Sweet & Simple: Crafting Delightful Chocolate Kiss Turkeys for Thanksgiving

Are you searching for the perfect Thanksgiving craft that’s both easy and incredibly engaging for children? Look no further! This delightful chocolate kiss turkey craft combines the joy of creative expression with the irresistible allure of candy, making it an instant hit with kids and adults alike. These charming little turkeys, fashioned from iconic Hershey’s Kisses, colorful feathers, and googly eyes, are more than just a craft; they’re a gateway to festive fun and cherished family memories.

There’s something inherently magical about a craft that involves treats, and these chocolate kiss turkeys are no exception. As a bonus, you’ll likely want to have extra Hershey’s Kisses on hand. Let’s be honest, the crafting process often involves a bit of “taste-testing” – a sweet perk that only adds to the experience for both you and your little crafters!

Why These Chocolate Kiss Turkeys Are a Thanksgiving Must-Do

Beyond their undeniable cuteness, these turkey treats offer a surprising array of uses and benefits for the Thanksgiving season. They’re a simple yet effective way to add a personal touch to your holiday celebrations and involve children in meaningful ways.

Charming Place Cards for Your Thanksgiving Table

Imagine your Thanksgiving table adorned with these adorable chocolate turkeys, each carefully crafted and placed at individual settings. They make for exceptionally cute and memorable place cards! Kids can take pride in writing each guest’s name on a small flag attached to the turkey or directly on the brown paper base. This not only adds a festive and personal touch to your dining experience but also gives children a tangible role in preparing for the big feast. It fosters a sense of responsibility and inclusion, making them feel like an important part of the holiday magic.

Delightful Thanksgiving Favors and Gifts

These mini turkeys are also perfect as thoughtful Thanksgiving favors. If you’re hosting a large gathering, children can help create them as small tokens of appreciation for dinner guests. For school-aged children, these make wonderful gifts for classmates, teachers, or friends, spreading holiday cheer in a handmade way. They’re a sweet reminder of friendship and gratitude, perfect for sharing before the Thanksgiving break begins.

A Perfect Classroom Activity

Teachers, take note! This chocolate kiss turkey craft is an ideal activity for elementary school students. It’s simple enough for younger children to master with a little guidance, yet engaging enough to capture their attention. This craft can provide a wonderful way to keep students happily occupied during the days leading up to Thanksgiving break, offering a fun, festive project they can proudly take home to their families. It’s an opportunity to incorporate fine motor skills, creativity, and holiday spirit into the curriculum.

Whether you’re making this Thanksgiving craft with your own children, nieces, nephews, or a classroom full of students, its simplicity and charm guarantee a fun and rewarding experience. What makes it even better is that many of the required materials are common household items or easily found at any craft store, making it a convenient last-minute project.

The Educational and Developmental Benefits of Crafting

Beyond the festive fun, engaging in crafts like these chocolate kiss turkeys offers significant developmental benefits for children:

• Fine Motor Skills: Cutting small shapes, gluing tiny pieces, and arranging feathers all help to refine hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
• Creativity and Imagination: While following instructions, children can still express their individuality through feather choices, color combinations, and placement, fostering creative thinking.
• Following Instructions: The step-by-step nature of the craft teaches children to listen and follow directions, an important skill for school and life.
• Problem-Solving: Sometimes a feather won’t stick quite right, or a googly eye goes askew. These small challenges encourage children to think of solutions.
• Sense of Accomplishment: Completing a craft provides a tangible outcome that boosts self-esteem and pride in their work.
• Quality Family Time: Crafting together creates a relaxed environment for conversation, bonding, and making lasting memories.

Materials You’ll Need for Your Turkey Kiss Creations

One of the best aspects of this craft is its reliance on readily available and affordable materials. You might even have most of these items in your craft bin already!

Equipment

• Glue stick or liquid craft glue (a glue gun on a low setting can also be used by adults for quicker drying)
• Small scissors (child-safe scissors for kids, sharp craft scissors for adults)

Supplies (for 8 turkeys)

• 8 Hershey Kisses (or similar chocolate candies)
• 1 sheet brown paper (construction paper or cardstock works well)
• 16 small googly eyes (approx. 5-7mm diameter)
• 1 piece red felt
• 1 piece orange felt
• 32 small feathers in assorted colors (4 feathers per turkey)

Hershey Kiss Turkey Craft: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Author: Jaclyn

Prep:

30
mins

Total:

30
mins

Looking for a fun Thanksgiving craft idea? These adorable chocolate kiss turkeys are easy to make using Hershey’s Kisses, felt, feathers, and paper, resulting in charming little decorations or treats.

Yields:
8 turkeys

Print

Pin

Equipment

• Glue stick (or liquid craft glue for stronger adhesion)
• Small scissors

Supplies (for 8 turkeys)

• 8 Hershey Kisses (or similar pointed chocolate candy)
• 1 sheet brown paper (construction paper or light cardstock)
• 16 small googly eyes (approx. 5-7mm)
• 1 piece red felt (for wattles)
• 1 piece orange felt (for beaks)
• 32 small feathers (assorted colors are best, 4 per turkey)

Instructions for Crafting Your Chocolate Turkeys

1. Prepare the Turkey Bases: From your brown paper sheet, carefully cut out 8 rectangles. Each rectangle should measure approximately 2 ½ inches in length and 1 inch in width. These will form the base and provide support for your turkey’s feathers.
   
2. Cut Felt Features: Using your orange felt, cut out 8 tiny triangle shapes to serve as the turkeys’ beaks. From the red felt, cut 8 small, irregular wattle shapes. The key is to make these features small enough to fit proportionately onto the front of a Hershey’s Kiss. Precision isn’t paramount here; the charm comes from their handmade quality!
3. Assemble the Turkey Faces: Unwrap your Hershey Kisses. For each chocolate kiss, carefully glue on two googly eyes. Next, attach an orange felt beak and a red felt wattle just below the eyes. A glue stick works well for this, or a tiny dot of liquid craft glue for a stronger hold. Allow the glue to dry completely before moving to the next step to prevent pieces from shifting.
   
4. Fold the Base: Take one of your brown paper rectangles and fold it precisely in half. Press down firmly along the crease to ensure it’s well-defined. Then, open the rectangle back up so it lies flat again, with the crease visible in the center.
5. Attach the Feathers: Apply a generous amount of glue (either stick or liquid) to one half of the folded brown rectangle – specifically, the half that will form the “back” of the turkey. Arrange four small feathers in a row along the glued surface, ensuring their colorful tips point upwards. Carefully fold the other half of the brown paper back over the feathers and press firmly for about 10 seconds. This step helps to secure the feathers. Once set, open the paper up again so the feathers are now standing upright, creating a vibrant tail, and the bottom half of the brown paper remains flat against your workspace.
   
6. Final Assembly: Apply glue to the flat bottom surface of your chocolate kiss turkey (the part that doesn’t have feathers). Carefully adhere the turkey onto the front, flat half of the brown paper base. Position it so that the colorful feathers stand proudly behind the chocolate kiss, creating the turkey’s distinctive tail. Press down gently to secure. Allow sufficient drying time for all glue to set before handling the finished turkeys.
   

Creative Variations & Customization Ideas

While the classic chocolate kiss turkey is adorable, don’t hesitate to get creative with your craft! Here are a few ideas to inspire unique variations:

• Different Candy Bodies: Experiment with other small, conical candies like chocolate drops or even gumdrops for different turkey shapes and flavors.
• Feather Fun: Instead of traditional feathers, consider using colored construction paper cut into feather shapes, tissue paper, or even small fabric scraps for a different texture. Glitter glue on the feathers can add an extra sparkle!
• Personalized Touches: Write the names of your Thanksgiving guests on the brown paper base to turn each turkey into a personalized place card. You could also add a tiny paper tag with a handwritten “Thankful For…” message.
• Pipe Cleaner Legs: Add two short pipe cleaner pieces bent at the ends for little turkey legs, giving them more character.
• Decorative Bases: Instead of simple brown paper, use patterned scrapbook paper with fall themes for the base to add extra visual interest.
• Mini Hats: Craft tiny pilgrim hats or chef hats from black paper or felt to give your turkeys a humorous touch.

Tips for a Smooth Crafting Session with Kids

To ensure your crafting experience is enjoyable and stress-free, especially with younger children, consider these helpful tips:

• Prepare Ahead: Pre-cut the felt beaks, wattles, and brown paper rectangles before you start. This saves time and minimizes frustration for little hands.
• Cover Your Workspace: Lay down newspaper, a craft mat, or an old tablecloth to protect your table from glue and stray feathers.
• Supervise Glue Use: Guide children on how much glue to use. Too little won’t stick, too much creates a mess and takes longer to dry.
• Embrace Imperfection: Remind yourself and your children that handmade items are unique. The goal is to have fun and be creative, not to achieve perfection.
• Snack Time: Remember those extra Hershey’s Kisses? Have a few readily available for snacking during the craft. It’s part of the fun!
• Teamwork: If you have multiple children, assign different roles – one cuts feathers, one glues eyes, etc. This encourages collaboration.

For more festive fun and delightful holiday treats, be sure to explore these other Thanksgiving-themed ideas: Turkey Rice Krispie Treats and Turkey Cupcakes. They’re perfect complements to your chocolate kiss turkeys and are guaranteed to bring more smiles to your Thanksgiving celebration.

Share Your Creations!

We hope you and your family enjoy making this charming and easy Thanksgiving craft. It’s a wonderful way to foster creativity, spend quality time together, and add a personal, sweet touch to your holiday. May your Thanksgiving be filled with warmth, laughter, and delicious memories!

Did you make this craft? We’d love to see it! Share your adorable chocolate kiss turkeys on Instagram by tagging @crayonsandcravings, and don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest @crayonsandcravings for even more creative ideas and inspiration!

Loved This Craft?

Help spread the joy! Share this fun Thanksgiving activity with friends and family.

Email Craft
Pin Craft