Easy Turkey Cupcakes for Thanksgiving

Name: Easy Turkey Cupcakes
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Cupcakes
Ingredients: Cupcakes - chocolate or vanilla; Mini Reese’s Cups; Candy Eyes; Chocolate Frosting; Red Gummy Worms; Reese’s Piece’s

Looking for a fun and easy Thanksgiving dessert that kids and adults will love? These Turkey Cupcakes are almost too cute to eat! Made with chocolate frosting, Reese’s candies, candy eyes, and gummy worms, these adorable little turkeys are the perfect sweet treat for Thanksgiving parties, classroom celebrations, or family get-togethers. The best part? You don’t need any fancy decorating skills to make them!

Thanksgiving can get pretty hectic between preparing the big meal, getting the house ready, and keeping the kids entertained. That’s why I love simple holiday treats like these easy turkey cupcakes. You can start with homemade or store-bought cupcakes, add a few colorful candies, and have a festive dessert ready in no time. They’re also a great Thanksgiving activity for kids who love getting creative in the kitchen.

Whether you’re putting together a Thanksgiving dessert table, planning a Friendsgiving celebration, or looking for a cute treat to bring to a school party, these Thanksgiving turkey cupcakes are sure to be a hit. Below, I’ll show you exactly how to make them, along with a few easy decorating tips to help your little turkeys turn out adorable every time.

More Turkey Treats:

Chocolatey Turkey Pretzel Bite: Need another fun AND super easy turkey treat to make with your kids? These Turkey Pretzel Bites require no baking at all! Just grab a few ingredients and 10 minutes and you’ll have a fun treat. These are perfect for parties, playdates or just a fun snack!

Turkey Graham Crackers: This super adorable Turkey Graham Crackers snack will be the star of the show! Kids and adults alike will most certainly want to give them a try. The best part is they use only 4 ingredients and are oh-so-easy to make!

Turkey OREOs: Thanksgiving is coming right up! Need a super easy treat to make with your kids? These Turkey OREOs require no baking at all! Just grab a few ingredients and in less than 10 minutes and you’ll have a fun treat. These are perfect for parties, playdates or just a fun snack!

Do your kids love to help you make cupcakes? These Turkey Cupcakes are the perfect treat to make with your kids. They are easy and fun and the kids can get creative and make their Turkeys look as goofy as they want.

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these cute Thanksgiving treats!

Cupcakes: Homemade or store-bought cupcakes work perfectly. Chocolate and vanilla are both great options.
Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: These create the turkey’s head.
Candy Eyes: Give each turkey an adorable expression.
Chocolate Frosting: Holds all the candy decorations in place.
Red Gummy Worm: Cut into small pieces to create the turkey’s red wattle.
Reese’s Pieces: Use these colorful candies to create the turkey’s feathers and orange beak.

Instructions

These easy turkey cupcakes come together in just a few simple steps!

Step 1: Frost the cupcakes. Spread a generous layer of chocolate frosting over each completely cooled cupcake. Make sure the frosting is thick enough to hold the candy decorations.

Step 2: Add the turkey’s head. Place a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup near the bottom center of each cupcake. Gently press it into the frosting to secure it.

Step 3: Create the feathers. Arrange Reese’s Pieces in a colorful fan shape around the upper portion of the cupcake to resemble turkey feathers.

Step 4: Add the eyes. Attach two candy eyes to the peanut butter cup using a tiny dab of frosting.

Step 5: Make the beak and wattle. Use an orange Reese’s Piece for the beak and a small piece of red gummy worm for the wattle. Secure them with frosting as needed.

Repeat with the remaining cupcakes, and your adorable Thanksgiving turkeys are ready to enjoy!

Tips for Making the Cutest Turkey Cupcakes

For the best results, let your cupcakes cool completely before decorating. Warm cupcakes can cause the frosting to melt and your candy decorations to slide.

If you’re making these with kids, set out small bowls of candy and let everyone decorate their own turkey. You can even turn it into a fun Thanksgiving cupcake decorating station!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make turkey cupcakes ahead of time? Yes! You can bake the cupcakes one or two days ahead and store them in an airtight container. For the freshest appearance, add the candy decorations closer to serving time.
How do I store leftover turkey cupcakes? Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, provided the cupcake and frosting recipes allow room-temperature storage. Refrigerate if required by your frosting or filling.
Can kids help decorate these Thanksgiving cupcakes? Definitely! Kids will love arranging the Reese’s Pieces feathers and adding the candy eyes. Younger children should have adult supervision, especially when working with small candies.
Can I make these turkey cupcakes without peanut butter? Yes! Swap the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for another small, peanut-free chocolate candy and use colorful peanut-free candies for the feathers. Always check ingredient labels for allergens, especially if serving these at a school party.

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