Okay, so I understand that you’re talking about gluten-free turkey, but what exactly is gluten-free turkey cake? Perhaps you’ve seen the Netflix hit series Nailed It! Their 2018 Holiday special included a turkey cake – a cake shaped into a realistic turkey form. A cake that looks so realistic that cutting into it and seeing buttercream instead of, well, meat will make you double take. I’m grateful that I was able to bring this Nailed It! (semi) success into my house for the holidays thanks to a collaboration with Hungry Harry’s!
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food. This year, why not impress your guests with a stunning Thanksgiving Turkey Cake? This adorable dessert is sure to be a hit with both kids and adults
Two Ways to Make a Thanksgiving Turkey Cake
The good news is, you have two amazing options for making a Thanksgiving Turkey Cake: a sugar cookie cake or a buttercream-frosted cake. Both options are easy to follow and will result in a beautiful and delicious dessert.
Option 1: Sugar Cookie Cake with Buttercream
This recipe from Beyond Frosting is a simple yet elegant design that can be replicated at home. The base is a sugar cookie but you could also use chocolate chip cookies or other options. The frosting is a classic vanilla buttercream, which is then piped onto the cookie to create the turkey design.
Option 2: Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Recipe from Tablespoon.com
This recipe is a bit more involved than the sugar cookie cake, but it is still relatively easy to make. The base is a vanilla cake, which is then frosted with a vanilla buttercream. The turkey design is created using different colors of frosting and piping tips.
Tips for Making a Thanksgiving Turkey Cake
Here are a few tips for making a Thanksgiving Turkey Cake:
- Use a template. This will help you to create a perfect turkey shape. You can find templates online or you can make your own.
- Use the right piping tips. You will need a large open round tip for the body of the turkey and a smaller tip for the details.
- Be patient. It takes a little time to pipe the turkey design, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t look perfect at first.
- Have fun! This is a fun and festive dessert to make, so enjoy the process.
FAQs about Thanksgiving Turkey Cake
Q: What kind of cake can I use?
A: You can use any kind of cake you like, but a vanilla cake is a good option because it is light and fluffy. You can also use a chocolate cake or a spice cake.
Q: What kind of frosting can I use?
A: You can use any kind of frosting you like, but a vanilla buttercream is a good option because it is easy to pipe and it goes well with the turkey design. You can also use a chocolate buttercream or a cream cheese frosting.
Q: How do I make the turkey design?
A: You can find instructions for making the turkey design on the recipe websites listed above. You will need to use different colors of frosting and piping tips to create the design.
Q: Can I make the cake ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can make the cake ahead of time and store it in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze the cake for up to 2 months.
Q: How do I serve the cake?
A: You can serve the cake at room temperature or slightly chilled. You can also add a few festive decorations, such as candy corn or sprinkles.
A Thanksgiving Turkey Cake is a fun and festive dessert that is sure to be a hit with your guests. With a little planning and effort, you can create a beautiful and delicious cake that will be the star of your Thanksgiving table.
Nailed It! Realistic Turkey Cake
It’s true, Jacques, “it look difficult”—and I did freak out, but that was all part of the fun! I followed Nailed It!’s instructions, which are pretty simple: bake several cakes over the course of several days, frost them with buttercream frosting, carve the cake, and coat it in fondant. It sounds simple enough, but it takes a lot of work and time, but this gluten-free turkey cake is incredibly delicious and worth it.
Once I got the idea for this cake after Nailed It!, I went to the internet to see if there were any real instructions for this cake. I watched an entire video (and you should too because it’s hilarious) about it on How To Cake It. While I ended up doing it a completely different way, I learned so much from her videos! I ended up using her fondant coloring (more on that later).
I mean just look at those fondant potatoes! And she even made edible twine to tie the legs together. But I realized that I’m not a cake pro, and ain’t nobody got time to make fondant potatoes. I continued on my deep-dive internet search, and I found a frosted version of the turkey cake that pooped out candy corn (hard pass). I decided to just take my knowledge, head to a cake decorating store, and pray for the best. And honestly, I knew that it would taste good even if it was a fail worthy enough for its own Netflix show.
Hungry Harry’s Yellow Cake Mix
I started by baking as many Hungry Harry’s yellow cake mixes as possible. It’s super easy to order a 6 pack off of Amazon or the Hungry Harry’s website. I ended up baking two 10″, two 8″ and two 6″ cakes. Whatever I didn’t use for the cake body itself I knew that I would use for the wings and legs. I also just went bonkers and baked 5 bags of cake mixes and made assorted cupcakes for a neighborhood block party. Basically my house smelled like vanilla cupcakes for a week.
Recall that I made Island Time Cupcakes with this adaptable yellow cake mix and added a twist of coconut rum!
Get 20% off your purchase on HungryHarrys.com through 11/28 with code GIVETHANKS20!
