Easy And Fun Turkey Cupcakes (Best Thanksgiving Recipe)

5 from 40 votes

Creating turkey cupcakes is an enjoyable dessert for Thanksgiving. This nutter butter turkey cupcakes recipe with candy corn is cute and easy.

Prep Time20

Cook Time16

Cooling And Decorating40

Total Time1 16

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: candy corn turkey cupcakes, nutter butter turkey cupcakes, thanksgiving cupcakes, turkey cupcakes

Servings:

Calories: 409kcal

Get Recipe Ingredients

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Add the cupcake liners to the cupcake tin. Set aside.
To the bowl of a stand mixer, add the dry ingredients - sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
3 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, 1 ½ cups cocoa powder, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt
Whisk well to combine.
Now add the liquid ingredients - the eggs, oil, milk, water, and vanilla.
4 eggs, ½ cup oil, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 ½ cup milk, 1 ½ cup water
Mix on low for about 1 minute and then increase the speed and beat for another 2 minutes. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat again.
Fill each cupcake liner to ⅔ full. Bake for about 14-16 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.

Add the softened butter, salt, and half of the powdered sugar to the stand mixer bowl.
1 cup unsalted butter, 1 tsp salt, 4 cup powdered sugar
Mix on low until it is combined. Add the remaining powdered sugar and beat on low again.
4 cup powdered sugar
Then, add the cocoa powder and mix again.
1 cup cocoa powder
Add in 2 tablespoons of milk and mix.
Beat on medium for about 2 minutes until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
Add the rest of the milk only if the mixture looks dry and crumbly. Mix again until smooth.
3-4 tbsp milk

Using a serrated knife, cut off the bottom ¼ section of the Nutter Butters.
Each cupcake will need one cookie.
Nutter Butter Cookies
Add ½ of a cup of frosting to a piping bag fitted with the small round tip. Transfer the remaining frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
Using the piping bag with the small round tip, pipe a little bit of frosting on each eyeball and secure it to the top section of the Nutter Butter cookie as shown in the picture below.
Candy eye balls
Now, cut each orange M&M candy piece in half.
Pipe a small amount on the cut side of the orange M&M candy piece and secure it below the eyeballs.
orange M&M candy pieces
Next, pipe a small line of frosting alongside the nose to replicate the turkey’s snood.
Using the piping bag with the large round tip, pipe a thick layer of frosting, looking like a large mound onto each cupcake.
Lastly, put five candy corn pieces behind the cookie with the pointed end into the frosting.
These will serve as the turkey tail feathers, so spread them out a bit in order to be seen the best.
½ cup candy corns
Enjoy!

Turkey cupcakes can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 days, but they are best when enjoyed fresh.
If storing for longer, consider refrigeration for up to 4 days. However, the condensation of the fridge will make the eyeballs dissolve so decorate just prior to serving.