Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes are one of my favorite bakes over the holiday season. A great fun activity that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages!
Decorating cupcakes in holiday themes is one of my favorite things to do. My Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes are something I loved baking with my own children. It just requires a little bit of creativity to come up with turkey cupcake ideas and designs!
For simplicity my turkey cupcakes are made with a box of cake mix. I think this is particularly helpful when baking with very small children, who don’t always have a great attention span. Very often they just want to get the cakes made so that they can get on with the fun job of decorating them!
However, use whatever chocolate cupcakes you prefer. You can easily substitute a cake mix with your own favorite homemade cupcake recipe. So do what works for you.
My Thanksgiving cupcake decoration is ideal for school parties or a fun day baking with your family. These cupcakes are fun to decorate so I hope you enjoy creating these cute Turkey Cupcakes as much as we did!
How to make these Easy Turkey Cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven according to the cake mix directions.
- Line muffins tins with paper cupcake liners.
- Combine cake mix ingredients and fill each muffin well 1/2 way with cupcake batter.
- Bake the cupcakes according to package directions.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and let the cupcakes cool completely prior to decorating.
- Once the cupcakes have cooled, generously frost each one with chocolate frosting.
- After frosting the cupcakes stand 7 yellow Reese’s Pieces on the back edge of the cupcake, then 4 brown Reese’s Pieces and finally 3 orange Reese’s Pieces.
- Gently press them into the frosting so they stand up looking like the turkey’s feathers.
- Next, unwrap a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and place it on the cupcake for the turkey’s head.
- Give the turkey 2 small candy eyes, using a bit chocolate frosting on the end of a toothpick.
- Use the small paring knife to carefully cute 12 orange Reese’s Pieces in 1/2.
- Use a small bit of chocolate frosting on the flat side to adhere the turkey’s beak.
- Lastly, roll a small amount of red fondant between your fingers and adhere with chocolate frosting next to the turkey’s beak.
- Repeat with all cupcakes.
Recipe Ingredients & Flavor Variations:
- CAKE: I use a box of chocolate cake mix, any brand will work so use what you prefer. If you rather, you can also make chocolate cupcakes using your favorite family recipe. Use what works for you!
- FROSTING: a tub of ready-made chocolate frosting works a treat here. You could also make your own frosting using your own recipe. Alternatively substitute chocolate frosting with a chocolate buttercream if you prefer, although the color will be a little lighter.
- REECE’S PIECES CANDIES: are the perfect colored candies for creating the feathers and the beak.
- RICE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS: form the head of the turkey and give the cupcakes a little height as well as adding great flavor.
- CANDY EYES: for ease I use ready rolled eyes for my turkey cupcakes. If you can’t find ready make fondant eyes you could make your own using ready made black and white fondant.
- RED FONDANT: ready made fondant is quick and easy to use, and saves a lot of time.
Can frosted cupcakes be made in advance?
Yes, absolutely! Once baked and decorated these cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Alternatively you can bake the cupcakes up to 2 days ahead of time. Simply allow the cupcakes to cook, before placing in an airtight container and storing at room temperature. You can then decorate them just before you plan to serve them.
Can you freeze these cupcakes?
Once baked these cupcakes can be place in a container with a tight fitting lid and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to decorate, remove the cupcakes from the freezer and allow to defrost at room temperature. When defrosted the cupcakes are ready to ice and decorate.
Don’t miss these additional fun Fall Crafts & Treats here at When Is Dinner:
- Turkey Popcorn Treat Bags
- Scarecrow Pudding Cups
- Apple Craft for Kids
- Scarecrow Treat Bags
- Pumpkin Spice Playdough
- Oreo Acorns
Turkey Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 box of chocolate cake mix any brand + boxed cake mix ingredients
- 1 tub of chocolate frosting
- large package of Reese's Pieces candies
- 24 mini Reese's Pieces peanut butter cups
- 48 small candy eyes
- Red fondant
- Small paring knife
- 24 cupcake liners
- toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven according to the cake mix directions.
- Combine cake mix ingredients.
- Line (2) 12 count muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- Fill each muffin well 1/2 way with cupcake batter.
- Bake according to package directions.
- Remove from the oven and let the cupcakes cool completely prior to decorating.
- Once the cupcakes have cooled, generously frost each one with chocolate frosting.
- After frosting the cupcakes stand 7 yellow Reese's Pieces on the back edge of the cupcake, then 4 brown Reese's Pieces and finally 3 orange Reese's Pieces.
- Gently press them into the frosting so they stand up looking like the turkey's feathers.
- Next, unwrap a mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and place it on the cupcake for the turkey's head.
- Give the turkey 2 small candy eyes, using a bit chocolate frosting on the end of a toothpick.
- Use the small paring knife to carefully cute 12 orange Reese's Pieces in 1/2.
- Use a small bit of chocolate frosting on the flat side to adhere the turkey's beak.
- Lastly, roll a small amount of red fondant between your fingers and adhere with chocolate frosting next to the turkey's beak.
- Repeat with all cupcakes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 657Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 531mgCarbohydrates: 96gFiber: 3gSugar: 72gProtein: 10g
These are a few items I find helpful in my own kitchen when creating these adorable Turkey Cupcakes:
Wilton 710-2304 W7102-04 Decorator Preferred Fondant 24oz, 24 ounce, Red
REESE’S PIECES Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy, 48 Ounce BagReese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Candy, Miniatures, Party BagWilton Halloween Assorted Candy Eyeballs Set, 3-PacksWilton Elegance Cupcake Liners, 150-CountAutumn Baking Cupcake Liners 150 CT WiltonJetec 10 Pieces Thanksgiving Turkey Craft Paper Turkey with 60 Pieces Colorful Feathers and Dot Glues for Thanksgiving Party Craft ActivitiesCraft Kits Thanksgiving & Autumn | Peanuts Be Thankful Picture Frame Magnet Kit, Foam Cornucopia Door Sign Kit, Turkey Making Kit &Pinecone And Foam Turkey Craft Kit (Makes 12)Gobble Gobble Mad LibsMake-A-Turkey Stickers Thanksgiving Party Games/Favors/Supplies – Set Of 20Fancy Land Thanksgiving Bingo Game 24 Players for Kids Holiday Party Craft SuppliesColonel Pickles Novelties Make A Turkey Sticker Kits Halloween Thanksgiving Fall Crafts KidsThanksgiving Adult Coloring Book: 32 Thanksgiving Holiday Designs Coloring Pages (Adult Coloring Books)
Don’t miss these additional fun Fall Crafts & Treats here at When Is Dinner:
- Turkey Popcorn Treat Bags
- Scarecrow Pudding Cups
- Apple Craft for Kids
- Scarecrow Treat Bags
- Pumpkin Spice Playdough
- Oreo Acorns
Jeryl M. says
These look cute and delicious!
Leah Shumack says
These cupcakes are super cute and will be a nice addition on our dessert table for Thanksgiving from the kids!
Laurie Nykaza says
I love the recipe and how cute are they for the kids to make them for family and friends for Thanksgiving too.
Shane A says
These are very neat looking cupcakes. I think they would be a hit to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. The best part is they have a mini Reece’s in the center! 😉
wen budro says
Those turkey cupcakes look so cute. They would be a most welcome addition to our annual Thanksgiving dinner.
Jeanna Massman says
I love these cupcakes! My grandson would love to help me make them for his class.
Chris F. says
The cupcakes are so cute! When I noticed that Resse’s Peanut Cups are an ingredient, that made them even better!!!
Tracie Cooper says
I would love to make these cupcakes with my niece!
Debbie P says
These are super cute and very clever! And yummy!
Kaycee says
I just love these little adorable turkeys! So cute!
polly says
This will be fun to make with my 2 grandsons. They would love it.
Nerlande says
I love these cupcakes so cute and looks so yummy.
Mary Gardner says
These cupcakes are so cute and look fun to make as well.
Mya Murphy says
These turkey cupcakes are almost too cute to eat!! Yummo!!
rochelle haynes says
I love cupcakes and they are so cute too
LeAnn Harbert says
These cupcakes are really cute and my granddaughters would be able to decorate them by themselves.
Darlene Carbajal says
Those are so cute! I’d love to make them with my niece!
Heather K says
These are so darned cute. I’m wondering if my daughter’s soccer team would appreciate them.
Edye says
These are so yummy and cute! Great for a fall party.
Sandy Klocinski says
These are incredibly awesome! I’m going to try them.
Sarah L says
Those are just so cute. Would brighten up any Fall table.
Natalie says
I would love to make these cupcakes with my nieces! They like to decorate!
Tracie Cooper says
I am very excited to make these cupcakes for my nieces!
Clem says
It looks fun and tasty.
Soozle says
These are super cute! I think they would make a wonderful fall dessert!
Julie Bickham says
These are prefect for Thanksgiving dessert!
shelly peterson says
these are so cute!
Sherry Blamer says
These are so cute! My kids would enjoy helping make these.
Amber Kolb says
These are so cute and they look delicious!! Yum!
Cathy French says
One thing I love about the fall season is it seems we do more baking. I wanna try these cupcakes.
Calvin says
Nice and colourful cupcakes!
monique s says
These are incredibly charming. Perfect for school and office holiday parties