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Home » Recipes » Baking Recipes

Thanksgiving Leaf Cookies

Published: Nov 21, 2011 · Modified: Oct 8, 2022 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Fun and colorful Thanksgiving leaf cookies made with colored sugar cookie dough.

I teased some of you on Facebook recently with these gorgeous and festive sugar cookies. I saw the idea on Country Living, but they failed to explain on how create these colorful centerpieces. So...I just figured it out myself. I was really excited about how these came out! I never thought about dyeing dough before, but it worked perfectly and didn't effect the texture or taste at all. A Holiday Home run!
 
Colorful and festive, these Leaf cookies definitely set the tone for any Holiday gathering. Not only are they appetizing to the eye, they melt in your mouth too. Buttery and soft, these sugar cookies are easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and a colorful pallet. And I'll show you how I did it!
 
 
 
Method:
1)    Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
 
2)    In a stand mixer (hand mixer works find too), mix butter until light in color. Add sugar, egg, and milk, vanilla and lemon zest. Beat to combine.
 
3)    On low speed, gradually add in flour mixture until just combined.
 
4)    Using floured hands, divide dough into quarters.
 
 
5) Take ¼ and place back into mixing bowl. Add food coloring and mix to combine.
*Note-start with a small amount of coloring at first. Also, when color was mostly mixed, I took it out and kneaded it until all color was mixed through.
            6) Repeat with the rest of dough. Make sure to clean the paddle and bowl after each color, so you don't mix the colors together.
Edible Play dough?
 
6) When desired color is done, wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hr.
7) Break pieces off of each colored dough and place them next to each other, creating a “patchwork” of color.
 
 
8) Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough to ¼ in thick.
 
9) Cut leaf shapes with a leaf cookie-cutter and place on baking sheet.
 
10) Use a toothpick to outline leaf-veins and sprinkle sugar on top for sparkle.
 
11) Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-9 minutes until edges are just done. Allow to rest on cookie sheet for about 2 minutes and then place on wrack to cool.

Thanksgiving Leaf Cookies

Samantha Ferraro

LittleFerraroKitchen.com

5 from 1 vote
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Servings 36 cookies
Calories 107 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 3 c flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 c unsalted butter softened
  • 1 c sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tb milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Lemon zest
  • Food coloring: yellow orange, green, purple

Instructions
 

  • Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a stand mixer (hand mixer works find too), mix butter until light in color. Add sugar, egg, and milk, vanilla and lemon zest. Beat to combine.
  • On low speed, gradually add in flour mixture until just combined.
  • Using floured hands, divide dough into quarters.
  • Take ¼ and place back into mixing bowl. Add food coloring and mix to combine.
  • *Note-start with a small amount of coloring at first. Also, when color was mostly mixed, I took it out and kneaded it until all color was mixed through.
  • Repeat with the rest of dough. Make sure to clean the paddle and bowl after each color, so you don't mix the colors together.
  • When desired color is done, wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hr.
  • Break pieces off of each colored dough and place them next to each other, creating a patchwork of color.
  • Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough to ¼ in thick.
  • Cut leaf shapes with a leaf cookie-cutter and place on baking sheet.
  • Use a toothpick to outline leaf-veins and sprinkle sugar on top for sparkle.
  • Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-9 minutes until edges are just done. Allow to rest on cookie sheet for about 2 minutes and then place on wrack to cool.

Notes

Inspired by Country Living

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 20mgPotassium: 24mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 165IUCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a comment and 5 star rating!
 
 
 
 
How cute are these? Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
 
And just in case you need some more baking inspiration, try my easy Italian wedding cookies which are incredible easy to whip up and hold for a few days as well!
 
 

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Hi, I'm Samantha! I started this blog for my love of world cuisine and cultural flavors! You’ll find everything here from Jewish recipes, Middle Eastern, Italian and more!

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