Turkey Cupcakes

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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. They would also pair fantastically with these adorable turkey cookies! These Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies feature a simple sugar cookie with peanut butter cups, mini chocolate candies and candy eyes, offering up an adorable cookie that is sure to be a hit with all ages.

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