Thanksgiving turkey cake pops are loaded with rich chocolate flavor and decorated to look like adorable turkeys. They're the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer or dessert.
I love making cake pops for any occasion. They're so sweet and delicious, and you can decorate them for any holiday or theme. That's what I did with these cake pops for Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Pops
This was inspired by my other snowman cake pops recipe on this site and makes the perfect sweet treat to serve with hot chocolate, my favorite Oreo frappuccino or salted caramel milkshake.
Ingredients
This cake bites recipe only uses simple ingredients that you can find easily at your local grocery store.
- Chocolate cake mix
- Chocolate frosting
- Chocolate bark
- Vegetable Oil
- Thin Dark Chocolate Oreos
- Candy corn candies
- Candy eyes
- Yellow candy balls
- Heart sprinkles
See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities.
Instructions
It only takes a few simple steps to make these super easy and adorable turkey cake pops.
Step 1: Bake the Cake
Bake the cake according to the package directions and allow it to cool completely.
Step 2: Make the Cake Balls
Crumble the entire cake into a large bowl with a fork. Then, add frosting and work it into the cake crumbs with your hands until it forms a ball.
Finally, roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet line with parchment paper. Freeze the balls for 1 hour.
Step 3: Dip the Cake Balls
Melt the chocolate bark in a microwaveable cup deep enough that the cake balls can be dipped into the candy coating.
Then, using two foark, roll each cake ball in the melted chocolate, allowing the excess to drip off. Place the dipped cake pops on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Step 3: Decorate
Before the chocolate hardens, place an Oreo on the backside of each chocolate covered cake ball.
Next, carefully place the eyes, nose, and mouth into place.
Finally, dip the tips of each piece of candy corn in melted chocolate and place three of them on each turkey to create the feathers.
Place in holes in a cardboard box, styrofoam or cake pop stand. Chill and serve when ready.
Hint: When melting your second batch of candy and oil, either clean out the original measuring cup or use a new one. If you simply add new candy and oil to the existing pre-melted candy, the remaining will harden.
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change these Thanksgiving turkey cake pops.
- Any Chocolate Cake - You can use whatever chocolate cake mix or any flavor cake mix you have in mind for that matter.
- Oreos - Thin Oreos work best, but if you have regular Oreos, or another flat cookie, they'll do in a pinch.
- Chocolate Bark - You can use any brand of chocolate candy melts, bark or chips that you prefer to make your chocolate coating.
- If No Cream Cheese Frosting - Use buttercream frosting instead or use your favorite kind of frosting or flavor to make your turkey pops.
Variations
Want to personalize these turkey cake pops? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- White Turkey - Make a white turkey by using white cake mix, vanilla frosting, vanilla almond bark, and Golden Oreos.
- Cayenne - Add the slightest touch of cayenne to the cake ball mixture to add a hint of heat and bring out even more chocolate flavor.
- Coffee - Add a bit of instant coffee to really punch up the chocolate flavor of the cake balls.
- Large Turkeys - Make balls a larger size and add to the stick. Then, draw on the face to make bigger turkeys.
- Flat Turkeys - You can also simplify the turkeys by rolling out the single 1 ½ tablespoon sized cake pop balls instead with a rolling pin and drawing on the face on a flat surface.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these Donut Hole Cake Pops or Brazilian Chocolate Truffles.
Equipment
You'll need a few kitchen basics to make this recipe.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing Bowls
- Baking sheet
- Fork
- Parchment paper or Wax paper
- Cake Pop Sticks (with drying stand)
- Cake Pop Stand, styrofoam block or cardboard box to hold cake pops while they dry
- Cake Pop Sticks or lollipop sticks at least 6 inches long
- 9 x 13 inch baking pan or equivalent to bake cake
Storage
If using cream cheese frosting, these cake pops must be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
However, if you use a vanilla buttercream or a frosting made with room temperature-safe ingredients, you can leave the cake pops on the counter for 3 - 5 days.
Tips
This is a relatively simple recipe to make, but I do have a few tips to help you make these cake balls as easily as possible and as delicious as possible.
- It's important to use chocolate bark for the outer coating. It's designed to be melted and hardened and will yield the best results.
- Hold your candy corn in place for a few seconds to ensure that it stays in place.
- Tweezers make placing the facial features so much easier.
- Use a 2-cup measuring cup for dipping the turkeys so you have enough depth for dipping.
- Immediately remove any cake crumbs that might fall into the melted candy before dipping a new batch.
- I used Betty Crocker’s cake mix and cream cheese frosting. The box ingredients and instructions also call for 1 ¼ cups water, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs to make the cake. The additional ingredients may vary depending on which cake mix is used.
FAQ
Do you have questions about these turkey cake pops? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Thanksgiving turkey cake pops.
They'll last for about a week in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
If you leave your cake balls in the freezer too long, the disparity between the temperature of the cake and the melted chocolate can cause it to crack.
These are tailor-made for making ahead of time. Whip up a batch of these the day before your Thanksgiving feast and serve them on that day.
More Chocolate Recipes
Do you like chocolate? Here some recipes you may also like to try
Turkey Cake Pops
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Turkey Cake Pops
Equipment
- Melting pot Small saucepan or microwave safe bowl for melting the chocolate
- Cake Pop Sticks if prefer to use, Cake Pop Sticks (with drying stand) or lollipop sticks
- Cake Pop Stand styrofoam block or cardboard box to hold cake pops while they dry
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- chocolate cake mix prepared according to box directions
- 1-3 tablespoon white frosting regular, cream cheese or buttercream frosting
- 16 oz chocolate bark
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil to smooth melted chocolate, if necessary
Decorations
- 28 thin dark chocolate Oreos
- 84 candy corn candies
- 56 candy eyeballs
- 28 yellow candy balls for noses
- 28 heart sprinkles for mouths
Instructions
- Allow cake to cool after baking according to box directions.
- Crumble entire cake in a large bowl with a fork.
- Add frosting and work it into the cake crumbs with your hands until it forms a ball.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Freeze them for 1 hour.
- Melt chocolate bark in a microwave-safe cup that cake balls can be dipped in. I prefer a 2 cup measuring cup. Add oil to chocolate if needed to smooth chocolate.
- Using two forks, roll each cake pop in melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Place dipped cake pops on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Before chocolate hardens, place an Oreo on the backside.
- Carefully place the eyes, nose, and mouth in place. I like to use a tweezers. And if the chocolate hardens too quickly, you can add a bit of melted chocolate on the back sides of the eyes, noses, and mouths to act as glue.
- Finally, dip the tips of each candy corn in melted chocolate and place three of them on each turkey to create the feathers. You may have to hold them for a bit until the chocolate hardens.
- Chill before serving.
Notes
- Use a 2-cup measuring cup for dipping the turkeys so you have enough depth to work with for dipping.
- Immediately remove any cake crumbs that might fall into the melted candy before dipping a new batch.
- I used Betty Crocker’s red velvet cake mix and cream cheese frosting. The box ingredients and instructions also call for 1 ¼ cups water, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs to make the cake. The additional ingredients may vary depending on which cake mix is used. Or, use my amazing chocolate cake recipe if you prefer homemade cake.
- You can also crumble the cake with an electric mixer (use beater attachments) and mix in the frosting on a low speed. I like to use my hands because 1) they’re already going to get dirty rolling the cake balls and 2) you know if you’ve added enough frosting by the feel of the dough - if it holds together, you’ve added enough.
- Storage - If using cream cheese frosting, these cake pops must be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. However, if you use a vanilla buttercream or one made with room temperature-safe ingredients, you can leave the cake pops on the counter for 3 - 5 days.
Amy
We tried the turkey pops on thanksgiving and everybody enjoyed them. We will definitely make them again around Christmas time but we will change them into little Santa Clauses or maybe your snowmen. The kids and I will figure it out. Thx for this cool recipe.
Karin and Ken
I’m glad you enjoyed them! It’s true you can make any kind of creature or character cake pops. I’m glad you’re having so much fun with this recipe. All the best. Karin
Laura
The recipe says don’t use cream cheese frosting, but then further down you wrote that you used cream cheese frosting. Can you please clarify?
Karin and Ken
I apologize for the confusion. I meant if you have no cream cheese frosting use buttercream or plain icing. All kinds of frosting will work to make this easy recipe! I have corrected the sentence so it’s more clear. Again I apologize for my error and your inconvenience. Enjoy these turkey pops. They’re always a hit! Take care and thank you for letting me know! All the best. Karin