It’s often contested between and among families what the annual Thanksgiving spread should include (or not include), but one thing is always certain. Aside from turkey of course, there will certainly be dessert. Most will be putting pie on the sideboard, but we think you should always offer other dessert options to your guests. After all, there is always room for dessert, no matter how much turkey you've had. Cheesecakes, tarts, and trifles are all great options. Why not add fun, playful cupcakes to the mix. These are especially perfect for picky eaters. So indulge in some flavorful cupcakes that use the spices of the season. Really get into the theme with turkey or Pilgrim hat cupcakes. You can get fancy with recreate your entire Thanksgiving dinner on your cupcakes. Here, 10 of the most creative (and totally doable!) takes on the Thanksgiving cupcake from around the web:
Crustless Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
These little baby cakes are the ultimate cross between a mini-pumpkin pie and a cupcake—perfectly moist and decadent. Get the recipe from Mel's Kitchen Café here.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes
Slightly more complicated your average haphazardly-iced pan of cupcakes, these deceptive treats will really wow any crowd. All you need is some fondant, a few creative kitchen tools, and lots of patience. Get the recipe froM Make Bake Celebrate here.
Butterscotch Dip Cupcakes
Perfectly instagrammable, these show-stoppers pack a visual punch with their peaked frosting dipped in butterscotch shell. Get the recipe from Food Fanatic here.
Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes
These big-eyed turkey cupcakes are sure to get gobbled up (sorry, had to!), especially by little ones. Get the Recipe from Food, Fun and Faraway Places here.
Apple Cider Cupcakes and Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream
These cupcakes practically capture everything we love about the fall season—apples, apple cider, and cinnamon-everything. A simple apple slice on top makes the simple treat look straight from the bakery. Get the recipe from Wishes and Dishes here.
Apple Cupcakes
If only this kind of apple could keep the doctor away. Bring fall’s apple bounty to the dessert table with these perfectly delectable (and sparkly!) apple cupcakes. Get the recipe from Woman's Day here.
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting
These sweet little cupcakes are simple and subdued and lean on the eternally delicious combo of pumpkin and vanilla. Get the recipes from Sweetopia here.
Fall Leaves Cupcakes
Recreate the showy colors of nature during fall with these leaf-inspired cupcakes. Reds, yellows, oranges, and brown (aka, chocolate!) all come together in these sweet treats. The leaves look elegant while actually only requiring a few steps and almost no effort. Get the recipe from Pint Sized Baker here.
Pilgrim Hat Thanksgiving Cupcakes
Classic cupcakes (white cake and buttercream) get gussied up with this recipe thanks to makeshift hats fashioned out of peanut butter cups and fudge stripe cookies. Get the recipe from Taste and Tell here.
Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes
Kick holiday season into high gear with some gingerbread latte cupcakes, combining everything we all love about the fall-to-winter season. Bonus points for using the super cute gingerbread sprinkles. Get the recipe from Baker by Nature here.
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