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Family gatherings, hearty laughter, and the comforting joy of home-cooked meals are the heart of this cherished holiday. While organizing the perfect festive menu, why not add a pinch of whimsy and delight with Pillsbury’s Thanksgiving cookies? This year, I decided to infuse our family gathering with a touch of creativity—a baking project that’s delicious and fun!
How to make Pillsbury’s Thanksgiving Cookies
Pillsbury’s Thanksgiving Cookies are seasonal cookie dough products shaped like turkeys, pumpkins, and other fall-themed designs. They’re pre-made dough that you slice, bake, and enjoy.
Ingredients:
- 1 package of Pillsbury’s pre-made sugar cookie dough (You can use the refrigerated dough or the pre-shaped holiday-themed cookies if available)
- All-purpose flour (to dust the surface for rolling out dough if using the refrigerated dough)
- Assorted icings (colors depending on your design, often orange, red, brown, and yellow for Thanksgiving themes)
- Decorations like candy corn, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, or edible eyes (for turkey designs)
Instructions:
Using Refrigerated Dough:
- Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the Pillsbury package, typically around 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or lightly greasing them.
- Flour your work surface lightly and roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out cookies using a round cookie cutter or just create simple traditional circles by hand for a turkey shape.
- Place cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space between them for slight spreading.
- Bake according to the package directions, usually between 10 to 14 minutes, until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
- The cookies should cool on the baking sheet for a minute before being transferred to a wire rack to cool completely.
Using Pre-Shaped Dough:
- Preheat your oven as directed on the package.
- Arrange the pre-shaped cookies on your baking sheet, spacing them out as directed.
- Bake the cookies according to the package instructions until the edges are set.
- Allow them to cool as mentioned previously for the refrigerated dough.
Decorating:
- Once the cookies have completely cooled, start decorating with icing to outline and fill in areas that resemble turkey feathers and other features.
- Use candy corn for beaks and tails, mini chocolate chips for eyes, and other decorations as desired.
- Allow the icing to set for several hours to prevent smudging.
Tips:
- Work with Cool Dough: If the dough becomes too warm and sticky while you’re working, place it in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up.
- Even Thickness: Roll the dough to even thickness to ensure uniform baking.
- Decoration Tools: For more control over your icing, use small piping bags with fine tips or even zip-top bags with a tiny corner snipped off.
- Let Them Cool: Don’t rush the decorating process; make sure cookies are completely cool to prevent icing from melting.
- Storage: Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh.
- Raw Edible Option: If using the pre-shaped dough that’s safe to eat raw, you can even skip the baking for some of the cookies and enjoy them as a no-bake treat!
What to serve with
When it comes to deciding what to serve with Pillsbury’s Thanksgiving cookies, the possibilities are as generous and inviting as the holiday itself.
Warm Beverages
- Hot Cocoa: Nothing pairs with cookies quite like a warm mug of hot chocolate. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg on top for a festive twist.
- Apple Cider: Serve warm spiced apple cider; its tangy sweetness complements the richness of the cookies.
- Coffee and Tea: Offer a variety of coffees and teas. A robust coffee or a spiced chai tea can balance the sweetness of the cookies with their aromatic bitterness.
Cold Beverages
- Milk: A classic choice, cold milk—whether dairy or plant-based—is always a hit with cookies. Consider offering flavored milk options like chocolate or strawberry for the kids.
- Iced Tea or Lemonade: A refreshing glass of iced tea or homemade lemonade can cleanse the palate between different cookie flavors.
Ingredients Substitutes
Pillsbury’s Thanksgiving Cookies come pre-made and ready to bake, making them a convenient treat for the holiday season. However, if you’d like to recreate a homemade version or need to make modifications due to dietary restrictions or personal preferences, you’ll need to substitute various ingredients in a typical cookie recipe.
Flour Substitutes
- All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour: Use an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free variation. Most blends are designed to be a 1:1 replacement.
- Almond Flour: Another gluten-free option that adds a nutty flavor. Note that almond flour does not behave like wheat flour, so adjustments to other ingredients might be necessary.
Sugar Substitutes
- Coconut Sugar: An alternative to white sugar, coconut sugar has a caramel-like taste. It can usually be used in equal parts to replace white sugar.
- Maple Syrup or Honey: For a refined sugar-free option, liquid sweeteners like maple syrup or honey can be used. However, the wet-to-dry ingredient ratio will change.
- Stevia/Erythritol Blends: These sugar substitutes are much sweeter than regular sugar, so you will need less. They work well for those managing their sugar intake.
Egg Substitutes
- Applesauce: To replace one egg, use 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce. This substitution adds moisture and is good for those with egg allergies.
- Flax Eggs: To replace one egg, mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit until it becomes gelatinous. This is a common vegan replacement.
- Mashed Bananas: Half of a mashed banana can substitute for an egg, providing moisture and binding properties, but will impart a banana flavor to the cookies.
Butter Substitutes
- Coconut Oil: For a dairy-free option, use an equal amount of coconut oil in place of butter. Note that it may slightly alter the flavor and texture.
- Vegan Margarine: A straight swap with butter for those seeking a vegan alternative. Vegan margarine can be used in the exact amounts.
- Applesauce: For a lower-fat version, applesauce can replace butter in some recipes, although this may affect texture and density.
Final Thoughts
Remember, the key to enjoying the process of making Pillsbury’s Thanksgiving cookies is creativity and fun. There’s no wrong way to decorate, so feel free to mix it up and add your special touch to the cookies.
More Cookies Recipes:
- Dunkin’ Cookie Butter Cold Brew Recipe
- Crumbl Cookie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Cake Recipe
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Soufflé
Ingredients
- 1 package of Pillsbury's pre-made sugar cookie dough
- All-purpose flour
- Assorted icings
- Decorations like candy corn, mini chocolate chips
Instructions
Using Refrigerated Dough:
- Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the Pillsbury package, typically around 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or lightly greasing them.
- Flour your work surface lightly and roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out cookies using a round cookie cutter or just create simple traditional circles by hand for a turkey shape.
- Place cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space between them for slight spreading.
- Bake according to the package directions, usually between 10 to 14 minutes, until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
- The cookies should cool on the baking sheet for a minute before being transferred to a wire rack to cool completely.
Using Pre-Shaped Dough:
- Preheat your oven as directed on the package.
- Arrange the pre-shaped cookies on your baking sheet, spacing them out as directed.
- Bake the cookies according to the package instructions until the edges are set.
- Allow them to cool as mentioned previously for the refrigerated dough.
Decorating:
- Once the cookies have completely cooled, start decorating with icing to outline and fill in areas that resemble turkey feathers and other features.
- Use candy corn for beaks and tails, mini chocolate chips for eyes, and other decorations as desired.
- Allow the icing to set for several hours to prevent smudging.
