12 Thanksgiving cookies recipes

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Thanksgiving is the perfect time to share sweet moments — and what better way than with a tray of homemade cookies?

From pumpkin spice classics to cute turkey-shaped treats, Thanksgiving cookies bring both comfort and creativity to your dessert table.

Here are 12 Thanksgiving cookie recipes that are easy to make, fun to decorate, and sure to impress your guests.

1. Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

Soft, chewy, and full of warm spices — these cookies taste just like Thanksgiving in every bite.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • ½ tsp nutmeg

  • ½ cup pumpkin purée

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 egg

  • ½ cup butter

Instructions:

  1. Mix flour, baking powder, and spices.

  2. In another bowl, beat butter, sugar, pumpkin, and egg.

  3. Combine both mixtures to form dough.

  4. Roll, cut with leaf cutters, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.

2. Maple Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Buttery shortbread cookies with maple and pecans — a sweet, nutty treat.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter

  • ½ cup maple syrup

  • ½ cup chopped pecans

  • 2 cups flour

  • Pinch of salt

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and maple syrup together.

  2. Add flour and salt, mix, then stir in pecans.

  3. Shape dough into a log, chill for 30 minutes.

  4. Slice and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 15 minutes.

3. Turkey-Shaped Sugar Cookies

A fun cookie to decorate with the kids using colorful icing.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ¾ cups flour

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup butter

  • 1 egg

  • Royal icing in fall colors

Instructions:

  1. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt.

  2. Cream butter, sugar, and egg until smooth.

  3. Combine, roll dough, and cut turkey shapes.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes, cool, and decorate.

4. Apple Pie Thumbprint Cookies

Sweet apple filling meets buttery cookie dough — like mini pies in one bite.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups flour

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ cup sugar

  • ½ tsp cinnamon

  • ½ cup apple pie filling

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and sugar. Add flour and cinnamon.

  2. Roll dough into balls and press a thumbprint in the center.

  3. Fill with apple pie filling.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12 minutes.

5. Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Chewy cookies filled with oats, cranberries, and a hint of orange zest.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 2 cups oats

  • 1 cup flour

  • ½ cup dried cranberries

  • 1 tsp orange zest

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and sugar.

  2. Add oats, flour, cranberries, and zest.

  3. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.

6. Pecan Pie Cookies

Tastes just like pecan pie, but in cookie form!

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups flour

  • ½ cup butter

  • ¼ cup sugar

  • ½ cup chopped pecans

  • ¼ cup corn syrup

  • 1 egg yolk

Instructions:

  1. Make cookie dough with flour, butter, and sugar.

  2. Form small cups on a baking sheet.

  3. Fill with pecans, egg yolk, and corn syrup mixture.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–15 minutes.

7. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft pumpkin cookies loaded with chocolate chips for a cozy twist.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup pumpkin purée

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

  1. Mix butter, sugar, and pumpkin.

  2. Add flour and cinnamon.

  3. Stir in chocolate chips.

  4. Drop spoonfuls and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.

8. Caramel Apple Cookies

A chewy cookie with bits of apple and caramel — pure fall flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • 1 apple (chopped)

  • ½ cup caramel bits

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and sugar.

  2. Add flour, then mix in apple and caramel bits.

  3. Scoop onto baking sheet.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12 minutes.

9. Brown Butter Pecan Cookies

Nutty brown butter gives these cookies a deep, rich flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup browned butter

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup chopped pecans

  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Brown butter and let it cool.

  2. Mix in sugar, egg, and flour.

  3. Add pecans and mix well.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.

10. Ginger Molasses Cookies

Soft, spicy, and sweet — perfect for Thanksgiving and beyond.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • ½ cup molasses

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 tsp ginger

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

  1. Mix butter, sugar, and molasses.

  2. Add flour and spices.

  3. Roll into balls, coat in sugar.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.

11. Snickerdoodle Cookies

Classic cinnamon sugar cookies everyone will love.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ¾ cups flour

  • 1 ½ cups sugar

  • ½ cup butter

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

  1. Mix butter, sugar, and eggs.

  2. Add flour.

  3. Roll dough balls in cinnamon sugar.

  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes.

12. Sweet Potato Cookies with Marshmallow Frosting

A fun twist — soft sweet potato cookies topped with marshmallow cream.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup mashed sweet potato

  • 1 cup flour

  • ½ cup sugar

  • ½ cup butter

  • Marshmallow fluff for topping

Instructions:

  1. Mix sweet potato, butter, sugar, and flour.

  2. Drop spoonfuls on a baking sheet.

  3. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12 minutes.

  4. Top with marshmallow fluff after cooling.

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