50 Thanksgiving Cupcake Ideas For Turkey Day
Move over pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving cupcakes recipes are here! These adorable autumnal treats will be the hit dessert at your next Thanksgiving holiday table. Believe it or not, a lot of people just aren’t crazy about pie for Thanksgiving. That’s why we're sharing 50 festive, delicious, easy-to-make Thanksgiving cupcake recipes that will stand out at any celebration.
Everyone will be so impressed by your Insta-worthy table of sweet and nobody needs to know how simple these cupcakes are to make. Topped with turkeys, pilgrim hats, fall leaves and more on-theme sweets, all of these mouth-watering cupcakes are perfect for a holiday party, work event or school party as well.
Related: 150+ Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes That Will Make Everyone Happy on Turkey Day
How To Decorate Thanksgiving Cupcakes
The cupcake base can easily be baked ahead of time and frozen. If you are in a hurry, store-bought cupcakes work just as well—just channel your inner artist by creating a cute turkey face with M&M's, peanut butter cups, candy eyes and more. You can also decorate the cupcakes the day before Thanksgiving for an easy dessert that won’t take up any oven space on the big day.
What Cupcake Flavor is the Best for Thanksgiving?
Pumpkin spice base is a favorite for a lot of these festive cupcakes, but feel free to substitute it with chocolate cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes or any store-bought cake mix if pinched for time.
Related: 50 Best Christmas Cupcakes
Do Thanksgiving Cupcakes Have To Be Refrigerated?
No, Thanksgiving cupcakes do not have to be refrigerated. Your cupcakes will be perfectly fine left out at room temperature. On days one and two, they will taste great. On day three, the frosting starts to get harder and the cupcakes will be a little bit stale, but they will still taste okay. After day four, the cupcakes will definitely taste stale. Try storing the cupcakes in the refrigerator to make them last a few more days.
How Far Ahead of Thanksgiving Should These Cupcakes Be Made?
I like to make the Thanksgiving cupcakes the day before Thanksgiving. You can also store the cupcakes in the refrigerator, but don’t forget to take them out a couple of hours before serving. Cold cupcakes do not taste great. Another time saver is to make cupcakes ahead of time and freeze them until the day before Thanksgiving. Then defrost them and frost them before serving.
Related: Best Valentine's Day Cupcakes
Best Thanksgiving Cupcake Ideas
Deanna Samaan
These cupcakes are like pancakes and bacon all wrapped up in one.
Get the recipe: Maple Bacon Bourbon Pecan Cupcakes
Pam Beth
How can anyone resist these adorable turkey cupcakes?
Get the recipe: Chocolate Sour Cream Turkey Cupcakes
Parade
If you are a fan of maple syrup, you will love these cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Maple Bacon Pecan Cupcakes
Bitz & Giggles
So simple to make!
Get the recipe: Wide-Eyed Turkey Cupcakes
Bitz & Giggles
Feel free to use your favorite cupcake recipe along with your favorite chocolate frosting recipe.
Get the recipe: Tom Turkey Cupcakes
Sugar and Soul
Roll the top of the cupcakes in sprinkles, add candy corn “feathers,” then attach a cookie head and candy faces.
Get the recipe: Turkey Cupcakes
Ashlee Marie
This recipe is soft, fluffy and has a fantastic flavor.
Get the recipe: Frosted Pumpkin Cupcakes
Related: Make-Ahead Holiday Desserts
Moore or Less Cooking
Dreamy maple cupcakes topped off with maple bacon.
Get the recipe: Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Taste and Tell
White cupcakes with a classic buttercream are topped with an edible pilgrim hat.
Get the recipe: Pilgrim Hat Thanksgiving Cupcakes
The Soccer Mom Blog
These cupcakes are made with real pumpkins and topped with a tiny slice of pumpkin pie.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
Sarah's Bake Studio
Make the grass, pumpkins and adorable pumpkin stems for these pumpkin patch cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
Brown Eyed Baker
Decorate with oreo cookies, whoppers, peanut butter cups, candy corn and icing.
Get the recipe: Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes
Simply Happy Foodie
Just frost the cupcake with chocolate frosting, then decorate with candy corn and candy eyes to make a turkey face.
Get the recipe: Candy Corn Turkey Cupcakes
Cincy Shopper
A simple box mix is needed for this cupcake recipe, then decorated with some icing, candy corn for feathers and sprinkles.
Get the recipe: Turkey Cupcakes Recipe
Related: 10 Recipes That Prove Thanksgiving is the Best Holiday Ever
Preppy Kitchen
The turkey bodies are piped with some chocolate buttercream and a large round tip and all those feathers were made with the flick of a wrist and small petal tips.
Get the recipe: Playful Turkey Cupcakes
Pint Sized Baker
Cupcakes are made up of red, orange and yellow swirl frosting with chocolate leaves.
Get the recipe: Fall Leaves Cupcakes
Always the Holidays
Use colorful frosting and special icing tips to make these adorable turkey cupcakes for Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Cute Turkey Cupcakes
Party Pinching
Too-cute cupcakes with crows, rice Krispie treats and pumpkins!
Get the recipe: Adorable Autumn Cupcakes
Desserts on a Dime
They are so simple to make and look festive on the dessert table.
Get the recipe: Turkey Cupcakes Recipe
Modern Honey
Pumpkin and salted caramel go so well together that you are going to wonder how you have gone so long without these in your life.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Two Sisters
Nobody needs to know how easy these Harvest Thanksgiving Cupcakes are to make.
Get the recipe: Harvest Fall Cupcakes
Related: 17 Cheap, Easy Thanksgiving DIY Craft Ideas to Wow Your Guests
Simply Homecooked
The most beautiful candy fall leaves adorn moist pumpkin spice cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
Something Swanky
Made with graham cracker crusts, an easy 3-ingredient pumpkin spice cupcake recipe, marshmallow cream filling, chocolate ganache and a toasted marshmallow up on top.
Get the recipe: S’mores Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe
Sweet and Savory Meals
Perfect seasonal dessert for fall parties and Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes
Something Swanky
No one can resist these adorable turkey cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Turkey Thanksgiving Cupcakes Recipe
Eating on a Dime
If you have about 30 minutes, you can whip up these pumpkin cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe
I am Baker
Takes the traditional favorite dessert and turns them into an easy handheld treat for everyone to love.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes with Pie Crust Cut-Outs
I am Baker
Made with homemade pumpkin spices.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
Related: 70 Classic Thanksgiving Recipes, From Savory to Sweet and Everything in Between
Sweet and Savory Meals
Dense, rich and chocolaty, topped with creamy and smooth pumpkin puree buttercream.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Brownie Cupcakes
The Baker Mama
Spiced apple cupcakes covered with gooey caramel and crunchy nuts for fun and tasty caramel apple cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Caramel Apple Cupcakes
Lady Behind the Curtain
The cute caramel apple topper really sends these caramel apple cupcakes over the top.
Get the recipe: Caramel Apple Party Cupcakes
Lady Behind the Curtain
Cupcakes are filled with pumpkin and espresso powder, a layer of caramel, topped with pumpkin spice latte frosting.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Caramel Latte Cupcakes
Lady Behind the Curtain
Pumpkin cupcakes have added crunchy tops dipped in melted butter and a cinnamon sugar mixture with a cinnamon-chocolate cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Churro Cupcakes
Lady Behind the Curtain
Pecan pie meets delicate brown sugar cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Pecan Pie Filled Cupcakes
Desserts on a Dime
Enjoy all the flavor of pumpkin pie in bite-size cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cupcake Recipe
The Soccer Mom
Apples are baked right into the batter.
Get the recipe: Apple Pie Cupcakes
The First Year
Applesauce cupcakes with spices like cinnamon, cloves and allspice topped with salted caramel frosting.
Get the recipe: Apple Spice Cupcakes
OMG Chocolate Desserts
If you’re looking for a treat with low calories, you’ve found yourself a keeper.
Get the recipe: Impossible Skinny Apple Pie Cupcakes
Half Baked Harvest
Cupcakes are generously frosted with creamy cinnamon brown sugar frosting and finished with a sprinkling of chai sugar.
Get the recipe: Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Frosting
Half Baked Harvest
Extra chocolatey cupcakes made with warming bourbon and stuffed with gooey pecan pie filling.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Cupcakes with Butter Pecan Frosting
Lady Behind the Curtain
These tender cupcakes are filled with toffee bits and toasted butter pecans.
Get the recipe: Toasted Butter Pecan Cupcakes
Lady Behind the Curtain
Tastes just like a maple bar.
Get the recipe: Apple Cider Maple Spice Cupcakes
Related: 6 Cheap, Easy DIY Thanksgiving Centerpieces That Will Be #PinterestPerfect
OMG Chocolate Desserts
Fresh apples, cinnamon sugar, refrigerated crescent roll dough and maple glaze are all you need to make these.
Get the recipe: Apple Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes
Half Baked Harvest
Chai latte cupcakes are frosted with creamy caramel-like frosting and topped with salted caramel brulée candy.
Get the recipe: Chai Latte Cupcakes with Caramel Brulée Frosting
Pizzazzerie
Made with a delicious butter pecan cupcake full of toasted pecans and topped with brown sugar cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe: Pecan Pie Cupcakes
Life Love and Sugar
Snickerdoodle cookies in cupcake form with an apple twist.
Get the recipe: Apple Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
Baked by Rachel
Moist homemade maple bacon french toast cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe: Maple Bacon French Toast Cupcakes
Something Swanky
The best combo of apple cider and salted caramel.
Get the recipe: Apple Cider Cupcakes & Salted Caramel Buttercream Recipe
Something Swanky
Soft and moist, spiced pumpkin cupcakes perfectly paired with whipped Nutella buttercream.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Nutella Cupcakes Recipe
Related: Which Thanksgiving Side Dish Is Your State's Favorite?
Cincy Shopper
Perfectly spiced cupcakes paired with apple goodness.
Get the recipe: Apple Pie Cupcakes
