Since Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, and it doesn't look like the article I submitted will be accepted in time (if at all), I've decided to take KHalstead's advice and just post the tutorial in the forums. Hopefully, someone will be able to use the information! I'll post all the photos last.

I use a cookie recipe similar to the NFSC on this site (it's just a smaller batch size). The icing I use is similar to Toba's Glace: 3 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 T. skim milk, 3T. corn syrup, 15 drops brite white food color. Mix the milk and syrup into the powdered sugar until fully combined. Add the brite white and mix well. Divide and color. Keep the unused icing covered.

Concerning the cookies:

The tail is made by using a sunflower cookie cutter (approx. 3.25" across) and trimming off the bottom portion so it will sit straight on the base cookie. The base cookie is a 3" round. The head is peanut shaped. If you have my cutter kit, this is one of the mini-cutters. If you don't have the kit, cut a piece of dough that is about 5/8"x1.5" and press into the peanut shape.

Directions:

1. Using a #4 tip, outline the tail cookie in brown icing and immediately fill in with more icing in a zig zag pattern. (See photo) Smooth the icing with an offset spatula and move immediately to the next step.

2. Using a #4 or #5 tip, pipe a thick band of red icing onto the tail, then a band of orange icing, and then a band of yellow icing. (See photo). Move immediately to the next step.

3. Drag a toothpick thru the icing, starting at a point on the top of the cookie (one of the points) and pulling down to the bottom. Repeat for each pointed end of the cookie, cleaning the toothpick after each drag. Now drag the toothpick in the opposite direction (moving from inside the band to the outside of the cookie) between each of the previous drags. (See photos). I know this is confusing...that's why a picture is worth a thousand words!

4. Ice the head of the turkey in brown (I use a #2 tip for this) and let dry.

5. Smooth brown icing onto a large marshmallow and set it aside to dry on some waxed paper. (If you don't want to mess with icing a marshmallow, you could use a chocolate covered caramel or mini-reese's for the "body").

6. Once the head has set, add two dots of white icing for the eyes, a yellow beak, and a red wattle. (I use a #1 tip for these details. Make sure your icing isn't too thin). Add a dot of black to each of the eyes.

7. Once all the pieces have dried, assemble the 3D cookie using melted chocolate CandyMelts as your "glue". (If you prefer, royal icing can be ued).

Photo for icing the tail

Photo for tail

Photo for tail feathers

Photo of finished tail

Photo of all finished pieces

I didn't see where I could add multiple pictures per post, so sorry if having to scroll thru all the posts is a pain! I'm more than happy to answer any questions anyone may have concerning this 3D cookie or any of my other cookies. Enjoy...and Happy Thanksgiving a bit early!

P.S. - Any idea how to attach a sticky to keep this at the top for a while until Thanksgiving? Sorry, I freely admit that I'm a computer idiot!

Those are so cute! Thanks for posting taking the time to post the instructions!

I gotta say I will be trying one of your 3D cookies out! AWESOME job putting this together, Thanks

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

This is really nice of you to do! Very cool!

As I mentioned, don't hesitate to ask me any questions! I typed up this tutorial very quickly (before my boss came in!) so I may not have explained some things as well as I could have.

GREAT tutorial! And thanks for taking the time to post this! Just love those turkey tails

that is so super cute gemini. its so nice of you to take the time and put all the instructions and photos. thnx so much! Have a great day everyone!!

Great to see the tutorial. I have your set and LOVE it! Nice to see it all printed out like this.

Thank you so much for posting this, I cant wait to try them. My kids, neices and nephews will love them come Thanksgiving!

Thank-you for sharing! I'm going to do it next week for my son's "Thanksgiving" with his class. I'm sure they'll be thrilled!

Gemini-you did a great job on the tutorial-love your 3D work!!

Thanks everyone for the positive responses! I wondered if maybe the photos were too blurry for CC to use for a tutorial. I hope there are a lot of 3D turkeys gracing the Thanksgiving Day tables of people everywhere!

Just a quick note...change the icing colors for the cookies and you can make peacocks with the same technique.

I can't say thank you enough! Great job on explanations! And, I love the tail technique! I am going to attempt to use the technique on another turkey cookie, too.

Do you think that I could use a snack size snickers or milky way instead of the marshmallow?

Thanks again!

I just wanted to bump this up to the top. I know that we have to get thru Halloween yet, but it never hurts to start planning early. One thing that I have changed since last year is that I now roll the iced marshmallow in brown sanding sugar while it's still wet. Gives a bit of extra sparkle to the finished product.

I am so glad you posted how to do these. I am going to try and make one of these for each kid in my daughters class for Thanksgiving this year.

Thanks for sharing
Sabbrina

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us!

These are some of my favorite cookies to do. They aren't all that difficult, and they are something that most people haven't seen before.

Where can I get your cutter set from?

Love it Gemini, I'm pm'ing you about the set as well!! I LOVE your cookies!

Well I've got the cutter set and it's well worth it! I have a couple of questions (which have probably already been addressed but I didn't see where...) First, do you have a pix on the assembly of the cookie? and Second, what icing did you use?