Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and pumpkin pie—it’s also the perfect time to create fun, festive treats that little hands will love to make and eat.
Cookies are a wonderful way to bring kids into the kitchen and let their creativity shine.
Whether shaped like turkeys, pumpkins, or fall leaves, these Thanksgiving cookies are as delightful to decorate as they are to devour.
Here are 14 Thanksgiving cookies for kids that will make your holiday table extra sweet.
1. Turkey Sugar Cookies
Start with classic sugar cookie dough and shape them into round bases for cute turkey faces.
Use candy corn for feathers, chocolate chips for eyes, and a little red icing for the wattle.
Kids will love assembling each “turkey” cookie and seeing their feather patterns come to life.
2. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves make these cookies smell amazing as they bake.
These soft pumpkin cookies can be topped with cream cheese frosting for a cozy, melt-in-your-mouth bite.
They’re a great way to introduce kids to fall flavors in a cookie form.
3. Acorn Kiss Cookies
Tiny and adorable, these acorn cookies are made with mini Nilla wafers, Hershey’s Kisses, and a little chocolate to “glue” them together.
They’re no-bake and perfect for little helpers who love quick, hands-on treats.
4. Pilgrim Hat Cookies
Using fudge-striped cookies, peanut butter cups, and yellow icing, kids can build cute pilgrim hats.
It’s a fun edible craft that doubles as a history lesson about Thanksgiving traditions—while satisfying sweet cravings.
5. Maple Leaf Sugar Cookies
Roll out sugar cookie dough and use leaf-shaped cutters to make colorful fall leaves.
Let kids paint them with edible food coloring or tinted royal icing to create a rainbow of autumn shades—red, orange, and gold.
6. Apple Pie Thumbprint Cookies
A twist on classic thumbprint cookies—fill each indentation with apple pie filling.
These tiny cookies bring the taste of Thanksgiving pie in bite-sized form, and kids will love spooning the gooey filling into each one.
7. Cornucopia Cookies
Use sugar cones as edible “horns of plenty” and fill them with mini cookies, candies, and fruit snacks.
It’s an exciting treat for kids to assemble and a fun centerpiece for the dessert table.
8. Scarecrow Cookie Pops
Turn sugar cookies into adorable scarecrow faces on sticks.
Use pretzel sticks for hair, candy eyes, and frosting for smiles.
Kids can decorate each one with unique expressions—perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert display.
9. Oatmeal Raisin Turkey Cookies
These wholesome cookies get a fun holiday twist with candy corn feathers and icing details.
Oatmeal raisin cookies are soft, chewy, and feel a little more “grown-up,” but the turkey decorations keep them playful for kids.
10. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft, chewy, and packed with mini chocolate chips, these cookies are an easy way to get kids excited about baking.
The pumpkin puree adds moisture and flavor while keeping the texture light and fluffy.
11. Peanut Butter Acorn Cookies
Kids will love forming little acorns with peanut butter cookie dough and dipping the tops in melted chocolate.
A small pretzel stick inserted at the top completes the acorn look—simple, sweet, and irresistible.
12. Turkey Handprint Cookies
Trace your child’s hand on cookie dough and cut out the shape before baking.
Once cooled, kids can decorate each “finger feather” with colorful icing and candy eyes.
It’s a creative and memorable Thanksgiving project.
13. Pumpkin Patch Cookies
Create a “patch” by topping chocolate cookies with green icing grass and mini pumpkin candies.
Kids can help pipe the vines or place the pumpkins, turning your dessert plate into a tiny edible garden.
14. Cinnamon Roll Cookies
These swirl cookies are fun for kids to roll up and slice before baking.
The cinnamon-sugar filling gives a comforting, cozy flavor, and a drizzle of glaze makes them extra special for Thanksgiving morning or dessert.
Tips for Baking Thanksgiving Cookies with Kids
Keep it simple: Choose easy recipes with minimal steps for younger children.
Set up a decorating station: Provide icing bags, candy, and sprinkles so kids can customize their cookies.
Make it educational: Talk about Thanksgiving traditions or fall harvest while baking.
Encourage creativity: Let kids mix colors, choose shapes, and decorate freely—it’s about fun, not perfection!
These 14 Thanksgiving cookies for kids aren’t just desserts—they’re a chance to make memories together.
From colorful turkey cookies to cute acorns and pumpkin-inspired treats, every recipe adds a touch of joy and sweetness to your holiday celebration.
So gather your little bakers, preheat the oven, and let the Thanksgiving cookie fun begin.
