fun Thanksgiving Desserts.
When making the frosting from scratch, make sure your butter is truly at room temperature. Cold butter will not cream properly. This can lead to lumpy frosting. Softened butter makes it smooth and creamy.
Get the kids involved! This is one of the best Thanksgiving Desserts For Kids because it is so hands on. Let them place the candy corn feathers or add the eyes. They will be so proud of their creations.
Remember not to over mix the cookie dough. As soon as the flour is incorporated, stop mixing. This keeps the cookies tender and soft. Over mixing develops the gluten too much, which can make them tough.
For a clean look, you can pipe the frosting onto the cookies. Use a piping bag with a round tip. This gives you a nice, even layer. But spreading it with a knife works just as well and gives it a rustic, homemade feel.
Conclusion
So there you have it. A wonderful recipe for Fun Thanksgiving Desserts that will be the star of the show. These turkey cookies are more than just a sweet treat. They are a fun activity and a way to create new holiday traditions.
They prove that making Cute Thanksgiving Desserts Easy is totally possible. You do not need complicated techniques to make something memorable. A little creativity and some candy can go a long way.
I hope you give these a try this year. They are sure to bring a lot of happiness and flavor to your Thanksgiving celebration. Happy baking and happy holidays!
FAQ
Can I Make This Gluten Free?
Yes, you can adapt this recipe. Use a good quality gluten free all purpose flour blend that contains xanthan gum. The texture might be slightly different, but they will still be delicious.
What If I Can’t Find Mini Reese’s Cups?
No problem! You can use other small, round chocolate candies. Chocolate kisses, ROLOs, or even small chocolate truffles would work well as the turkey’s head. Get creative with what you can find.
Are These Cookies Good For Making Ahead Of Time?
Absolutely. They are one of the best Fun Thanksgiving Desserts to prepare in advance. You can bake and decorate them a day or two before. Just store them properly in an airtight container.
How Do I Get The Candy To Stick?
The chocolate frosting acts like a glue. For the smaller pieces like the eyes and beak, you can dab a tiny bit of extra frosting on the back of the candy. This will help them stay in place on the Reese’s cup.
Turkey Cookies (Fun Thanksgiving Desserts)
These adorable turkey cookies are a fun, easy, and delicious treat for Thanksgiving. With a soft sugar cookie base, rich chocolate frosting, and playful candy decorations, they bring smiles to everyone’s face. Perfect for family baking and a charming addition to any dessert table.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate, larger bowl, beat the softened butter with the sugar until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes). You can use a hand held mixer or a stand mixer for this part. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract; beat until just combined.
- Change your mixer speed to low. Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough is just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Use a cookie scoop to make half-tablespoon sized dough balls. Place them on a baking sheet about two inches apart. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until edges are slightly brown. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While cookies cool, make the frosting. In a bowl, cream together the softened butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder until smooth. Add the milk and vanilla extract; mix for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Once cookies are cool, spread chocolate frosting generously on each. Arrange candy corn in a fan shape at the top for the turkey’s tail. Place a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup in the lower center for the head. Use a tiny bit of frosting to stick two candy eyes and an orange M&M (beak) onto the Reese’s cup. Add half a gummy worm for the wattle. Let frosting set at room temperature before serving.
Notes
If you have any leftover turkey cookies, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. Store them in a single layer to protect the decorations.
For a quicker version, use pre-made cookie dough and canned chocolate frosting.
Ensure your butter is truly at room temperature for both the cookies and frosting to achieve the best texture.
Get kids involved in decorating – it’s a fun and hands-on activity!
Avoid overmixing the cookie dough to keep the cookies tender and soft.
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