Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

You know those moments when you need something absolutely adorable for Thanksgiving that won't stress you out? That's exactly how I felt three years ago when Amy's preschool asked parents to bring "creative Thanksgiving treats." I was already making pumpkin pie for our family dinner, and honestly, the last thing I needed was another complicated recipe. That's when these Pumpkin Pie Turkeys saved the day, and they've been a November tradition ever since.

These little turkeys are so much fun to make, and they're basically the perfect combination of delicious pumpkin pie and candy decorations that kids go crazy for. Bradley still asks me to make them even though he's 14 now and tries to act too cool for "cute food." Last Thanksgiving, I caught him sneaking three of them before dinner, so I guess they're not just for little kids anymore!

What I love most about this recipe is how it turns a classic pumpkin pie into individual servings that look like they took hours but actually come together in about 20 minutes. Plus, you get to use all those fun Halloween candies that are still hanging around in November. If you're looking for more creative ways to use pumpkin this season, you'll want to check out my Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies – they're another family favorite that makes our house smell amazing.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Pumpkin Pie Turkeys
• Ingredients For Making Pumpkin Pie Turkeys
• How To Make Pumpkin Pie Turkeys Step By Step
• Storage and Reheating Tips For Pumpkin Pie Turkeys
• Tips and Variations For Perfect Pumpkin Pie Turkeys
• Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Pie Turkeys
• Recipes You May Like
• Conclusion
• Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

Why You'll Love These Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

• Super quick assembly – You can make a whole batch in under 30 minutes, which is perfect when you're already juggling ten other Thanksgiving dishes.
• Kid-approved decorating project – Amy loves helping with these because there's no way to mess them up, and she gets to play with candy while we work.
• Uses leftover Halloween candy – Those candy corn bags from October? They finally have a purpose again.
• No baking required – The pie is already baked, so you're just doing fun assembly work that doesn't heat up your kitchen.
• Individual servings – No need to slice pie at the table, and everyone gets their own adorable turkey to enjoy.
• Make-ahead friendly – These sit beautifully in the fridge for a day or two, which means one less thing to worry about on Thanksgiving morning.

Ingredients For Making Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

• 1 (9-inch) pumpkin pie – Homemade or store-bought both work perfectly here, so don't feel pressured to make everything from scratch.
• ⅔ cup chocolate chips, melted – This acts as your edible glue to hold all the candy pieces together.
• 4 mini Reese's cups – These become the turkey bodies and add a delicious peanut butter chocolate element.
• 8 candy eyes – You can find these in the baking aisle, and they make the turkeys come to life.
• 2 orange Reese's pieces, halved – These create perfect little beaks for your turkeys.
• 20 pieces candy corn – The classic Thanksgiving candy that makes beautiful colorful tail feathers.

How To Make Pumpkin Pie Turkeys Step By Step

1. Start by using a small biscuit cutter (about 2-3 inches) to cut rounds out of your pumpkin pie. I usually get about 8-10 rounds from a standard 9-inch pie, depending on how close together I can space them. John always jokes that I'm playing Thanksgiving Tetris when I do this part because I'm trying to fit as many circles as possible.

2. Melt your chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring between each burst until completely smooth. This is your assembly glue, and trust me, it works way better than trying to use frosting. Bradley learned this the hard way last year when he tried to use icing and everything just slid around.

3. Take one of your pumpkin pie rounds and position it on your work surface. Using a spoon or small spatula, apply a dab of melted chocolate to the lower half of the pie round.

4. Press the small flat bottom of a mini Reese's cup onto the chocolate, creating the turkey's body. Hold it for just a few seconds until it feels stable. The Reese's cup should be standing upright with the ridged edges showing.

5. Add two candy eyes to the Reese's cup using tiny dots of melted chocolate. I like to place them slightly off-center from each other because it gives the turkeys more personality. Amy says the slightly wonky eyes make them look "more real," and honestly, she's not wrong.

6. Create the beak by cutting an orange Reese's piece in half and attaching one half just below the eyes using chocolate. The pointed end should face outward to look like a little turkey beak.

7. Now comes the fun part – making the tail feathers. Take 5 pieces of candy corn and arrange them in a fan shape around the top curved edge of the Reese's cup. Use the melted chocolate to secure each piece, pressing gently so they stick but don't slide down.

8. Once all your turkeys are assembled, carefully transfer them to a baking sheet or large plate and pop them in the refrigerator for at least 5 minutes. This lets the chocolate harden completely so everything stays in place when you serve them.

9. Repeat with remaining pie rounds and candy pieces until you've created your whole flock of turkeys. I always make a few extra because someone (usually John) tends to "quality test" them before they make it to the table.

Storage and Reheating Tips For Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

These turkeys keep really well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container. I like to place parchment paper between layers if I'm stacking them, just so the candies don't stick to each other.

The chocolate holds up great in cold storage, and the pumpkin pie actually tastes even better after sitting for a day because the flavors have time to develop. Just make sure your container is truly airtight because you don't want the pie absorbing any refrigerator smells.

I don't recommend freezing these because the candy decorations don't defrost well, and the chocolate can get that weird white bloom on it. These are definitely best enjoyed fresh or within a couple days of making them.

When you're ready to serve, you can take them straight from the fridge – they're actually delicious cold. But if you prefer your pumpkin pie at room temperature, just let them sit out for about 15-20 minutes before serving.

Tips and Variations For Perfect Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

Use a sharp cutter. I learned this the hard way when I tried using a dull biscuit cutter and ended up with raggedy edges. A sharp cutter gives you clean circles that look so much better.

Work quickly with the chocolate. Melted chocolate starts to thicken as it cools, so I usually work in batches of 3-4 turkeys at a time, then reheat the chocolate for a few seconds if needed.

Get creative with candy choices. Don't have orange Reese's pieces? Yellow M&Ms work great for beaks too. Amy once used Red Hots for beaks, and they looked adorable (though a bit spicy for a turkey!).

Try different tail feather patterns. Instead of all candy corn, you could alternate with M&Ms or small candy pieces to create a more colorful display. Bradley experimented with this last year and made some turkeys with chocolate chip "feathers" that were actually pretty cool.

Make them dairy-free. If you need a dairy-free version, you can use dairy-free chocolate chips and Enjoy Life's version of chocolate cups instead of Reese's. The assembly process stays exactly the same.

Double the batch. These go faster than you'd think at parties, so I always recommend making more than you think you'll need. Leftover turkey desserts have never been a problem in our house!

Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Pie Turkeys

Recipes You May Like

• Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies – Another adorable turkey treat that uses Nutter Butter cookies as the base for festive Thanksgiving desserts.
• Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies – Simple sugar cookies decorated to look like turkeys that are perfect for kids to help make.
• Pumpkin Roll Cake – A beautiful pumpkin dessert with cream cheese filling that's impressive but surprisingly easy to make.

Conclusion

These Pumpkin Pie Turkeys have become one of those recipes that just makes Thanksgiving more fun. They're cute without being complicated, and they always make people smile when they see them on the dessert table. Plus, they give me a chance to bond with Amy in the kitchen while creating something we're both proud of.

The best part is watching everyone's face when they realize these adorable turkeys are actually made from real pumpkin pie. It's that perfect combination of festive presentation and delicious homemade flavor that makes holidays feel special.

So grab that pumpkin pie (homemade or store-bought, no judgment here!), raid your Halloween candy stash, and make a flock of these little turkeys for your Thanksgiving celebration. Save this recipe to your Pinterest board so you can find it again next year, and trust me – you'll want to make these every November from now on.

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