Ah, Thanksgiving! It’s that magical time of year when the kitchen fills with the warm, sweet aroma of baked goods, and everyone gathers to celebrate togetherness and gratitude. One of my absolute favorite traditions is making *thanksgiving cutout cookies*. These delightful treats aren’t just any cookies; they’re a canvas for creativity! I remember the first time I made them with my family, rolling out the dough and cutting it into all sorts of fun shapes—turkeys, pumpkins, and even leaves! Decorating them with colorful royal icing turned into a joyful mess but oh-so-fun! Trust me, there’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing those cookies come to life, and they make for a festive addition to any holiday gathering. Plus, they’re perfect for sharing with friends and family, spreading a little sweetness and cheer!
Ingredients for Thanksgiving Cutout Cookies
To get started on these delightful cookies, gather your ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- Royal icing for decoration (feel free to get creative with colors!)
Make sure your butter is nice and soft—this helps create that perfect, fluffy texture when you cream it with sugar!
How to Prepare Thanksgiving Cutout Cookies
- First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This step is crucial because you want your cookies to bake evenly and come out perfectly golden.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This helps distribute the leavening agent evenly, which is key for that lovely rise!
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until it’s light and fluffy—this usually takes about 3-5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it looks pale and airy.
- Now, add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until everything is well combined and smooth. Trust me, those flavors are going to make your cookies unforgettable!
- Gradually add the flour mixture to your butter mixture, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix; we want to keep that tender texture!
- Once combined, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Chilling is essential for easier rolling and cutting.
- After chilling, roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them—they’re done when the edges just start to turn golden!
- Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating with your royal icing. This will make sure the icing doesn’t melt off!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These cookies are super easy to make, even for beginners—perfect for baking with kids!
- They’re a blank canvas for your creativity, so you can decorate them however you like!
- Each cookie is festive and adds a cheerful touch to your Thanksgiving table.
- They make fantastic gifts or party favors; everyone loves a homemade treat!
- These cutout cookies can be customized with different flavors and icing colors for endless fun!
- And let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a cookie that looks as good as it tastes?
Tips for Success
To make sure your *thanksgiving cutout cookies* turn out perfectly, here are a few of my top tips. First, don’t skip the chilling step—this helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll and cut. Also, use a good quality all-purpose flour; it makes a difference in texture! When rolling out the dough, keep your surface lightly floured to prevent sticking, but avoid adding too much flour, as it can make the cookies tough. And when it comes to decorating, let your royal icing dry completely between layers to avoid a gooey mess. Enjoy the process and have fun with it!
Variations on Thanksgiving Cutout Cookies
There are so many fun ways to mix things up with your *thanksgiving cutout cookies*! First off, why not experiment with different shapes? Instead of just turkeys and pumpkins, try cutting out acorns, corn, or even leaves for a colorful autumn vibe. You can also play with flavors—add a touch of pumpkin spice or cinnamon to the dough for a seasonal twist. If you’re feeling adventurous, swap out some of the vanilla extract for maple extract to give your cookies a delightful maple flavor! And don’t forget about the icing; you can use chocolate or cream cheese icing for a different taste and texture. The possibilities are endless—get creative and make these cookies uniquely yours!
Storage & Reheating Instructions
To keep your *thanksgiving cutout cookies* fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay tasty for about a week—if they last that long! If you want to keep them longer, you can also freeze them. Just wrap each cookie individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll be good for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw at room temperature for a few hours, and they’ll taste just as good as the day you baked them. No need to reheat; enjoy them as is or with a cup of tea or coffee!
Nutritional Information
These *thanksgiving cutout cookies* are a delightful treat, and here’s a rough estimate of their nutritional values per cookie: about 150 calories, 7g of fat, 2g of protein, and 20g of carbohydrates. Keep in mind that these values can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes, so enjoy them in moderation!
FAQ Section
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?
Yes, you can! Just keep in mind that the texture will be a bit denser, so you might want to mix it with all-purpose flour for a lighter cookie.
What can I use instead of royal icing for decorating?
If royal icing feels too intimidating, you can use simple powdered sugar icing or melted chocolate. Both give a lovely finish and are easier to work with!
How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much while baking?
Make sure your dough is well-chilled before cutting out shapes. And be careful not to overmix the dough; that can lead to spreading too!
Can I freeze the dough before baking?
Absolutely! You can wrap the unbaked dough in plastic wrap and freeze it for up to 2 months. Just thaw it in the fridge before rolling out.
How do I store decorated cookies?
Once decorated, let them dry completely and then store them in a single layer in an airtight container to prevent smudging!
Thanksgiving Cutout Cookies: 7 Tips for Delightful Baking
- Całkowity Czas: 1 hour
- Ustępować: 24 cookies 1x
- Dieta: Wegańskie
Opis
Thanksgiving cutout cookies are festive treats that you can make and decorate for the holiday season.
Składniki
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- Royal icing for decoration
Instrukcje
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract; mix well.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut out shapes.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Let cool completely before decorating with royal icing.
Uwagi
- Store cookies in an airtight container.
- Use food coloring to tint the icing.
- Experiment with different shapes for variety.
- Czas Przygotowania: 30 minutes
- Czas gotowania: 10 minutes
- Kategoria: Dessert
- Sposób: Baking
- Kuchnia: American
Zasilanie
- Wielkość porcji: 1 cookie
- Kalorie: 150
- Cukier: 10g
- Sód: 50mg
- Kwasy: 7g
- Nasycony tłuszcz: 4g
- Tłuszcze Nienasycone: 2g
- Tłuszcze trans: 0g
- Węglowodany: 20g
- Włókno: 0g
- Białko: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Słowa kluczowe: thanksgiving cutout cookies, holiday cookies, festive cookies
