It’s about time I learned how to cook a turkey I say!! A turkey made out of CAKE that is!
Somehow Canadian Thanksgiving has managed to sneak up on me. While learning how to cook a turkey for a big dinner is honestly on my list of things I want to learn how to do, this year will not be the year! Paul and I will be furiously filming this weekend in order to be prepped and ready to go to Buffer Festival next weekend in Toronto! I’ll give more updates on that later.
This 3D carved turkey cake is surprisingly easy. The hardest part is having the patience to ice the turkey legs and wings. I found that freezing the cake “pops” worked well, and gave me a bit more time before the cake became soft, and was a serious problem to cover in buttercream. Carving the turkey shape is simple, and again, if you’re having difficulty with that, try freezing the cakes before starting to cut them. You will definitely want to freeze them if you are using cake mixes. The cake mixes are much softer and lighter than homemade cakes (as a rule) so carving them is super challenging.
I found the cutest “Peas and Carrots” candy from Jelly Belly on a recent trip to the States. I haven’t looked for them in Canada, but I’m sure they can be ordered online. I found that they were the perfect addition to the cake, as adding some colour seemed to be a must. If you can’t find the peas and carrots, making them yourself out of fondant, candy or modeling chocolate is also a possibility.
Another way I found to add colour to the cake was the addition of the bed of “lettuce” on the serving plate. This again is an optional step, but I think it really adds to the overall presentation of the cake. I used a simple petal tip, but you could do without a tip, and simply spread it onto the cake.
Whether you’re with or without your family near or far, I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving weekend!!
Turkey Cake
Ingredients:
- Two prepared 9″x 13″ cake, stacked
- Green buttercream in a piping bag fitted with 125 Wilton petal tip
- Brown buttercream
- Vanilla buttercream
- Jelly Belly Peas and Carrots candy (Get it HERE)
Procedure:
- Begin by rounding the top portion of the turkey, creating a wide and a narrow end. Save the cake scraps for later in the recipe.
- Round the bottom of the turkey, by carving in at an angle into the bottom of the turkey, and continue inwards.
- In the narrow end of the turkey, carve a cavity, where the stuffing will be coming out of.
- Cover the turkey in brown buttercream. If desired, transfer the turkey to a serving plate for later presentation.
- To make the stuffing, slice a few sections of cake scraps into small cubes, and place on a parchment lined baking tray. Place in the oven on the Broil setting, until the cake cubes are a medium brown.
- Place remaining cake scraps into a medium sized bowl and combine with vanilla buttercream to form a cake pop textured mixture. Shape mixture into two drumsticks, and two wings. Place on sides of cake, and cover in remaining brown buttercream.
- Fill cavity with stuffing.
- Using the green buttercream, pipe a “lettuce” border around the base of the cake.
- Add “carrots and peas” around the base of the turkey as well.
- Keep the cake in the fridge for 2-3 days. Ideally in a sealed container, but due to the turkey’s size, this might be difficult.
Love this – should I use a “sturdy” cake recipe for this, such as Pound Cake? (Sorry if I am missing that recommendation area?)
Whenever you’re carving cake, you want a sturdy one…you can use a pound cake, or my vanilla cake recipe. Either will work….just a box mix won’t.
Hi! Where do I find the recipe for the (white?) cake you like most to use? (I prefer not using a box cake, full of artificial everything, HFC & partially hydrogenated garbage). TIA!!!
Here’s the vanilla cake recipe….http://cookiescupcakesandcardio.com/?p=2687
Thank you SOOO much, Jenn! You’ve saved from what would likely have been a LOT of misery!
Oooo…one more thing: do I need to double your recipe (above)?
To get a good height for the layers, yes!
I’m going to try this recipe today!!!
I’m going to try this today!
Hi Jen i love this cake but i dont like cake pops is there another way to do the drum sticks and wings
You could try rice krispie treats instead??! Enjoy!
Good job I love it can u make a despicable me cake of the minions
I’ve already made minion cupcakes…enjoy!
With the cake, I’m making this for thanksgiving by the way,
How full do you fill the pans??
Cake pans are always best filled 3/4 or 2/3, so that there is enough room for the cake to rise.
awesome
Thank you!
Amazing idea! love all of your vids. I will be baking your ginger bread cookies as well as your vanilla cake for a wedding cake. You rock!
Thanks so much! I’m glad you like the recipes!
hi jenn i was just wondering whrere do you get the measuring cups from
Hi there…I don’t usually put measuring cups in my videos, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Is Paityn going to be in the next video?
No, not yet.
Happy Thanksgiving Jenn and Paul!
Thanks so much!!
What a great idea. It looks so cool and awesome. With that wide imagination making a cake with a turkey design, you can make lots of design soon. Keep it up.
Thanks so much!