These Turkey Cake Pops are so easy to make and will be a hit on your Thanksgiving table. These cute, bite-sized treats are the perfect addition to your holiday celebration and fun for all ages.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Make these Turkey Cake Pops for your next Thanksgiving or holiday celebration and they will be the most talked-about dish on the table! These little turkeys are easy to make and only take a few special ingredients to transform a chocolate-covered cake ball into a cute little turkey similar to my Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Turkeys!
If you love fun desserts, check out my other holiday cake pop recipes like my Bunny Carrot Cake Bites or my Halloween Bat Cake Pops!
Key Ingredients Needed To Make Turkey Cake Pops
- boxed cake mix (any flavor you like)
- can of frosting (any flavor you like)
- chocolate candy coating (bark)
- candy eye sprinkles
- candy corn
*See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Turkey Cake Bites
Step 1: Make a boxed cake as directed and allow the cake to cool completely.
Step 2: Once the cake has cooled, cut it into small pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl. Break up the pieces by hand or with a spoon to get small crumbles.
Step 3: Add a container of frosting to the cake crumbles and mix to combine.
Step 4: Prepare a cookie sheet with wax paper. Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of cake mixture and roll it into a ball between your hands. Place each ball on the wax paper and continue to make balls with the rest of the mixture.
Step 5: Melt the chocolate candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl for 45 seconds. Stir the coating and continue to melt at 20-second intervals until fully melted. You can also use a double boiler on the stove.
Step 6: Dip each ball in the melted chocolate, tap off the excess, and place on wax paper. Add the eyes, a snood, beak, and tail. Chill the cake pops in the fridge until set.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- I used a white cake mix for these cake balls and a vanilla frosting. You can use any flavor combination that you like including chocolate, spice, and yellow cake to name a few.
- To keep the mixture from sticking to your hands while forming the balls, spray them with non-stick spray or place a little vegetable oil on your hands.
- I used Brach's Autumn Mix of candy corn that has both yellow and brown colors.
- If you can't find chocolate bark, you can substitute it with chocolate chips.
- These Turkey Cake Bites will last in the fridge in a covered container for 3-4 days.
- You can easily cut this recipe in half if you don't want 48 turkeys, make 24 instead!
- My version of cake pops does not have a lollipop stick on the bottom. I find it easier to make, store, and serve. Of course, you can add sticks if you want to.
Recipe FAQs
You can make these turkey cake pops cake pops 1–2 days in advance and stored in the fridge.
Store cake balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
You can freeze cake pops (undecorated) for up to 1 month. Thaw them in the fridge before decorating.
This can happen if the coating is too hot or the cake balls are too cold when dipped.
Thin the chocolate with a bit of coconut oil or vegetable oil before dipping.
Supplies Needed to Decorate Turkey Cake Balls
To make these cute little turkeys you will need three types of sprinkles and some candy corn. Candy eyeballs are pretty easy to find nowadays online or in the grocery store. You will also need heart-shaped sprinkles and small round sprinkles for the eyes.
If you get a chance to make this recipe, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Bites
Equipment
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 9x13 sheet cake pan (or any pan to make a cake)
- wooden spoon or rubber spatula to mix the cake into a dough
- long-handled spoon or a stick for dipping
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix (I used a white cake mix)
- vegetable oil (to make the cake)
- eggs (to make the cake)
- 1 can frosting (I used vanilla flavor)
- 1 package chocolate candy coating (bark)
- candy eye sprinkles
- 1 bag candy corn
- red heart sprinkles
- ball sprinkles ( I used gold but you can use any color you have)
Instructions
- Make a boxed cake as directed on the box and allow the cake to cool completely. Once the cake has cooled, cut it into small pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl. Break up the pieces by hand or with a spoon to get small crumbles.
- Take the container of frosting and mix it into the crumble mixture. This takes a little elbow grease to get it all mixed in. The mixture will be similar to a dough.
- Prepare a baking sheet with wax paper. Scoop out 1 tablespoon of cake mixture and roll it into a ball between your hands (this is easier if you spray your hands with non-stick spray). Place each ball on the wax paper and continue to make balls with the rest of the mixture.
- Melt the chocolate candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl for 45 seconds. Stir the coating and continue to melt at 20-second intervals until fully melted. You can also use a double boiler on the stove.
- Using a long-handled spoon or dipping stick, dip each ball into the melted chocolate and coat it completely. Tap off the excess coating and place the ball back on the wax paper. Immediately place two candy eyes, a heart for a snood, a ball for a beak, and 3 candy corns for a tail.
- Allow the turkeys to set completely before enjoying (you can speed up the process in the fridge).
Video
Notes
- I used a white cake mix for these cake balls and a vanilla frosting. You can use any flavor combination that you like including chocolate, spice, and yellow cake to name a few.
- To keep the mixture from sticking to your hands while forming the balls, spray them with non-stick spray or place a little vegetable oil on your hands.
- I used the Brach’s Autumn Mix of candy corn that has both yellow and brown colors.
- If you can’t find chocolate bark, you can substitute it with chocolate chips.
- These Turkey Cake Bites will last in the fridge in a covered container for 3-4 days.
- You can easily cut this recipe in half if you don’t want 48 turkeys, make 24 instead!
- My version of cake pops does not have a lollipop stick on the bottom. I find it easier to make, store and serve. Of course, you can add sticks if you want to.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Robyn says
Wish u read the reviews! These were impossible to make once it came to dipping the chocolate! What a mess and unnecessary frustration!
Emily says
Hi Robyn, sorry you had so much trouble these. Feel free to email me with more details and I'd be happy to troubleshoot with you ☺️
Sue says
I made this yesterday and although there were very cute,, I had a great deal more difficulty in making them than your youtube showed. I found the chocolate did not come out as nice and smooth as yours did (I used Ghiradelli melting wafers), I certainly was not able to use my fingers to place things because the chocolate was still too wet and messy (I had to use tweezers). I have made cake balls before so this was not my first attempt.
Is it the type of chocolate that you are using that makes yours smoother? Could you give me any hints for future attempts?
Sue
Emily says
Hi Sue, sorry your turkeys weren't as easy to make. I haven't used Ghiradelli chocolate to make cake bites, but I wouldn't think it would be an issue. I always use the almond bark bricks found at most grocery stores (link in post).
When I make cake bites and I think the coating it's not as smooth as I would like, I will add a little oil to the mixture (vegetable or coconut oil work well). Just add a little at a time until you get a smooth consistency, don't add too much.
If the chocolate is still too runny when assembling, wait a few minutes for it to start to set to add the face. I would still add the candy corn on top right away since you have to push them into the ball.
Tweezers are a great tool to use in the kitchen, I've made these so many times I use my fingers but I have used tweezers or toothpicks for help.
The other tip I would share is to make sure you don't get any water in your melting chocolate (you probably already know this). Any water will make the chocolate seize up.
I hope this helps and that you try again! 🙂
-Emily
Jennifer says
I can’t wait to make these for thanksgiving! Did you stick the tip of the candy corn into the ball or cut the tip off?
Emily says
Just stick the candy corn right in the ball, no need to cut off the tip. Have fun making these!
Sue says
I absolutely adore these. You had me at candy eyes!! These will be on my Thanksgiving menu for SURE!
Emily says
Candy eyes are the ultimate accessory for fun desserts! Enjoy!
Sabrina says
These are so cute. Awesome for thanksgiving!
Emily says
Thanks, Sabrina!
Julie says
OMG, these little turkey treats are so super fun! I love how festive your recipes are!!! xx
Emily says
Thanks, Julie! I love any holiday because it's an excuse to make something fun and declious!