Let's talk turkey... when it comes to getting the perfect base for cookies, there's no substitute for using real butter. Now excuse me while I go gobble-gobble these up! Want to make your own? Scroll down for instructions and supplies.
Supplies
Sugar Cookie Recipe: https://goboldwithbutter.com/love-bug-sugar-cookies/
Royal Icing Recipe: https://goboldwithbutter.com/love-bug-sugar-cookies/
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Flower cookie cutter for the turkey feathers
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Paring knife to cut the body of the turkey
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15-second count royal icing in gray, teal, red, beige, golden yellow, white, brown, light red (test the consistency by taking a spoonful of icing out of the bowl and dropping it back in. It should take about 15 seconds for the icing to be completely smooth)
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12” decorating bags
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Decorating tip number 1
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Scriber needle or toothpick
Instructions
- Cut the cookies from a chilled sheet of sugar cookie dough using the flower cookie cutter for the feathers. Use a paring knife to trim the bottom of the cookie to shape the lower portion of the body and feet.
- Bake and cool the cookies according to the recipe instructions.
- Ice the feathers, one at a time, with a base color of your choice and use the scriber needle or toothpick to help shape the icing. Immediately pipe lines of 3 alternating colors. Drag the scriber needle or toothpick down through the middle of the feather, then drag in the opposite direction on the sides of the feather. Repeat the process for the rest of the feathers. Allow the icing to dry about 1 hour.
- Pipe the body of the turkey with brown icing. Use the scriber needle or toothpick to help shape the icing.
- Pipe the head with gray icing and use the scriber needle or toothpick to help shape the icing. Allow the icing to dry about 1 hour.
- Pipe a beak and feet with golden yellow icing and use the scriber needle or toothpick to help shape the icing.
- Add eyes with brown icing.
- Pipe wings with light red icing and immediately pipe lines of beige icing. Drag the scriber needle through the icing using the same technique as used for the feathers.
- Pipe the turkey’s snood with red icing.
Most elegant, yet somehow still whimsical, turkey cookies I've seen! Anxious to make them! The colors are so beautifully subtle. Must find that flower cutter!🌼😊
These are beautiful but look quite complicated!! Still....i think I will attempt to make them!❤
Hi! I absolutely love these and am hoping to make them for a work potluck.
My question is about the cookie cutter. I understand cutting the bottom part but your turkey has 11 feather parts (plus I’m assuming 2 more at the bottom which is where you cut with a knife) and that cookie cutter you linked only has 10 pedal/feather parts. Am I missing something?
Thank you!!
You're right! Looks like this cutter had 14 petals total. Although now searching online, the closest I can find is 16 petals (the 14 petal cutter must be a very old part of my collection). My 10 petal Wilton cutter is a bit smaller, but would still work for this project 🙂
Thank you so much! Just wanted to make sure I was understanding 🙂
Amber, can you explain what you mean by cutting the flower on an angle? Just trying to understand how to cut the actual shape of the turkey at the bottom of the flower. Thank you! These are gorgeous.
Sorry, it's hard to explain! I mean use the top of the cutter, like don't press the full cutter down into the dough. Then use a knife to cut the bottom of the turkey.
I’m making these tomorrow as a test run for Our Thanksgiving ? I’ve never attempted to make these kind of cookies nor ever done royal icing decorations. ???
As always, AMAZING & magnificent!! You are such an artist, Amber!
Can you tell us, Amber what is the brand & pattern of cookie cutter you used & how did you shape the bottom of the turkey?
Hi Terri! I used a Wilton flower cutter (https://a.co/d/aMzIXGL). As long as you can find something with 10 or more petals, it will work! I cut the bottom portion with a knife - so just try to cut the feathers by using the flower cookie cutter at an angle so that you don't cut all the way around 🙂
Correction! The cutter I used has 14 petals, but I'm not able to find the same one online (the closest I can find has 16 petals). The 10 petal Wilton cutter is a bit smaller, but will still work for making the turkey cookie 🙂
Magnificent!
Any chance you could go inti detail of the making of the actual cookie more??? Could you use a small candy. I’m cutter for the base of the turkey???
Yes please I would like to know too! Thanks!
These are absolutely amazing! How did you make the grey color? I'm hoping to try these this year and have most of the other colors available, but can't find a grey gel food coloring.
Thank you, Carole! The turkey's heads are a mixture of black with a little bit of brown to make a warm gray. I use the Wilton Color Right set. I find that I always have to add a little yellow or brown to any black food coloring when making gray because it ends up looking purple otherwise. The brown and yellow help to neutralize it 🙂
Thanks for the tips! I'm looking forward to attempting to make these next month.
Absolutely phenomenal!❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Christine! 🙂
So impressed! You are talented beyond measure! -any chance we could see a video? Happy Thanksgiving!
Nvm, I see it now!
🙂
Thank you, Terri!