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Candy Corn Turkey Cupcakes – Easy Thanksgiving Dessert for Kids

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and dessert is a big part of the celebration. The kids will love these candy corn turkey cupcakes and you can let them join you in making them.

If you’re looking for another family friendly activity this holiday season, make sure to check out this Thanksgiving word search and word scramble. Don’t forget to look for the word ‘turkey’ in it!

Since November 4 is National Candy day, this day is also the perfect day to make this easy Thanksgiving dessert for kids.Collage of a turkey cupcake and candy and cupcake on a counter with words reading "Candy corn turkey cupcakes."

These adorable little Thanksgiving cupcakes use candy corn, Malted milk balls and some candy eyes that end up making the traditional Thanksgiving emblem – the turkey!

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Other candy corn desserts

Candy corn is a popular candy this time of the year  it is used in all sorts of ways in desserts, even finding its way into caramel apple toppings.

It also makes a great addition to these Thanksgiving cupcakes.bowl of candy corn and text reading "candy corn dessert ideas."

There is even a National Candy Corn Day to celebrate this sweet treat. If you like this candy as much as I do, you’ll love these easy candy corn desserts, too.

And for another turkey cupcake using frosting in the colors of candy corn, check out this turkey cupcake recipe.

This is such a busy time of the year. I love easy cute Thanksgiving dessert ideas that are quick to prepare and super tasty.

It’s even more fun when the kids can help to make them.

Be sure to have a look at my dirt cup recipe for Thanksgiving. The kids will be itching to help with that one!

Having fun with food is one of the things I like most about Thanksgiving. See how I used candy corn to make the cutest turkey cupcakes ever. #gobblegobble #thanksgivingturkeys #thankgsiving Share on X

Making these candy corn turkey cupcakes

Turkey cupcake ideas have never been more fun and easy  than this project. Plus, no turkeys are harmed as you make them!

I feel like a kid again when I put together a recipe that I know the kids will just adore!

These turkey cupcakes with candy corn could not be easier to make. You can use a box mix and frosting to make the process even easier, or you could make your own cupcakes. 

(Check out this skinny chocolate cupcake to use as a base for the turkeys for those of you on a diet.)These chocolate cupcake, malted milk balls, candy corn and edible eyes will make our turkey cupcakes.

Ingredients for easy Thanksgiving dessert for kids:

You’ll need these supplies to make the turkeys:

  • One chocolate box cake mix
  • One tub of chocolate frosting
  • Edible eyes
  • Malted milk balls
  • Candy corn
  • Toothpick

I used a fall themed cupcake liner to keep to the Thanksgiving theme.

Assembling the turkey cupcakes

Once your chocolate cupcakes have cooled and been frosted, assembling the kid friendly candy corn turkey cupcakes is very quick. This is where the kids will love to help out!

A single malted milk ball forms the turkey head in this Thanksgiving cupcake. Just position it to the front of the cupcake. The frosting will hold it in place.Cupcake on a plate with a malted milk ball near a tray of cupcakes and plate of candy.

Use the toothpick to add a bit of frosting on the front of the malted milk ball. This will hold the edible eyes in place.

Trim the white part off a piece of candy corn and position it touching the extra frosting under the eyes for the turkey beak.Turkey face on a chocolate cupcake near more cupcakes and candy.

The final step is to add the feathers. Push the white pointed end of the candy corn down into the cupcake.  I had both yellow and orange as well as brown and orange candy corn.

Chocolate cupcake in a fancy liner made into the shape of a turkey.

I used a combination of both colors of candy corn in two rows to complete the turkey feathers on some of the turkeys and make others just one color or the other.

I think I like the combo the best!

cute turkey cupcakes made with candy corn on a white plate

Tada! The cutest little turkey ever! These adorable and easy turkey cupcakes are as much fun to make as they are to eat!

Add a glass of milk and you have a dessert that the kids will just gobble up. (pun intended!)Cute turkey cupcakes and a glass of milk on white plates

If your child is having a school party for Thanksgiving, or you need to take some Thanksgiving cupcakes to a bake sale, this makes the perfect addition to the line up.

They are guaranteed to please both young and young at heart.

Don’t forget to add a bowl of my Thanksgiving snack mix on the dessert table along with a blessing printable labels to remind the kids what to be thankful for this year.

Tasting this easy Thanksgiving dessert for kids

The cupcake itself has a rich chocolate flavor, since it is also frosted with chocolate icing. The edible eye, malted milk balls and candy corn adds a nice texture to the taste as well as some extra sweetness.

The problem will be getting your kids to just eat one!

Pin these candy corn turkey cupcakes for later

Would you like a reminder of these easy candy corn cupcakes? Just pin this image to one of your Pinterest Thanksgiving boards so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch our turkey cupcake video on YouTube.

Chocolate cupcakes shaped like turkeys with words reading "Candy corn turkey cupcakes."

Do you like to have fun with food? Check out my pilgrim hat appetizers. They make the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer.

Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in November of 2018. I have updated the post to add some new images, more candy corn recipes to try and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 12

Candy Corn Turkey Cupcakes - Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Idea

Cute turkey cupcakes

These adorable candy corn cupcakes are as fun to make as they are to eat. They are sure to be the hit of your Thanksgiving dessert table

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • Box of Chocolate Cake mix to make 12 cupcakes (1 made mine with unsweetened applesauce and eggs instead of using oil)
  • Container of chocolate frosting
  • 24 edible eyes
  • 12 Malted milk balls
  • 240 pieces of candy corn
  • Toothpick

Instructions

  1. Cook the cupcakes according to package directions and allow to cool completely
  2. Frost the top of the cupcake with a layer of chocolate frosting
  3. Add a Malted milk ball towards the front of the cupcake for the turkey head
  4. Use the toothpick to add some extra frosting on the front of the head.
  5. Attach the eyes.
  6. Cut the white part off one piece of candy corn and attach below the eyes for a nose.
  7. Insert the pointed ends of the candy corn behind the head in one row of five and one row of four, spacing evenly.

Notes

I used both the orange and yellow as well as the brown and orange candy corn to give the feathers a nice color.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 cupcake

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 216

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