Print

Perfect Cozy Turkey Hand Sugar Cookie Recipe

cozy turkey hand sugar cookies - featured image
Print Recipe

These cozy turkey hand sugar cookies are a happy accident turned fall tradition—soft, spiced, and topped with melted cinnamon candies for a beautiful stained-glass effect. Perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings and lazy Sunday baking sessions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • ¼ cup cinnamon candies, crushed (like Red Hots or cinnamon imperials)
  • Candy eyes (optional, for the turkey face)
  • Orange and red gel food coloring (optional, for the wattle and beak)
  • Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla: Crack the egg into a small bowl, then add it to the butter mixture along with the vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until just combined.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
  4. Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed after each addition. Add about a third at a time, scraping the bowl between additions. Stop mixing as soon as the flour disappears.
  5. Chill the dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk about 1 inch thick, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll out the dough: Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Take one disk of dough out of the fridge. Roll it out to about ¼-inch thickness.
  8. Create the handprint: Press your clean, dry hand firmly into the dough. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut around your handprint, leaving about ½ inch of dough around the outline. Carefully transfer the handprint cookie to the prepared baking sheet using a thin spatula. Repeat with the remaining dough, re-rolling scraps as needed.
  9. Add the decorations: Before baking, press crushed cinnamon candies into the ‘feathers’ (the fingers) of each handprint. Add candy eyes if using.
  10. Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. The centers will look slightly underdone.
  11. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading. Dust your hand with flour before pressing into the dough for a clean impression. Crushed cinnamon candies work better than whole ones for even melting. Cookies taste even better the next day as the spices meld together.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey cookies, handprint cookies, sugar cookies, fall cookies, Thanksgiving cookies, pumpkin pie spice cookies, cinnamon candy cookies

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/perfect-cozy-turkey-hand-sugar-cookie-recipe/