EmilyFabulous

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinner Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Sweet Baked Goods
    • Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes
      • Instant Pot Recipes
      • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Homemade Syrups, Condiments, Sauces, etc.
  • Cocktails
    • Gin
    • Vodka
    • Tequila
    • Whiskey/Bourbon
    • Brandy/Pisco
  • Holiday Recipes
    • Christmas Recipes
    • Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Halloween Recipes
    • Patriotic Recipes
    • Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Easter Recipes
    • St. Patrick's Day Recipes
  • Easy Recipes, Cocktail Inspiration, and a little bit of fun!
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Appetizers & Salads
  • Recipes
  • Cocktails
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Emily Fabulous » Recipes » Desserts

    Turkey Cake Pops

    Published: Oct 12, 2021 · Modified: May 5, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 37 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    turkey cake balls

    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.

    turkey cake bites on a plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Key Ingredients Needed To Make Turkey Cake Pops
    • How To Make Turkey Cake Bites
    • Expert Tips and Tricks
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Supplies Needed to Decorate Turkey Cake Balls
    • Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Bites

    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.

    turkey cake pops on a table.

    How To Make Turkey Cake Bites

    boxed cake baked in a pan.

    Step 1: Make a boxed cake as directed and allow the cake to cool completely.

    cake crumbles in a bowl.

    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.

    cake and frosting mixed together for cake bites.

    Step 3: Add a container of frosting to the cake crumbles and mix to combine.

    rolled cake bites before candy coating.

    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.

    melted chocolate bark in a bowl.

    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.

    a turkey cake pop with candy corn.

    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

    Can I make cake pops ahead of time?

    You can make these turkey cake pops cake pops 1–2 days in advance and stored in the fridge.

    How do I store cake balls?

    Store cake balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to a week.

    Can I freeze cake pops?

    You can freeze cake pops (undecorated) for up to 1 month. Thaw them in the fridge before decorating.

    Why are my cake pops cracking?

    This can happen if the coating is too hot or the cake balls are too cold when dipped.

    How do I get smooth coating?

    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.

    a-turkey-cake-pop-with-candy-corn

    Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Bites

    These Turkey Cake Bites are the perfect dessert for your Thanksgiving table and so easy to make!
    5 from 39 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cooling and Coating Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours
    Servings: 48 balls
    Calories: 205kcal
    Author: Emily
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 2 large mixing bowls
    • hand mixer
    • 9x13 sheet cake pan (or any pan to make a cake)
    • wooden spoon or rubber spatula to mix the cake into a dough
    • baking sheets
    • wax paper
    • microwave-safe bowl
    • 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

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10.5g | Saturated Fat: 3.4g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 26mg | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 19.1g | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @EmilyFabulous_Blog or tag #emilyfabulous!
    QR Code

    More Delicious Dessert Recipes

    • 23 Easter Dessert Recipes.
      20+ Easy and Fun Easter Desserts
    • 22 dehydrator Recipes.
      22 Dehydrator Recipes
    • 13 Thanksgiving Recipes for Kids.
      13 Thanksgiving Desserts for Kids
    • 15 Strawberry Desserts Pin.
      Easy Strawberry Dessert Recipes

    Comments

    1. Robyn says

      November 24, 2023 at 10:19 am

      Wish u read the reviews! These were impossible to make once it came to dipping the chocolate! What a mess and unnecessary frustration!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 27, 2023 at 7:55 am

        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 ☺️

        Reply
    2. Sue says

      November 09, 2022 at 4:45 am

      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

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 09, 2022 at 8:53 am

        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

        Reply
    3. Jennifer says

      November 08, 2022 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      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?

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 08, 2022 at 10:20 am

        Just stick the candy corn right in the ball, no need to cut off the tip. Have fun making these!

        Reply
    4. Sue says

      November 03, 2021 at 10:55 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely adore these. You had me at candy eyes!! These will be on my Thanksgiving menu for SURE!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 04, 2021 at 12:59 am

        Candy eyes are the ultimate accessory for fun desserts! Enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Sabrina says

      November 02, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars
      These are so cute. Awesome for thanksgiving!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 03, 2021 at 1:03 am

        Thanks, Sabrina!

        Reply
    6. Julie says

      November 02, 2021 at 2:06 am

      5 stars
      OMG, these little turkey treats are so super fun! I love how festive your recipes are!!! xx

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 02, 2021 at 2:45 am

        Thanks, Julie! I love any holiday because it's an excuse to make something fun and declious!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    5 from 39 votes (22 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    turkey cake balls
    picture of the author and owner of emilyfabulous.com.

    Hi, I'm Emily! I'm excited to share my passions, experiments, and fun with you. I love to cook, bake, create recipes, mix cocktails and try new things!

    More about me →

    emilyfabulous.com has been featured In pinterest, parade, foodgawker, recipe lion, bon appetit, yummly, msn, foodtalk, flipboard, and more.

    Spring Cocktails

    • strawberry rhubarb cocktail on a tray.
      Strawberry Rhubarb Cocktail
    • lemon curd cocktail in a coupe glass.
      Lemon Curd Cocktail Recipe
    • blood orange margarita on the rocks.
      Blood Orange Margarita
    • lilac-cocktail
      Lilac Gin Sour

    Most Popular

    • poolish-pizza-dough-round
      Poolish Pizza Dough
    • sourdough bread on a cooling rack.
      Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread
    • baked-chile-rellenos
      Baked Chile Rellenos
    • ciabatta rolls on a plate and sliced in half
      Easy Ciabatta Rolls Recipe
    • stack of pink crumbl copycat cookies
      Crumbl Cookie Copycat Recipe
    • chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats
      Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

    Footer

    turkey cake balls

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About

    COPYRIGHT © 2025 EMILY FABULOUS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    751 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.