We’ve taken our favorite Sugar Cookie base and added candy corn feathers and candy eyeballs to make the CUTEST Thanksgiving turkey cookies you’ve ever seen!
The hint of almond is our secret weapon and what really makes them irresistible, plus the fact that they’re super fun to decorate! Get the kids and the whole family together to create these bird-themed cookies for the big day.
For more Turkey Day fun, try these adorable Oreo Turkeys, or for a savory option, this Turkey Veggie Tray.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Adorable and delicious. These turkey cookies are SO cute and festive – perfect for celebrations! They also taste just as good as they look.
- Kid-friendly. The decorating especially is easy and fun! It’s a great activity to get everyone involved.
- Prep ahead of time. Easily make the cookie base ahead to leave more time for the other party planning!
Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies Ingredients
Cookies
- ¾ cup unsalted butter – or salted butter, How to Soften Butter Quickly
- 8 ounces cream cheese – softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour – see How to Measure Flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt – omit if using salted butter
Frosting and Decorations
- ⅓ cup butter, softened
- 4½ cups powdered sugar – sifted
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- orange food coloring
- Miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – 1 per cookie
- candy eyeballs – 2 per cookie
- candy corn – 7 per cookie
- brown sprinkles
How to Make Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- DOUGH. Add ¾ cup butter, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon almond extract to a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or kitchen aid to cream them together until fluffy.
- In a separate bowl sift together the dry ingredients- 2¾ cups flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Once combined add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until soft dough forms.
- BAKE. Roll out the sugar cookie dough. Thin dough will make a crunchier cookie. For a softer cookie roll the dough to about ⅜ inches thick. Cut the dough with a 3-inch round cookie cutter. {NOTE: Try not to handle the dough too much}
- Place the cookie cutouts onto a greased baking pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool.
- FROSTING. Add ⅓ cup butter, 4½ cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and ½ teaspoon almond to a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to combine.
- DECORATE. In a small bowl, add ¼ cup frosting and orange food coloring. Frost the cookies white and sprinkle with brown sprinkles.
- Decorate each cookie by adding a Reeses’s to the middle with candy corn around the top of the Reese’s.
- Add candy eyeballs using frosting for glue and pipe on orange frosting feet.
Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies Recipe
Thanksgiving sugar cookies decorated like turkeys are soft, adorable, and fun to make with kids for the holiday table or class parties!
Ingredients
Cookie
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2¾ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting and Decorations
- ⅓ cup butter, softened
- 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- orange food coloring
- Miniature Reese's, candy eyeballs, candy corn, brown sprinkles
Instructions
Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Add the butter, cream cheese, sugars, egg, and almond to a large bowl. Use a hand mixer or kitchen aid to cream them until fluffy.
- In a separate bowl sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. Once combined, add the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture. Mix until soft dough forms.
- Roll out the dough. Thin dough will make a crunchier cookie. For a softer cookie roll the dough to about ⅜ inches thick. Cut the dough with a 3-inch round cookie cutter. {NOTE: Try not to handle the dough too much}
- Place the cookie cutouts onto a greased baking pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool.
Frosting
- Make the frosting by adding the butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond to a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to combine.
Decorate
- Add ¼ cup of the frosting and orange food coloring to a small bowl and mix. Frost the cookies and sprinkle with brown sprinkles. Decorate each cookie by adding a Reeses’s to the middle with candy corn around the top of the Reese’s. Add candy eyeballs using frosting for glue and pipe on orange frosting feet.
Notes
Each cookie will need: frosting, brown sprinkles,1 mini Reeses Cup, 2 candy eyes, and 7 candy corns.
Pro tip. Instead of making sugar cookies, use refrigerated sugar cookie dough or buy unfrosted sugar cookies from a bakery.
Make ahead of time.
- Wrap the sugar cookie dough with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for 2-3 days or wrap it a second time with aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Unfrosted baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 2 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 426kcal, Carbohydrates: 64g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 53mg, Sodium: 167mg, Potassium: 86mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 48g, Vitamin A: 533IU, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Make ahead of time?
Dough. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days or wrap it a second time with aluminum foil and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Baked cookies. Unfrosted baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 2 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
How to store?
Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. Separate stacked cookie layers with wax paper. For longer storage, add a piece of white bread in the container.
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This recipe was originally published November 2020.
I made these sugar cookies today and they were so delicious! I was looking for the best sugar cookies and your recipe is perfect!!