Mini Brownie Turkeys: A Festive and Delicious Thanksgiving Treat

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, food! While the traditional Thanksgiving spread is always a hit, adding a touch of whimsy and fun can make the holiday even more memorable, especially for the little ones. That’s where these adorable Mini Brownie Turkeys come in. These bite-sized treats are not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make, making them the perfect activity to involve kids in the kitchen. Get ready to gobble up some fun with this step-by-step guide to creating your own Mini Brownie Turkeys!

## Why Mini Brownie Turkeys?

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about why these little turkeys are such a fantastic addition to your Thanksgiving celebration:

* **Kid-Friendly:** Kids absolutely love these! They’re fun to make, fun to decorate, and even more fun to eat. The small size makes them perfect for little hands.
* **Easy to Make:** You don’t need to be a master baker to pull these off. The recipe is simple, and the decorating is all about creativity and having fun.
* **Festive:** These brownies instantly add a festive touch to your dessert table. Their adorable turkey design will bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
* **Customizable:** You can easily adapt the recipe to suit your preferences. Use your favorite brownie recipe, experiment with different candies for the feathers, and let your imagination run wild!
* **Perfect for Parties:** Whether you’re hosting a large Thanksgiving gathering or a smaller family dinner, these mini turkeys are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

## Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a list of everything you’ll need to create your Mini Brownie Turkeys. Don’t worry, most of these ingredients are readily available at your local grocery store.

**For the Brownies:**

* **Brownie Mix:** One box of your favorite brownie mix (plus ingredients called for on the box, such as eggs, oil, and water).
* **Alternatively:** Use your favorite homemade brownie recipe. If you prefer to make them from scratch, you’ll likely need ingredients like flour, sugar, cocoa powder, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.

**For the Turkey Decorations:**

* **Candy Corn:** The classic choice for turkey feathers. Choose the traditional orange, yellow, and white candy corn.
* **Chocolate Frosting:** To act as the “glue” to attach the decorations. You can use store-bought or homemade.
* **Candy Eyes:** Small candy eyes to bring your turkeys to life.
* **Mini Chocolate Chips:** For the turkey’s beak.
* **Red Hots (or other small red candies):** To create the turkey’s wattle (the red fleshy bit hanging from its beak).
* **Oreo Cookies (optional):** For the turkey body. You could also use peanut butter cups. If you choose to bake the brownies instead, these can be omitted. This option is more simple and cuts down on additional sugar.

**Equipment:**

* **Baking Pan:** For baking the brownies (if using a brownie mix or homemade recipe).
* **Mixing Bowls:** For preparing the brownie batter.
* **Spatula:** For mixing and spreading the batter.
* **Measuring Cups and Spoons:** For accurate ingredient measurements.
* **Piping Bag or Ziploc Bag:** For applying the frosting neatly.
* **Parchment Paper:** To line the baking pan (optional, but recommended for easy brownie removal).
* **Wire Rack:** For cooling the brownies.

## Step-by-Step Instructions

Now, let’s get to the fun part: making the Mini Brownie Turkeys! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a flock of adorable turkeys in no time.

**Step 1: Prepare the Brownies**

* **Using a Brownie Mix:** Follow the instructions on the box to prepare the brownie batter. Typically, this involves mixing the brownie mix with eggs, oil, and water. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough brownies.
* **Using a Homemade Recipe:** Prepare your favorite brownie recipe according to its instructions. Make sure all ingredients are properly combined. Consider using a recipe that yields fudgy, rather than cakey, brownies, as these will hold the decorations better.

**Step 2: Bake the Brownies (If Applicable)**

* **Preheat your oven:** Preheat your oven to the temperature specified in your brownie recipe or on the brownie mix box.
* **Prepare the baking pan:** Line your baking pan with parchment paper. This will prevent the brownies from sticking and make them easier to remove. Alternatively, you can grease and flour the pan.
* **Pour and bake:** Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly with a spatula.
* **Bake according to instructions:** Bake the brownies for the time specified in your recipe or on the box. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist crumbs attached.
* **Cool completely:** Once the brownies are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan before cutting them.

**Step 3: Cut and Prepare Brownie Bases**

* **Cut brownies:** If you baked a sheet of brownies, use a knife or cookie cutter to cut out small, round brownie bases. Alternatively, you can use the Oreo cookie or peanut butter cup as the base, skipping this step.
* **Prepare Oreo bases (if using):** If using Oreos, carefully separate the two cookie halves. Discard (or eat!) the side with the cream filling. You will only be using the plain cookie half as the base.
* **Prepare Peanut Butter Cup bases (if using):** If using peanut butter cups, remove them from their wrappers.

**Step 4: Frost the Bases**

* **Prepare frosting:** If using homemade frosting, prepare it according to your recipe. If using store-bought frosting, make sure it’s at room temperature for easy spreading.
* **Apply frosting:** Using a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off, pipe a small amount of frosting onto the back of each brownie base, Oreo cookie, or peanut butter cup. This will act as the “glue” to hold the feathers.

**Step 5: Add the Candy Corn Feathers**

* **Arrange candy corn:** Carefully arrange the candy corn pieces in a semi-circle along the frosted back of the brownie, Oreo, or peanut butter cup, with the pointed ends facing outwards. Start with the bottom row of feathers and work your way up.
* **Overlap the candy corn:** Slightly overlap the candy corn pieces to create a full and feathery effect. Vary the colors of the candy corn for a more visually appealing look.
* **Press gently:** Gently press the candy corn into the frosting to ensure they adhere securely.

**Step 6: Add the Face**

* **Apply frosting:** Pipe a small dot of frosting onto the front of the brownie (or Oreo/peanut butter cup), below the candy corn feathers. This will be where you attach the candy eyes.
* **Attach candy eyes:** Place two candy eyes onto the frosting.
* **Add the beak:** Attach a mini chocolate chip below the eyes, with the pointed end facing downwards.
* **Add the wattle:** Place a Red Hot candy (or other small red candy) next to the beak to create the turkey’s wattle. Use a tiny dot of frosting to secure it.

**Step 7: Let the Frosting Set**

* **Allow time to set:** Place the Mini Brownie Turkeys on a platter or baking sheet and let the frosting set completely. This will prevent the decorations from sliding off.
* **Refrigerate (optional):** If desired, you can refrigerate the turkeys for a short period of time to help the frosting set faster. However, be aware that the candy corn may become slightly sticky in the refrigerator.

**Step 8: Enjoy!**

* **Serve and enjoy:** Once the frosting has set, your Mini Brownie Turkeys are ready to be served! Arrange them on a festive platter or incorporate them into your Thanksgiving dessert table. Watch as everyone delights in these adorable and delicious treats.

## Tips and Variations

Here are a few tips and variations to help you customize your Mini Brownie Turkeys and make them even more special:

* **Use different candies for the feathers:** Get creative with your candy choices! You can use colorful sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or even small pieces of fruit leather to create unique feather designs.
* **Add a chocolate drizzle:** Drizzle melted chocolate over the candy corn feathers for an extra touch of decadence.
* **Use different types of frosting:** Experiment with different flavors of frosting, such as peanut butter frosting or cream cheese frosting.
* **Make them gluten-free:** Use a gluten-free brownie mix or homemade gluten-free brownie recipe to accommodate guests with dietary restrictions.
* **Add nuts or chocolate chips to the brownie batter:** For extra flavor and texture, add chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or other mix-ins to the brownie batter.
* **Make mini brownie bites:** Instead of cutting out round brownies, bake the brownie batter in a mini muffin tin to create individual brownie bites. This will make the turkeys even smaller and easier to handle.
* **Use a cookie cutter to create different shapes:** If you don’t want to use round brownies, use a cookie cutter to create different shapes, such as stars or hearts.
* **Involve the kids:** Let the kids help with the decorating process! They’ll love arranging the candy corn feathers, attaching the candy eyes, and adding the beak and wattle.
* **Presentation is key:** Arrange the Mini Brownie Turkeys on a festive platter or in a decorative box to make them even more appealing.
* **Make ahead:** You can bake the brownies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Decorate them just before serving.

## Storing Your Mini Brownie Turkeys

If you have any leftover Mini Brownie Turkeys (though it’s unlikely!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. You can also refrigerate them, but be aware that the candy corn may become slightly sticky.

## Nutritional Information (Approximate per turkey)

* Calories: 150-200 (depending on ingredients used)
* Fat: 8-12g
* Saturated Fat: 4-6g
* Cholesterol: 20-30mg
* Sodium: 50-100mg
* Carbohydrates: 20-30g
* Sugar: 15-20g
* Protein: 1-2g

This is just an approximation, and the actual nutritional information will vary depending on the specific ingredients you use.

## Conclusion

These Mini Brownie Turkeys are a delightful and festive way to celebrate Thanksgiving. They’re easy to make, customizable, and guaranteed to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. So gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and get ready to create a flock of adorable turkey treats that will be the hit of your Thanksgiving celebration. Happy baking and Happy Thanksgiving!