Turkey Cupcakes are so fun to make and the perfect Thanksgiving cupcake. Let the kids help decorate this adorable turkey with candy.
This is such a fun thanksgiving dessert to make with the kids. Everyone will be so excited to see these on Turkey Day. Learn how to transform chocolate cupcakes into thanksgiving turkeys.
We also love to make these fun Oreo Turkey Cookies, Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies Recipe, and these Thanksgiving Cake Pops Recipe. Check out all our Thanksgiving Desserts for Kids.
These adorable turkey cupcakes will become an annual treat. While pumpkin pie is a classic dessert, these cupcakes are a family favorite.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
Each cupcake is topped with a layer of frosting and decorated with an assortment of candy. It all comes together to form a turkey in such a creative way.
Get the entire family involved in decorating these adorable turkey cupcakes. They are absolutely a blast to make. The candy topping is just so fun to work with.
Ingredients
- Chocolate Cake Mix. Plus, the ingredients to make the cake based on the package instructions.
- Orange Cupcake Liners. These will match the festive colors.
- Container Pre-made Chocolate Frosting. Any brand of store-bought frosting will work.
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. These make the cutest faces.
- Reese’s Pieces, Candy Eyes and Gummy Worms. The kids will love using these to make the turkey’s face.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and get the complete list of ingredients.
Substitutions and Additions
- Candy Corn. Layers pieces of candy corn to from the turkey feathers.
- Chocolate Sprinkles. Top the frosting with chocolate sprinkles before adding the candy. This also is a great way to hide any imperfections on the cupcakes.
- M&M’s. You can use seasonal M&M’s in Fall colors to make the tail instead of Reese’s Pieces. I have used both and either turns out great.
- Pretzels. This is a fun substitution instead of candy for the feathers. The mini twists variation works great.
- Store bought cupcakes. Purchase chocolate cupcakes and add the various candy to make the turkey on top. You will likely need to smooth out the frosting before doing this as bakery style cupcakes have a ton of frosting piled high.
- Homemade Frosting. We used store bought but you can substitute homemade frosting if you prefer. Either will be great for this recipe.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare and bake the cupcakes using the orange cupcake liners based on the package instructions.
Step 2. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely at room temperature on a wire rack.
Step 3. Next, add a flat layer of the chocolate layer on top of each cupcake. Then add 3 rows of the Reese’s pieces to the top half of the cupcakes to look like the Turkey feathers.
Step 4. Gently press a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup into the center of each cupcake.
Step 5. Make the nose by cutting 12 of the orange Reese’s pieces in half. Use a small knife and place each piece using the chocolate frosting to the peanut butter cups.
Step 6. Add the candy eyes on the mini-Reese’s peanut butter cups using the frosting.
Step 7. Cut the gummy worm in half. Use the chocolate frosting to place each half on the Reese’s peanut butter cups. It should be right next to the noses to resemble the wattle of the turkeys.
Step 8. Then the cupcakes are ready to enjoy!
Storage
Store any leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
If you have a cupcake storage container, that would be ideal to use. Those are perfect for storage and transportation.
Expert Tips
- Make in advance. You can save time and make the cupcakes a day in advance. However, I would not add the candy toppings until the day you plan to serve. You don’t want the candy to fade or run into the other toppings.
- Get creative. It is easy to adapt the candy to what you prefer or have on hand. Feel free to substitute what is on sale. You know we have to keep this budget friendly.
- Frosting. Add enough frosting to cover the cupcake but not an excessive amount. You do not want the candy to sink too far into the icing as it will not be visible.
More Fun Thanksgiving Desserts
- Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
- Turkey Cookies
- Pilgrim Cookies
- Chocolate Acorns
- Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
- Turkey Cake
If you make these, please come back and leave a comment. I think you are going to really love this fun recipe.
Turkey Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 box Chocolate Cake Mix 15.25 oz
- *Plus ingredients to make the cake based on the package instructions
- 24 Orange Cupcake Liners
- 16 oz Pre-made Chocolate Frosting
- 24 Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- 1 bag Reese’s Pieces
- 48 Candy Eyes
- 12 Red Gummy Worms
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the cupcakes using the orange cupcake liners based on the package instructions.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely at room temperature.
- Then add a flat layer of the chocolate layer on top of each cupcake.
- Then add 3 rows of the Reese’s pieces to the top half of the cupcakes to look like the Turkey feathers. The outside layer is orange (8 pieces of candy), then brown (7 pieces) and a yellow layer (5 pieces).
- Gently press a mini Reese’s peanut butter cups into the center of each cupcake.
- Then cut 12 of the orange Reese’s pieces in half using a small knife and adhere each piece using the chocolate frosting to the mini Reese’s peanut butter cups to form the noses on the turkey.
- Next adhere 2 candy eyes above the noses on the mini Reese’s peanut butter cups using the frosting as well.
- Cut the gummy worm in half and use the chocolate frosting to adhere each half onto the Reese’s peanut butter cups right next to the noses to resemble the wattle of the turkeys.
- Then the cupcakes are ready to enjoy!
