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Easy Decorated Turkey Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Turkey sugar cookies with royal icing - featured image
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These adorable turkey sugar cookies are a happy accident turned tradition. With a soft, buttery sugar cookie base and a glossy royal icing that sets perfectly, they are the perfect make-ahead project for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4–5 tablespoons warm water
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Gel food coloring: orange, brown, red, yellow
  • Candy eyeballs
  • Black piping gel (optional)

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined—do not overmix.
  5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a turkey cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Transfer the cutouts to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Gather the scraps, re-roll them, and cut out more cookies. Repeat with the second disk of dough.
  8. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. While the cookies cool, make the icing. In the bowl of your stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), combine the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 4 tablespoons of warm water and the vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high speed and beat for 5-7 minutes, until the icing is thick, glossy, and holds stiff peaks. If the icing is too thick, add the remaining tablespoon of water, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consiste…
  10. Divide the icing into small bowls. Use a toothpick to add a tiny amount of gel food coloring to each bowl and stir well. Cover the bowls with a damp paper towel to prevent the icing from drying out.
  11. Transfer each color of icing to a separate piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Start by outlining the turkey body with the brown icing, then fill it in (flooding). Use a toothpick to spread the icing into the corners if needed. Repeat with the orange for the beak and feet, and the red for the wattle. For the feathers, pipe small dots or lines of yellow icing. While the icing is still wet, gently press the candy eyeballs into place.
  12. Let the cookies sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours, or until the icing is completely hard and dry to the touch.

Notes

Don’t skip the chill time—it prevents the cookies from spreading. Royal icing consistency is key: it should be like honey. Work in an assembly line for efficiency. Pop air bubbles immediately with a toothpick. Keep a damp paper towel over bowls of icing to prevent drying.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, Thanksgiving cookies, decorated cookies, easy cookies

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