Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes

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Make these adorable Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes using pretzels, candy corn, candy eyes and chocolate chips.

Prep Time25

Cook Time20

Course: Cupcakes, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baking, thanksgiving dessert, thanksgiving turkey cupcakes

Servings: cupcakes

Calories: 419kcal

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add in egg whites and vanilla and mix until combined.
Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. Add half to the mixer, followed by half of the milk. Then add remaining flour and remaining milk.
Divide batter into cupcake pan cavities, filling each ⅔ of the way full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Beat butter in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add in cocoa powder. Once combined, add in powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time.
Add in salt and milk and mix until fully combined.
Transfer frosting to a large piping bag fitted with a large round tip.

Cover the top of the cupcake in a single layer of chocolate frosting. In the center of the cupcake, make smaller, round layer to create the face.
Place two pretzels into the back portion of the frosting. In front of that add, 4-5 pieces of candy corn, white tips down to create the remainder of the feathers.
Then press 3-4 chocolate chips into the sides of the frosting to create the front feathers. Press candy eyes into the raised face of the frosting, evenly spaced apart. Finally, place a candy corn, white side down directly under the eyes to create the mouth/neck of the turkey.

Substitutions:

Store-bought cupcakes and frosting are a great alternative! If the frosting isn't piped on in the way you need, scrape off the frosting and pipe it back on (or use new) to create the raised face in the center.
Skip the pretzels and make layers of feathers using candy corn.
If you don't have candy eyes, you can create them by using a small white candy and placing a drop of black food coloring in the center. Or, check out My Name is Snickerdoodle's directions for making your own.