Last Updated on August 15, 2026 by Kimberly Stroh

Looking for a fun Thanksgiving dessert that the kids will be excited to make and eat? These turkey cake jars are an adorable treat that turns simple cake, frosting, and candy into a festive turkey everyone will love. They’re easy to assemble and perfect for getting little helpers involved in the kitchen. Plus, they’re a great alternative to traditional pies. In the end, they look like little turkeys sitting on your dessert table.

Whether you’re making them for Thanksgiving dinner, a classroom celebration, or a fun holiday activity with the kids, these turkey cake jars are sure to be a hit. The best part? You don’t have to be an expert cake decorator to make them!

Why I Love These Turkey Cake Jars

I grew up in a home where Thanksgiving was fancy. Sometimes, that leaves kids feeling left out. I like my Thanksgiving to include a bit of whimsy for the kids. These Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Jars are easy enough for kids to put together the turkey design themselves. They’re also individual desserts, so you aren’t left with a large amount of leftovers that you feel obligated to eat. They’re fun, easy to make, and the perfect size.

Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Jar Ingredients:

• Chocolate Cupcakes: store-bought chocolate cupcakes work fine and save time (NO frosting)
• Graham Crackers: the honey graham crackers are best
• Orange Melting Chocolate: the Wilton Orange Melting Chocolates are preferred
• Buttercream: a classic white buttercream for basic use
• Cocoa Powder: use cocoa powder from the baking section, like Hershey’s
• Brown Food Gel Color: a brown gel is easy to work with
• Large Sprinkle Eyes: I used the large sprinkle eyes from this Amazon set
• Candy Corn

How to Store Turkey Cake Jars

These turkey cake jars make a great Thanksgiving dessert to prepare ahead of time, which can be especially helpful when you’re making a big holiday meal. Once assembled, keep the jars covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.

If your jars have lids, simply secure the lids and place them in the refrigerator. If they don’t have lids, cover each jar tightly with plastic wrap. The cake and frosting should stay fresh in the refrigerator for several days, although they are best enjoyed within 2–3 days for the best texture and appearance.

For the best results, keep the decorated jars chilled and avoid leaving them at room temperature for an extended period. This is especially important if you’re using a frosting that contains dairy.

Can You Make Turkey Cake Jars Ahead of Time?

Yes! You can assemble the cake and frosting layers a day or two before Thanksgiving and store the jars in the refrigerator. For the freshest-looking decorations, consider adding some of the candy details shortly before serving.

If you’re making these with kids as a Thanksgiving activity, you can prepare the cake and frosting ahead of time, then let everyone assemble and decorate their own turkey cake jar on Thanksgiving. It’s an easy way to turn dessert into a fun holiday activity.

Pro Tip: If you’re making these with young children, divide the decorating ingredients into small bowls so everyone can easily choose their own candies and decorations. This turns dessert-making into a simple, memorable Thanksgiving activity.

More Fun Thanksgiving Desserts for Kids

• Easy Turkey Cupcakes
• Pilgrim Hat Cookies
• Turkey Leg Treats

How to Make Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Jars Step-by-Step

Start by breaking the graham crackers into 4 smaller pieces. Place the circle cutter over the smaller graham cracker rectangle and press it down over the edges to round them out. Make enough rounded tips for each jar to have 3 graham cracker pieces. 

Melt the orange chocolate melts in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl 30 seconds at a time until the chocolate is liquid. 

Dip the rounded tip of the graham crackers into the chocolate, scrape off excess and then put them on a sheet of parchment paper. Place it to the side to dry. 

Next put the cocoa powder into the buttercream and use a spatula to mix it in completely. This will help assist in getting the buttercream a deep brown color and add a nice flavor. 

Now add 3-4 drop of brown food gel color to the buttercream and mix until the buttercream is a darker shade of brown. Do not add of a lot of food gel color because the brown will get darker once its piped. 

Put the buttercream in a piping bag, tie the ends, and cut a medium-sized hole in the tip. 

Assembling the Turkey Jars: Put 1cupcake in each clean jar. Next, pipe the buttercream into the jar over the cupcakes. Use a spatula or knife to smooth out the buttercream. 

Place 3 orange tip graham crackers in the jar. Fan them out to look like feathers. 

Reheat the leftover orange chocolate. Dip the back of the large eye sprinkles in the chocolate and place the eyes one at a time on the outer rim of the jar. Hold them in place to make sure they stick. Dip the candy corn in the orange chocolate and place it below the eyes to represent the beak. Once the chocolate is dry, serve and enjoy!