Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes

Our version of these Thanksgiving cupcakes are chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting (or Nutella buttercream frosting). My kids love decorating them with chocolate sprinkles and candy corn candies to look like a cute little turkey. They go hand-in-hand with a turkey shaped grazing board and candy corn cupcakes.

We like to enjoy our cupcakes with a cup of crockpot hot chocolate and along with Thanksgiving charcuterie boards to complete our holiday menu.

Ingredients

To make our turkey cupcakes you need a box of chocolate cake mix, plus eggs and oil as indicated on the package. The homemade chocolate frosting is made with butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and unsweetened cocoa powder.

And to decorate the cupcakes you need:

• Chocolate jimmies
• Twizzler pull n' peel
• Rolo candies
• Candy corn
• Candy eyes

To ice the cupcakes I use this reusable piping bag and love it because it's easy to clean and you can change the piping tip while the bag is full of frosting without making a mess.

Can I Use A Homemade Cupcake Batter?

Sure! If you prefer a homemade vanilla cupcake recipe, you can use this recipe.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to the temperature indicated on the box of cupcake mix (usually 350° Fahrenheit). Line the muffin tin with the liners. Make the cupcake batter as indicated on the package and fill each liner ⅔ full. Bake for the time indicated on the box, usually 18-20 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the oven when done and place on your decorating workspace. Let the cupcakes cool for at least 1 hour before frosting.
2. When the cupcakes have cooled make the chocolate frosting. Combine the softened butter, cream cheese and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Using the electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add unsweetened cocoa powder and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the powdered sugar 2 cups at a time and continue to beat on low speed until smooth.
3. Choose your piping tip and secure it to the piping bag. Fill the piping bag with frosting. Twist the top where the frosting ends and hold securely while squeezing the frosting in a circular fashion onto each cupcake.
4. Unwrap the rolo candies and squeeze a small bit of frosting onto each. Press 1 candy corn onto the frosted rolo to make the nose. Pull apart the twizzler pull n' peel so that 2 strips are stuck together. Cut into ¼ inch pieces.
5. Sprinkle the frosted cupcakes with chocolate jimmies. Place 2 candy eyes on the center of each cupcake. Gently press the rolo candy into the frosting underneath the eyes. Press the twizzler onto the side of the rolo to make the wattle. On the top of the cupcake, press 5-6 candy corn pieces to make the feather wings.
6. Transfer decorated cupcakes to the fridge to chill and set the frosting. Serve within a few hours or within 2 days for the best results.

How To Store

These turkey cupcakes are best eaten fresh but can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days for optimal quality.

Do You Need To Put Cupcakes With Frosting In The Fridge?

Yes, cupcakes iced with buttercream frosting should be stored in the fridge and should not be left at room temperature for more than a few hours.