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Wholesome Hand Turkey Sugar Cookies for Kids

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These Wholesome Hand Turkey Sugar Cookies for Kids are a fun, forgiving Thanksgiving tradition that uses little hands to create edible turkey shapes. Made with a blend of whole wheat pastry flour and all-purpose flour, they are sturdy enough to hold the handprint shape but tender enough to melt in your mouth.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (or coconut sugar)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 3–4 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (gel colors preferred)
  • Candy corn (for turkey feathers)
  • Mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
  • Orange sprinkles or small orange candies (for beak and wattle)
  • Red frosting or red gel (for wattle, if not using candies)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined. The mixture might look slightly curdled; this is normal.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
  5. Chill the dough: Divide the dough into two disks, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  7. Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll one disk of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Keep the other disk in the fridge.
  8. Make the handprints: Have your child press their hand firmly into the dough to create an imprint. Use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut around the handprint, leaving about a 1/2-inch border. Carefully transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
  9. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  10. Prepare the royal icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and 3 tablespoons of water. Add the vanilla and whisk until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional water or powdered sugar as needed.
  11. Color the icing: Divide the icing into separate bowls for each color. Use gel food coloring to achieve vibrant shades.
  12. Decorate: Transfer the icing to piping bags or small zip-top bags with the corner snipped off. Outline the handprint with the body color, then fill it in. While the icing is still wet, press candy corn onto the fingers for feathers, add mini chocolate chips for eyes, and use orange sprinkles for the beak. Let the icing set for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Chill the dough thoroughly for clean handprints. Bake one sheet at a time for even baking. Let the icing set completely before stacking or storing. The dough can be made up to 3 days in advance and kept in the fridge. Baked, undecorated cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: hand turkey cookies, sugar cookies, Thanksgiving cookies, kid-friendly cookies, whole wheat sugar cookies, handprint cookies

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/wholesome-hand-turkey-sugar-cookies-for-kids/