Easy & Delicious Thanksgiving Cookies: Recipes & Decorating Ideas
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and, of course, delicious food! While the turkey and stuffing often take center stage, let’s not forget the sweet treats. Cookies are a fantastic way to add a festive touch to your Thanksgiving celebration. They’re easy to make, fun to decorate, and perfect for sharing. This article provides a variety of easy Thanksgiving cookie recipes, along with detailed instructions and decorating ideas to impress your guests.
Why Choose Cookies for Thanksgiving?
Cookies offer several advantages over larger desserts like pies or cakes:
* **Portability:** Cookies are easy to transport and serve, making them ideal for potlucks or gatherings where people mingle.
* **Variety:** You can offer a diverse selection of flavors and decorations, catering to different tastes.
* **Ease of Making:** Many cookie recipes are simple and require minimal ingredients, making them perfect for beginner bakers.
* **Kid-Friendly:** Kids love helping with baking and decorating cookies, making it a fun family activity.
* **Portion Control:** Cookies provide built-in portion control, allowing guests to sample a variety of treats without overindulging.
Essential Baking Tools and Ingredients
Before you start baking, make sure you have the necessary tools and ingredients:
**Tools:**
* **Mixing Bowls:** Different sizes for mixing wet and dry ingredients.
* **Measuring Cups and Spoons:** Accurate measurements are crucial for successful baking.
* **Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer):** While optional, a mixer makes creaming butter and sugar much easier.
* **Baking Sheets:** Use light-colored baking sheets for even baking.
* **Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats:** Prevent cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier.
* **Cookie Cutters:** Choose Thanksgiving-themed shapes like turkeys, leaves, pumpkins, and acorns.
* **Rolling Pin:** For rolling out dough evenly.
* **Spatula:** For scraping bowls and transferring cookies to a cooling rack.
* **Cooling Rack:** Allows cookies to cool properly and prevent them from becoming soggy.
* **Piping Bags and Tips (Optional):** For decorating cookies with icing.
**Ingredients:**
* **All-Purpose Flour:** The base for most cookie recipes.
* **Butter:** Use unsalted butter for better control over the salt content.
* **Sugar:** Granulated sugar, brown sugar, or powdered sugar, depending on the recipe.
* **Eggs:** Bind the ingredients together and add moisture.
* **Vanilla Extract:** Enhances the flavor of the cookies.
* **Baking Powder and Baking Soda:** Leavening agents that help cookies rise.
* **Salt:** Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
* **Spices:** Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice are common Thanksgiving spices.
* **Food Coloring (Optional):** For creating colorful icing.
* **Sprinkles and Decorations (Optional):** For adding a festive touch.
Easy Thanksgiving Cookie Recipes
Here are several easy Thanksgiving cookie recipes to try:
1. Classic Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Sugar cookies are a blank canvas for creative decorating. This recipe uses a simple sugar cookie dough and a classic royal icing.
**Ingredients for Sugar Cookies:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
**Instructions for Sugar Cookies:**
1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, and wrap in plastic wrap.
6. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
8. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
9. Use cookie cutters to cut out Thanksgiving shapes.
10. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
11. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
12. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
**Ingredients for Royal Icing:**
* 4 cups powdered sugar
* 3 tablespoons meringue powder
* 1/2 cup warm water
* Food coloring (optional)
**Instructions for Royal Icing:**
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and meringue powder.
2. Gradually add the warm water, whisking until smooth.
3. Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to each bowl as desired.
4. Transfer the icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips.
**Decorating Sugar Cookies:**
1. Outline the cookies with a thicker consistency icing.
2. Thin the remaining icing with a little water to create a flooding consistency.
3. Flood the inside of the outlined cookies with the thinned icing.
4. Use a toothpick to spread the icing evenly and pop any air bubbles.
5. Let the icing dry completely before adding any further decorations, such as sprinkles or edible markers.
2. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
These soft and chewy cookies are packed with pumpkin spice flavor, perfect for Thanksgiving.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 cup pumpkin puree
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
**Instructions:**
1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
7. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
**Optional Glaze:**
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar
* 2-3 tablespoons milk
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies.
3. Peanut Butter Blossoms with Chocolate Kisses
These classic cookies are always a crowd-pleaser and require minimal effort.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup peanut butter
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Chocolate Kisses, unwrapped
**Instructions:**
1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and roll each ball in granulated sugar.
6. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
8. Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, press a Chocolate Kiss into the center of each cookie.
9. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
4. Pecan Sandies
These buttery and crumbly cookies are a simple yet elegant addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup finely chopped pecans
* Pinch of salt
**Instructions:**
1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Gradually add the flour, pecans, and salt, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
4. Shape the dough into a log, about 2 inches in diameter.
5. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. Slice the dough into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
8. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
10. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
5. Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
These buttery and tangy cookies are a delightful combination of flavors that complement the Thanksgiving feast.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup orange zest
* 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* Pinch of salt
**Instructions:**
1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Stir in the orange zest and chopped cranberries.
3. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
4. Shape the dough into a log, about 2 inches in diameter.
5. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. Slice the dough into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
8. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
10. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Tips for Baking Perfect Thanksgiving Cookies
* **Use Room Temperature Ingredients:** Softened butter and room temperature eggs will cream together more easily, resulting in a smoother batter.
* **Measure Accurately:** Accurate measurements are crucial for consistent results. Use measuring cups and spoons specifically designed for baking.
* **Don’t Overmix:** Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
* **Chill the Dough:** Chilling the dough allows the gluten to relax, preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking. It also makes the dough easier to handle.
* **Use Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats:** These prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheet and make cleanup easier.
* **Don’t Overbake:** Overbaked cookies will be dry and crumbly. Bake until the edges are lightly golden brown.
* **Let Cookies Cool Completely:** Cooling the cookies on a cooling rack allows air to circulate, preventing them from becoming soggy.
Creative Thanksgiving Cookie Decorating Ideas
Decorating cookies is a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving celebration. Here are some ideas:
* **Fall Colors:** Use food coloring to create icing in autumn hues like red, orange, yellow, and brown.
* **Leaf Designs:** Use leaf-shaped cookie cutters or create leaf designs with icing.
* **Turkey Decorations:** Use turkey-shaped cookie cutters or create turkey designs with icing, sprinkles, and edible markers.
* **Pumpkin and Acorn Motifs:** Use pumpkin and acorn-shaped cookie cutters or create these designs with icing.
* **Sprinkles and Edible Glitter:** Add a touch of sparkle with sprinkles and edible glitter.
* **Nuts and Candies:** Decorate cookies with chopped nuts, candy corn, or other Thanksgiving-themed candies.
* **Edible Markers:** Use edible markers to draw details on your cookies.
* **Fondant Decorations:** Create intricate fondant decorations to add a professional touch.
* **Royal Icing Techniques:** Experiment with different royal icing techniques, such as wet-on-wet decorating, flooding, and piping.
Storage Tips for Thanksgiving Cookies
To keep your Thanksgiving cookies fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
* **Cool Completely Before Storing:** Make sure the cookies are completely cool before storing them to prevent them from becoming soggy.
* **Store in an Airtight Container:** Store the cookies in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.
* **Separate Different Types of Cookies:** If you’re storing different types of cookies together, separate them with parchment paper to prevent them from absorbing each other’s flavors.
* **Store at Room Temperature:** Most cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.
* **Freeze for Longer Storage:** For longer storage, you can freeze the cookies in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before serving.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving cookies are a delightful addition to any Thanksgiving celebration. With these easy recipes and decorating ideas, you can create a festive and delicious assortment of treats that will impress your guests and create lasting memories. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake some unforgettable Thanksgiving cookies!