Finally, a turkey you don’t have to cook. Or defrost. Or dig through a ginormous freezer to find. These turkey cookies are fun to make and easy enough that little ones can help. Last year my then 2 1/2 year-old granddaughter had a great time helping me make them. The only down side? Lately it’s been hard to find the ingredients. You have to buy the candy corn and pumpkin cremes around Halloween, because if you wait until close to Thanksgiving, you’ll only find Christmas candy in the stores. The Brach’s chocolate stars were non-existent this year, and I only found one box of chocolate covered cherries in the whole city, so I couldn’t make a bunch to bring to work like I usually do. You can probably tell how to make these just by looking at them, but just in case, here is the recipe.
Keebler fudge-stripe cookies
Chocolate covered cherries, or similar size chocolate candy
Brach’s chocolate stars (or substitute Reese’s peanut butter minis)
Candy Corn (“Indian” corn works best for the colors, but harder to find.)
Melted chocolate chips for the “glue”
If you want to make the baby turkeys, you’ll also need Keebler fudge stripe minis (sold as 100 calorie packs) and Mellowcreme pumpkins
Melt the chocolate chips and add a dab of margarine to thin if needed.
On a wax paper-covered workspace, lay out the feet (stars), add a dab of melted chocolate and attach the body (chocolate covered cherry.) Allow 1-2 minutes to harden, then place a dab of melted chocolate on the back and add the cookie, stripes pointing vertically. Allow to harden, then a dab of chocolate on top of the chocolate covered cherry, and add the head (candy corn).
If you make the baby turkeys, assembly is the same, except use the pumpkin for the body, the mini cookie for the tail and trim the wide end off the candy corn to make a smaller head.
I sometimes use the large turkeys as place card holders by slipping the place card behind the turkey head, but this doesn’t work with the baby ones. Or I put them out later in the day, just when everything is winding down, and the guests are ready for more sugar. Last year we lined up the little kids at the table and watched them eat their baby turkeys – so cute.
If you decide to make these no-cook turkeys, be forewarned: once you start this tradition, your family will expect to see them every year, especially if you have little ones in your group.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
© Huffygirl 2012
Huffygirl's Blog 
So sweet, and clever too. Hope you and yours have a great Thanksgiving!
Thanks Sandra, we will try. We’re having a small group this year, which is a big change. You had your Thanksgiving in October, didn’t you?
Yeah, we did, but my husband and in-laws are American, so we sort of celebrate it at our home too.
Well that way you get to have it twice – not a bad deal except for all the cleanup.
Cute!
I love it!! Talk about a fun mess to make. Going now to find ingredients. Seems like that will be much harder than making the turkeys! Happy Thanksgiving!
I think you’ll have a great time making these with your kids, if you can find what you need.
Awwww, they’re cute! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving, Huffy.
Thanks Margaret. Hope you have a great one too.
These are very cute little turkeys.Thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks. I hope you get a chance to make some. Happy Thanksgiving.
For Ben, your turkeys ARE Thanksgiving! I had to break the news to him this year that not everyone makes these and that Aunt Yvonne will probably have a different dessert at her house. I will miss them, too! (As well as your company, of course…) If you have any extras to freeze, I wouldn’t mind if Christmas turkeys make their appearance… 😉
Luckily for Ben, his class actually made versions of these for their Thanksgiving feast at school. Slightly different components–they used an oreo cookie for the base/feet, a Hershey’s kiss for the head or body (not sure how that was supposed to work exactly), with candy corn beak coming forward from the kiss. They also used chocolate frosting for the glue–understandable for expediency (no time for melted chocolate to solidify), but not very effective as actual adhesive. No matter, because the turkeys were pretty much assembled then immediately dismembered and eaten. 🙂
We will miss you too Judy. I debated on using the picture of Ben, Oliver and Maddie eating their turkeys last year, but I didn’t want to take the time to get permission from you and C/E. I just fired this post off when I got home from work, then dove into – making turkeys.
If you have a picture of Ben’s turkey and want me to use it, email it along and I can use it another time.
Also, brachs chocolate stars … Have been told they are sometimes in baking section of Target!???
Thanks Pat, I’ll try that next time. We don’t have Albertson’s here. I never thought about mail order – I can always keep that as a backup idea. Thanks for dropping by.
Very clever!
Thanks Cecelia. I can’t take original credit for inventing them though – I saw them somewhere long ago.
Very clever and cute 🙂
Thanks Ann. Happy Thanksgiving.
You also Donna, a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
Aw, those are so cute.
Thanks. And lucky for you, they are turkeys and not ducks. Bet you were worried there for a minute.
I found lots of Brachs chocolate stars at Albertsons this year. Now they are on clearance, if you have an Albertsons in your city! They are otherwise impossible to find
Unless u mail order ! Ugh!
No Albertsons’ here – I guess that must be a grocery store?
Reblogged this on Huffygirl's Blog.
What fun! I have to expand my grandchild cooking repetoire– so far all I’ve made with him is French toast and pancakes!
I don’t know if little boys are as patient with things like this, but Maddie helped at 2 1/2. She got tired of it near the end though.
I am on my way to the store now.It looks like fun with the grandbabies tonight and maybe a little sugar high to boot.I am so glad I can go home after I get them all hyped up.hahahaha
Yes, it’s definitely a high sugar experience, but hey, we only do it once a year. That’s what grandmas are for.
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