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Cozy Decorated Turkey Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

turkey sugar cookies - featured image
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Soft, buttery sugar cookies shaped like turkeys and decorated with glossy royal icing. Perfect for Thanksgiving baking, these cookies are easy to make and fun to decorate with kids.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 and 3/4 cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 5–6 tablespoons warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Gel food coloring (brown, orange, yellow, red)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet mixture, mixing on low until just combined.
  4. Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  6. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out turkey shapes and place 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
  7. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are just golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
  8. For royal icing: combine powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 5 tablespoons warm water and beat on low for 1 minute, then medium-high for 3-4 minutes until thick and glossy. Add vanilla.
  9. Adjust icing consistency: for outlining, keep stiff; for flooding, thin with water until it flows like honey (10-second rule).
  10. Divide icing into bowls and color with gel food coloring: brown for body, orange for beak/feet, yellow for feathers, leave some white.
  11. Outline turkey body with stiff brown icing using a #2 tip. Let dry 5-10 minutes.
  12. Flood body with thinned brown icing, using toothpick to spread. Tap cookie to settle. Let dry 30 minutes.
  13. Pipe feather dots/lines with yellow, orange, and white flood icing. Use toothpick to marble if desired.
  14. Once body is dry, pipe orange beak and red wattle. Add eyes with white icing or edible marker. Let dry completely (2 hours to overnight).

Notes

Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading. Do not overbake; edges should be just golden. Royal icing consistency is key: use the 10-second rule for flooding. Keep icing covered with damp paper towel to prevent drying. Cookies taste better the day after decorating as moisture from icing softens them.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, Thanksgiving cookies, decorated cookies, fall baking

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/cozy-decorated-turkey-sugar-cookies-with-royal-icing/