25 Best Thanksgiving Cupcake Ideas

These are decorated to look like playful little turkeys, with Reese’s Pieces fanned out as colorful feathers. Each turkey face is made from a Hershey Kiss dipped in orange-colored chocolate for the beak, topped with candy eyes, and a red mini M&M “gobble." The cupcakes are frosted in chocolate or chocolate-peanut butter icing to tie the flavors together. For nut-free households, candy corn can be swapped in for feathers, making this a fun and adaptable Thanksgiving decorating project.

These cupcakes are the ultimate fall dessert, bursting with cozy flavors from pumpkin purée and a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Their soft, moist crumb makes every bite irresistible. Topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, they strike the perfect balance of rich, creamy sweetness and warm autumn spice.

These blend the indulgent taste of pecan pie with the lightness of a cupcake. A tender vanilla base hides a decadent, gooey pecan filling that delivers classic pie flavor in every bite. Finished with a silky brown sugar frosting and a sprinkle of crisp pecans, they offer all the richness of traditional pecan pie in a fun, grab-and-go treat.

These use classic chocolate cake and frosting as the base, but the real charm comes from the Nutter Butter cookie “turkey heads” decorated with candy eyes, orange candies, and red licorice wattles. Candy corn feathers are pressed into the back of each cupcake to create a colorful tail, while the Nutter Butter is gently anchored into the frosting for the face. The recipe keeps it simple with boxed cake mix and pre-made frosting, making it easy and fun for kids to help assemble. Cute, festive, and budget-friendly, they make a great Thanksgiving treat for kids.

These cupcakes combine the best of apple crisp and classic cupcakes in one irresistible treat. A fluffy vanilla cupcake is filled with spiced apples and crowned with a buttery oat crumble for the perfect mix of soft and crunchy. A swirl of cinnamon cream cheese frosting ties it all together with a sweet, tangy finish. Every bite delivers the cozy warmth of apple crisp in a fun, handheld form.

This recipe creates an elegant fall cupcake that’s ideal for holiday entertaining. Fresh cranberries add a bright, tart flavor that pairs beautifully with the rich sweetness of white chocolate buttercream. The contrast of flavors feels both festive and refined, making each bite special. These cupcakes are a stunning and delicious choice for any Thanksgiving table.

These cupcakes bring together the comforting flavors of sweet potato pie and fluffy marshmallow topping. Made with roasted sweet potatoes, they’re moist, rich, and warmly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Each one is finished with a cloud of light, airy marshmallow frosting that adds just the right touch of sweetness. It’s a festive and creative twist on a classic holiday favorite.

These cute cupcakes are baked directly inside pointed ice cream cones, creating a fun tepee shape filled with rich chocolate cake. After baking, the cone tips are trimmed off, dipped in melted chocolate, and coated with festive leaf sprinkles. Pretzel sticks are added to the top as “poles,” completing the tepee design.

This is a fun dessert that is perfect for Halloween or fall parties. It is made with a simple pumpkin spice mix. Then, it is decorated to look like miniature pumpkins using orange frosting, Tootsie Rolls for stems, and green Laffy Taffy for leaves and vines. It makes a fun activity for kids and a festive addition to any fall dessert table.

These cupcakes capture all the cozy flavor of pumpkin pie — pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and evaporated milk — but in a grab-and-go cupcake form. The batter is baked in standard muffin cups and then chilled so the texture sets, giving a pie-like consistency with just enough cake feel. These mini pumpkin pies on a stick are perfect for Thanksgiving when you don’t want to fuss with slicing pie—and everyone can grab one and go.

This cupcake recipe offers a mouthwatering combination of moist apple cupcakes topped with a rich, homemade caramel buttercream frosting. The cupcakes are filled with diced fresh apples, providing a burst of tangy flavors in every bite. The frosting is made from scratch, featuring a luscious caramel flavor that perfectly complements the apple base. These cupcakes are garnished with a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce.

These festive cupcakes start with a fluffy white cake base, made extra moist with buttermilk, butter, and a hint of almond extract. Each one is topped with smooth homemade buttercream and optional fall sprinkles for a pop of color. The “hats” are crafted from Fudge Stripe cookies and mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, secured with piped frosting to create the hatband and buckle. They’re a playful addition to your dessert table and double as a fun kids’ Thanksgiving activity.

Chocolate Leaves are a creative and tasty way to top your fall cakes and cupcakes. Made by coating basil or mint leaves with dark or white chocolate, they add a festive touch to desserts. You can even dye white chocolate in fall colors like orange, red, and yellow. These edible leaves are perfect for decorating cupcakes, cakes, trifles, molten lava cakes, puddings, or pies.

These start with a simple chocolate cake mix, baked into moist, fluffy cupcakes that are easy for anyone to make. Each one is frosted in rich chocolate buttercream, dipped in sprinkles, and decorated with candy corn “feathers,” candy eyeballs, and a little red frosting snood for a playful turkey look. The recipe is flexible—use boxed mix and store-bought frosting for convenience, or go homemade if you prefer. Perfect as a festive dessert or a fun kids’ activity, these cupcakes bring color and creativity to the Thanksgiving table.

These are infused with the rich, sweet flavor of pure maple syrup and topped with an irresistible brown butter frosting. They are light and fluffy, with a moist crumb due to the addition of sour cream. The brown butter frosting adds a nutty, caramelized touch that perfectly complements the maple flavor. Garnished with whole toasted pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup, these cupcakes are a delectable fall treat.