How To Make 3 Different Turkey Cupcakes For Thanksgiving Dessert

I did quite a bit of internet surfing before deciding how to make turkey cupcakes. I used features from several different cupcakes and then added a few other touches. I was also able to use leftover Halloween candy.

I admit that these turkey cupcakes are a little bit labor intensive, but you can omit a some steps (see below) to simplify. However, after the second turkey cupcake, I got the hang of it and the process moved quickly. My 3-year-old helped with the candy corn and a little here and there, but I had to assemble and frost them.

I used Ina Garten’s pumpkin cupcakes with my own maple cream cheese frosting. The pumpkin flavor turned out to be the right call as it’s almost the same color as the cookies and donut holes. You’ll need:

1. Cupcakes
2. Frosting
3. Donut holes
4. Annie’s Ginger Cookies
5. Fruit by the Foot or similar red fruit roll up
6. Candy corn
7. Mini chocolate chips or M&Ms for eyes. You could even use regular sized chocolate chips.
8. Large marshmallows cut in half
9. An edible “stick” such as a pretzel or candy melts that I piped out straight and let harden. This stick attaches the donut hole to the cupcake.

I was not motivated to go to the store for pretzel sticks. I found some dark chocolate candy melts, put them in a Ziploc, microwaved until soft and piped out some sticks in advance. They harden pretty quickly and since no one will see them, they don’t have to be perfect. Pretzels are easier.

Take donut hole and carefully insert the edible stick securely inside.

Stick other end inside cupcake to form the body. Frost entire body. I tried to melt the frosting a little bit and dunk, but because it was cream cheese (I think), that didn’t exactly work. But it helps to have a tiny brush to get the frosting into crevices and, of course, an angled spatula.

Put a small stripe of frosting on the back of 4 candy corns. Attach candy corns to half of the ginger cookie.

Place the cut-in-half large marshmallow on the back of the cupcake, opposite the donut hole head. Push the cookie into the and prop it up on the marshmallow. Tip: the cookie will get soggy if assembled and refrigerated overnight. If you’re frosting in advance, keep the tails off. I might also keep the beak off too.

Cut Fruit by the Foot into small strips, about 1 inch long. Angle the edges and wrap them around the candy corn. If you have the patience to take a toothpick and dab a little bit of frosting under the Fruit by the Foot before you put it on the candy corn, this helps. Push the entire colored end (if you can) into the donut hole. Be gentle, as I had a few donut holes crumble. If you have trouble with the candy corn falling off, use some frosting to secure it. Push in two mini chocolate chips for eyes.

Add the candy corn feet and you’re done! You can change the turkey cupcake design based on your taste. For instance, if you want to scrap the frosting, you’ll save loads of time. And since the pumpkin cupcakes, donut hole and ginger cookie are more or less the same color, it looks pretty good. I forgot to touch up the frosting that’s holding the candy corn in place though.

Or, omit the ginger cookies and just use the candy corn as feathers.

Happy Thanksgiving!