Last fall, my friend Lydia called to see if I could possibly make some last-minute treats for her kids to share with their classes before the Thanksgiving break. I wanted them to be super cute, but we were short on time, so I needed something easy and relatively fool-proof. I started Googling (just ask Sara, I’m an expert Googler (or awesome cyber-stalker, only I use my powers predominantly for good)) and found these adorable turkey cupcakes on the Betty Crocker website. I loved that they could be as involved (like making your own cupcakes and frosting) or as simple (you can totally use a boxed cake mix and cannisters of frosting) as you’d like. I also love that they’re simple enough that your kids can help you out in more ways than just eating them!
Basically, you’ll need…
–Chocolate cupcakes
–Chocolate frosting
–Brown sprinkles
–Candy corn
–Large, round, white sprinkles or almond bark
–Wilton black food coloring gel, reserved chocolate frosting, or melted chocolate
Place the chocolate frosting in a gallon-size freezer bag or a decorator’s bag. If you’re using a freezer bag, cut a 1/2″ corner off of the bag. If you’re using a decorator’s bag, you don’t need to cut anything, just don’t worry about using a tip.
Then you add a dollop of chocolate frosting to each cupcake…
Spread it over the cupcake
and then cover that layer in chocolate sprinkles.
Now, add two dollops of chocolate frosting. I hereby give you permission to unleash your 12-year-old boy because we all know what it looks like.
It is now your “doodie” to get back to business. Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week.
Press 5 candy corns, point-down, into the back (read: the ugliest) side of your cupcake. Place one, tip facing out, onto the top dollop for the beak.
If you’re using white ball sprinkles, use a pair of tweezers (or tiny, agile fingers) to position the eyeballs. Otherwise, just melt a little almond bark, cut a tiny hole in the corner, and use that to carefully dot the eyeballs onto the turkey.
Dip the tip of a toothpick into a bit of melted chocolate or some black gel food coloring and dot that onto the whites of the eyes. You can also use some of the leftover frosting, but you’ll have to put it into a small Ziploc bag and cut an even tinier hole and carefully dot the irises onto the whites of the eyes. 
And that’s it! They each kind of have their own little personality and they’re so much fun. These would make great placeholders at the Thanksgiving dinner table and would also be a fun craft for the kids to work on while the grown-ups are working on the big turkey!
Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes (make your own or just use a boxed mix)
Chocolate frosting (make your own or use 2 cannisters of chocolate frosting)
Chocolate sprinkles
Candy corn
Large, round, white sprinkles or almond bark
Reserved frosting, melted chocolate, or black food coloring gel
Place the frosting in a large Ziploc bag or a decorator’s bag. If using a Ziploc bag, cut off one 1/2″ corner.
Spread a thin layer of chocolate frosting onto each cupcake. Cover the layer with chocolate sprinkles. Add two dollops of chocolate frosting. Place five candy corns, pointy side-down, into the “back” of each cupcake. Place one candy corn, pointy side out, on the top dollop for a beak. Carefully place two round, white sprinkles (with tweezers if necessary) above the beak for eyeballs. These can also be dotted on with melted almond bark. Using a toothpick, dot irises on each eyeball with melted chocolate or black food coloring gel. You can also use reserved chocolate icing gently squeezed on from a Ziploc bag with a tiny hole cut into the corner.
Appetizers
Beef
Sandwiches and Burgers
Beverages
Breads
Breakfast and Brunch
Condiments
Desserts
Pizza and Pasta
Pork
Poultry
Salads and Dressings
Seafood
Side Dishes and Vegetables
Soups and Stews
Candy Penguin Cupcakes
Cinnamon Bun Caramel Corn
Single Serving Pie in a Jar
Cute! I made these last year and they were super easy too. http://www.makeandtakes.com/oreo-cookie-turkeys-for-thanksgiving
ooo this totally looks like something I could do! And I totally was like, hahaha pooooooooo.
These are flipping adorable!!! I'm totally having my kids make them for Thanksgiving-Thanks!
must. make. these.
I better be careful though; I keep setting myself to make up all the junk food goodies for younger son's class treat days and they'll all want me to make them all the time! LOL
these look so cute and yes, I had that same though!!! ;)
Too cute! I was trying to think of a cupcake for Thanksgiving the other day when planning my menu. Cupcakes aren't usually on my Thanksgiving menu but I have a niece that looks for cupcakes from me at any family gathering. These will be perfect, she'll love 'em!
So way cute! Thanks for the idea.
How cute! I love em!
We featured this post on our edible turkey treat roundup!
http://sstorywindow.blogspot.com/2010/11/turkey-time-part-2.html
these are so cute, ALMOST too cute to eat:-)
SUPER cute! I'll totally be making these. Your directions make it look so easy. THANKS!
and I'm sure my boys will be making poop jokes too…
THese are too cute!! I've seen the cookie turkeys, but I think these would be more fun to eat!
Cute! And honestly, I was totally going to make some turkey cupcakes to put on my blog but I can't think of a good excuse to make 24 cupcakes. :)
These are super cute and look really easy. Love their little beady eyes peeking out. Thanks for sharing this cute recipe. They are sure to bring oohs and aahs and they have lots of frosting which the kiddies love to just lick off!
great idea – I found some candy eyes at a cake store – they remind me of button candy – makes it easy to put eyes on everything!
something like these:
http://www.shopbakersnook.com/m5/3392–small-black-and-white-eyes.html
These are so cute and would certainly put that bag of candy corn that I bought and forgot about to good use.
I made these last year for my sons preschool class! BIG HIT!
Congratulations on your victory!!
I am supremely thankful for my three healthy, intelligent and amazing daughters, Nikki, Amy, & Melissa.
zephyr823@verizon.net
p.s. I am also thankful for finding your cool foodie blog :)
Ha ha ha! Those are SO cute!! What a fun idea!
I am thankful for my family and for all the freedoms that we do no always appreciate enough.
These are so cute!
I am really grateful to your daily recipes that I receive. I love the pictures and clear instructions. I enjoy all of your recipes, as I have tried lots of them! Keep up the great work!
I'm thankful for the internet and wonderful sites like yours that help me be a better mom and grandmother. ruth
Iowa had the most beautiful fall!
I'm thankful that after 30+ years of working outside my home I am now able to spend the time supporting my husband and kids as a stay-home. I'm thankful for my large extended family and the many occasions we share. I'm thankful that we are able to join in and support the many community organizations that give a helping hand to those in need. God Bless America!
I'm not surprised you won!! I love your website and recipes, and I don't even like to cook!!
Congratulations! I'm thankful for wonderful blogs like this one. I've learned so much. Keep up the great work
wow I love this blog thanks,
joyfulgrubbs@gmail.com
i love this blog thanks
Thanks for the Turkey cupcakes. I am always looking for a new name plate Idea and I think this will work.
On this Veteran's Day I am grateful for the military who protect and defend our country.
Congrats on Winning! I love your blog! I am thankful for this b-e-a-utiful weather and for great friends and family. I am also thankful for blessings in disguise and lessons learned. I am thankful for much more but there is a word limit on this and I don't have enough time to type it all. But one last thing….I am thankful for the season and thankful for the reason. kaylakipper@hotmail.com
I am thankful that my father survived his recent heart attack and that my family will get to spend another Thanksgiving together as a whole!
Congrats on your big win-what an honor! You girls are so creative and funny. I'm grateful to be funny myself, but I'm even more grateful that I can COPY creative girls like you. You help my life be better and I thank you for that.
I am thankful for families and the memory you can have of your family members even when they pass. This thanksgiving will give me joy thinking of all the great and wonderful things my Grandfather did for us! Along with my healthy, and happy family.
I left my comment last night and I was reading your email today and noticed I need to leave an address for you to notify me if I win!! haha so just incase, My name is Brinda and my email is brinda@cableone.net!