These homemade Thanksgiving Candy Turkeys make the most adorably easy Thanksgiving table decorations. Using simple candies, chocolate-covered cherries and frosting, this recipe will show you how to make delicious edible works of art.
For more homemade candy recipes, you can also try these Peanut Butter Cups, Chocolate Covered Caramels, or these adorable Chocolate Pumpkin Pretzels.
Jump to:
Homemade Thanksgiving Candy Turkeys
Does it get any cuter than these chocolate-covered cherry table decorations? Made with simple candies and chocolate buttercream frosting, these candy turkeys are my absolute favorite inexpensive Thanksgiving table decoration.
This recipe gives you step-by-step instructions, ideas for candy substitutions, and answers to your frequently asked questions. You can even turn this into a fun pre-holiday activity with any kiddos who love to get creative with candy and frosting.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Chocolate Covered Cherries - at the grocery store, you should be able to find these in the candy section. If you have a difficult time locating some, you can also substitute any chocolate bon bons or truffles with a flat bottom. Otherwise, they are readily available online through places like Harry & David, Amazon or even Walmart..
- Candy Corns - these will create the turkey’s feathers and you will need about 5 per Chocolate Turkey.
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting - you can purchase frosting at the store, or make your own homemade Chocolate Buttercream.
- M&Ms - we use M&Ms to create the beak and the crown on the top of the turkey’s head. You could also use sprinkles, or another small candy instead.
- Candy Eyeballs - I’ve had good luck finding these in the cake and baking section at the grocery store. Otherwise, look at any craft store or online.
- More decorating options: to make a taller turkey with a more pronounced head, attach a Whopper candy to the top of the chocolate-covered cherry! You can also decorate the turkey’s chest with candies if you’d like.
How to Make Thanksgiving Candy Turkeys
- Arrange the candy corn feathers. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, arrange 5 candy corns to create a fan shape with the tapered ends facing in towards the center.
- Attach the chocolate-covered cherry. Place buttercream frosting in a piping bag and cut off the tip. Add a dollop of frosting to the center of the candy corn fan, then place a chocolate-covered cherry on to stick them all together.
- Repeat and chill. Repeat to make 12 total, then place into the fridge for about 1 hour until the chocolate frosting has set up.
- Add the beak, crown and eyes. Once the frosting has set, remove the baking sheet from the fridge. Using the chocolate buttercream, attach 1 M&M to create a beak, 1 M&M on the top to create a head crown and 2 candy eyeballs. You can add any chest decorations that you would like, as well.
- Repeat and chill. Repeat for all Chocolate Turkeys, then return to the fridge until everything is hardened and set.
- Serve. Serve on a platter, or as a quick and easy Thanksgiving table decoration. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Choose the right chocolate: Opt for high-quality chocolate that has a smooth and creamy texture. You don't have to use chocolate covered cherries - any kind of bon bons will work great.
- Use buttercream to hold it together: Using chocolate buttercream or chocolate icing makes it super simple to stick all of the pieces together. Just put some into a piping bag and cut off the tip, then pipe a little as needed.
- Have everything ready: these are very quick to put together as long as you have everything ready to go before you begin. Staying organized will make this way more fun!
- Package them creatively: If you are giving these away as gifts, package them in festive Thanksgiving-themed boxes or bags. Consider adding a personalized tag or ribbon to make them even more special.
- Store them properly: To keep your chocolate turkeys fresh, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. They can last up to 1 week if stored correctly, but let's be honest – they probably won't last that long!
Frequently Asked Questions
Look at the candy section of your local grocery store, Target or Walmart. If you can’t find them there, you can also order them online from a number of places. Harry & David has great ones!
If you prefer, you can substitute any flavor of dark or milk chocolate bon bons or chocolate truffles that have a flat bottom.
Absolutely! You can make these up to 3 days in advance. Wrap the baking sheet in plastic wrap and store them directly on the baking sheet in the fridge until you are ready to use. You could also transfer them to a shallow baking dish or another airtight container with a lid if you prefer.
These can sit out at room temperature all day long if need be. But, if you want to store them for longer than that, we recommend storing them in the fridge. You could line them up in a shallow baking dish covered with plastic wrap, or an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Chocolate Thanksgiving Turkeys Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 12-count box Chocolate Covered Cherries
- 1 bag Candy Corns
- ½ cup Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe here
- ¼ cup M&Ms or another small candy
- 1 bag Candy Eyeballs
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On the baking sheet, arrange 5 candy corns to create a fan shape with the tapered ends facing in towards the center.
- Place buttercream frosting in a piping bag and cut off the tip. Add a dollop of frosting to the center of the candy corn fan, then place a chocolate-covered cherry on to stick them all together.
- Repeat to make 12 total, then place into the fridge for about 1 hour until the chocolate frosting has set up.
- Once the frosting has set, remove the baking sheet from the fridge. Using the chocolate buttercream, attach 1 M&M to create a beak, 1 M&M on the top to create a head crown and 2 candy eyeballs. You can add any chest decorations that you would like, as well.
- Repeat for all Chocolate Turkeys, then return to the fridge until everything is hardened and set.
- Serve on a platter, or as a quick and easy Thanksgiving table decoration. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More Easy Homemade Chocolate Candy Recipes
- Nilla Wafer Caramel Candies
- Pretzel Toffee
- Chocolate-Covered Wafer Cookies
- Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Easy Homemade Chocolate Fudge
- More Christmas Candy Recipes
- More Thanksgiving Recipes
These easy homemade Chocolate Turkeys are made with basic candies, chocolate buttercream and no special equipment. They make the best inexpensive Thanksgiving table decorations and take no time to throw together.
Brandy
Such a festive and fun treat to make for Thanksgiving! I know everyone is going to love them. I think this will be a Thanksgiving treat tradition in my family!
Kate
These are just the cutest things ever! The kids are going to love making them.