Skip to Content

13 Adorable Treats That Really Put The “Turkey” In Turkey Day

The kids' table will freak out over these cute desserts.

By
oreo balls decorated with candy to look like mini turkeys
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Look, Thanksgiving pies are great and all, but they can get admittedly a little repetitive. After years and years (and YEARS) of pecan, pumpkin, and sweet potato, it can be fun to mix things up a bit. These too-cute turkey-themed treats are the perfect way to add something playful and fun to your Thanksgiving dessert spread. They’re also a nice project for any kiddos (or just kids at heart) you’ve got roaming around during the holidays. Trust us, these 13 turkey treats will put a smile on everyone’s face.

Speaking of faces, one of the easiest ways to to turn any dessert into an adorable little turkey is to give them some eyes, nose (beak?), and a mouth. We’ve gotten creative here, using everything from Oreos to butterscotch chips to candy corn to give lots of personality to our mini turkeys, and you can feel free to do the same. Check out our turkey Oreo balls, our turkey cheeseball, our turkey cake, or our pumpkin pie turkeys for inspiration, then have fun with it.

Not big on anthropomorphizing your food? We get it, and have included a few still-cute treats here that don’t include candy eyeballs. Check out our krispie turkey, our chocolate-covered strawberry turkeys, and our turkey leg Rice Krispies instead. Hot tip—they make for a hilarious addition to a vegetarian holiday spread, particularly if it’s a potluck where you’re expected to bring the same-old, same-old.

Want even more holiday ideas? Check out our Thanksgiving desserts that go beyond pie and our top Thanksgiving cocktails too.

1

Turkey Cupcakes

turkey cupcakes
Emily Hlavac Green

You could stick to your guns and make a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving...OR you could make these stupidly adorable turkey cupcakes. It's super easy to turn a chocolate cupcake into a cute little turkey with simple decorations like candy corn, M&M's, and pretzels.

Get the Turkey Cupcakes recipe.

2

Turkey Leg Rice Krispies

rise krispies shaped like turkey legs covered in chocolate with a white chocolate bone
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

What’s better than scoring a turkey leg at the holiday dinner table? Answer: snagging one of these gooey marshmallow Rice Krispies treats!

Get the Turkey Leg Rice Krispies recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Turkey Oreo Balls

oreo balls decorated with candy to look like mini turkeys
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Thanksgiving pies are delicious and non-negotiable for some, but if you find yourself wanting something different, these turkey-themed Oreo cookie balls are the answer. Best part? The decorating doesn’t require piping or tweezer use, just a few supermarket-friendly items that bond with the chocolate coating.

Get the Turkey Oreo Balls recipe.

4

Turkeytini

creamy cocktail topped with a turkey shaped like a reese's cup
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Shaken and poured into a chilled glass, dessert cocktails are the ultimate end-of-the-night treat, especially when they include mocha and bourbon. This boozy one has all you need to complete your Thanksgiving feast with the decadent blend of creamy Baileys Irish cream, chocolate liqueur, Kahlúa, and bourbon.

Get the Turkeytini recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Turkeys

chocolate covered strawberry decorated with pretzel sticks and mini marshmallows to look like turkeys
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Forget plain ol' pumpkin pie, these adorable Thanksgiving turkeys have us on cuteness overload. Made popular on TikTok, these chocolate-dipped strawberries are shaped like a plump roasted bird (though perhaps a tad on the burnt side...😉), thanks to a clever combination of marshmallows, pretzel rods, and melted chocolate.

Get the Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Turkeys recipe.

6

Oreo Turkeys

oreo, cookies and crackers, snack, food, cookie, dessert, baked goods, finger food, icing, cake decorating,
Bryce Johnson

Decorating an Oreo to look like a turkey is much easier than it seems. Don't have candy eyes? Get creative and use Reese's Pieces or chocolate chips. White chocolate hardens quickly so make sure to have everything else ready to go when you start melting your chocolate!

Get the Oreo Turkeys recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Turkuterie

charcuterie board shaped like a turkey
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

It’s a tail as old as time: It’s right before (Or after!) Thanksgiving dinner, and your guests don’t want a full meal but are feeling a little peckish. Try a bird of a different feather this year, and serve this festive and impressive fruit and cheese display as the centerpiece of your appetizer (or dessert!) table.

Get the Turkuterie recipe.

8

Turkey Cake

turkey cake
Parker Feierbach

Have you ever seen a cake so adorable? Impress everyone from your in-laws to kids with this super-easy, super-cute Thanksgiving dessert! The feathers are made by brushing white chocolate onto parchment paper and then chilled until hardened. Use your favorite cake recipe or stick with boxed to keep it simple like we did.

Get the Turkey Cake recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Turkey Cheeseball

turkey cheeseball  delish com
Parker Feierbach

Even if you're not serving turkey this Thanksgiving doesn't mean you can't get in on the theme. Enter: this adorable cheeseball. We used carrots, pecans, pretzels, and bell peppers to create the iconic look, but feel free to sub out for different ingredients for what you have on hand. Serve it with crackers and use the decorations as dippers too!

Get the Turkey Cheeseball recipe.

10

Krispie Turkey

rice krispie treats shaped into a turkey filled with candy
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Why settle for the usual Thanksgiving turkey when you could elevate your holiday game with a turkey sculpture made entirely out of Rice Krispies treats? Yes, you read that right. Before you roll your eyes and call your relatives to cancel the invitation, let us explain why this mind-blowing culinary innovation is the peak of modern Thanksgiving genius.

Get the Krispie Turkey recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

pumpkin pie turkeys
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Looking to get a little crafty with your Thanksgiving dessert this year? These pumpkin pie turkeys are just the thing. Easy to make and extremely adorable, everyone will love them! Plus, you'll get to snack on the scraps before your guests arrive.

Get the Pumpkin Pie Turkeys recipe.

12

Cinnamon Roll Turkeys

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Choux pastry, Dessert, Baked goods, Finger food, Staple food, Pastry,
Alexa Payesko

The morning of (or after!) Thanksgiving is NOT the time to be whipping out an elaborate breakfast. Instead, make these cute and easy cinnamon roll turkeys. Store-bought cinnamon rolls make these simple, so you can focus on what's really important—your Thanksgiving leftovers 😉.

Get the Cinnamon Roll Turkeys recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Turkey Treat Bags

turkey treat bags
Alexa Payesko

Whether you use store-bought popcorn or make it yourself (check out all our homemade popcorn flavors and mix it up!), these adorable treats are proof edible crafts are the BEST kind. We like candy corn and Reese's pieces here, but feel free to mix it up.

Get the Turkey Treat Bags recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below