Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving

Written by Selena of How About Cookie

Between the big feast, luscious desserts, and tons of time with friends and family, Thanksgiving has kid-friendly written all over it. Here’s a way to make it a kid-friendly Thanksgiving; invite your littles into the kitchen and make some easy, fun food art together.

Turkey Plate

This turkey plate is a great way to get them snacking on veggies. I used this adorable Thanksgiving Cupcake Kit to bake muffins, the centerpiece of this food art. You’ll need 4-5 rainbow carrots, white chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips (or store-bought candy eyes), and your favorite muffin or cupcake recipe. I used this Best Ever Pumpkin Muffin recipe—hard to beat a name like that.

Start by peeling your carrots and slicing them in half, lengthwise. Trim them all to the same length, then slice the sides so they taper to a pointy tip. Arrange alternating colors on a plate as turkey feathers—this is when even the smallest of hands can help.

Now for the eyes: Warm a small saucepan over high heat for a few seconds, then turn off the heat. Hold a mini chocolate chip, point down, just enough to melt the tip; stick it on your white chocolate chip and let cool. Repeat to make a second eye. Gently push these into your muffin. Cut a small triangle from a carrot scrap to make the beak, and if you’re feeling extra crafty, use kitchen scissors on an apple peel to cut a wattle, i.e. that red hanging thing. (Thanks, Google!) Balance the muffin on top of the carrots.

Turkey Leg

This turkey leg plate is inspired by the clever Pull Apart Poultry toy. All you need is a red pear and string cheese. Cut your pear in half; set aside. Cut a piece of string cheese about 1/3 the length, then cut two more short pieces—each the height of your first. Have your child use a round measuring spoon (1/2 teaspoon-sized or smaller works best) to carve away the bottom corners of your long string cheese. Ask them to assemble the “turkey meat” and “bone”. Done!

Happy Turkey Day, and have fun playing with your food!

Take a peek at Selena’s food art on her blog, How About Cookie, and follow her creations, crafts, and—once in a while—actual cooking on Instagram.