Have your kids been asked to disguise a turkey for Thanksgiving? Give it a sweet twist with a Cupcake Turkey Disguise! Kids can color, cut, and glue their way to a fun cupcake costume that helps their turkey hide in the most delicious way possible, complete with frosting and a berry on top.
Disguise a Turkey as a Cupcake
When my kids were younger, we always looked forward to the annual turkey disguise project. I can still picture them at the kitchen table, surrounded by crayons, paper scraps, and glue sticks, coming up with the funniest ways to hide their turkeys. The cupcake disguise was always a hit—colorful, cheerful, and just the right mix of silly and sweet. Looking back, I love how something so simple brought out so much creativity and laughter.
Why You’ll Love This Craft
The Cupcake Turkey Disguise is perfect for classrooms, after-school activities, or a cozy family craft time. It encourages creativity and helps kids use fine motor skills while keeping the holiday fun and lighthearted.
- Easy prep – Just print, color, cut, and glue—no complicated steps.
- Skill building – Great practice for coloring neatly and cutting with care.
- Flexible for all ages – Preschoolers, elementary students, and older kids can all enjoy it.
- Classroom-friendly – A quiet, low-mess activity that works well for centers or art time.
- Encourages imagination – Kids love coming up with names and stories for their disguised turkeys.
The Story Behind the Turkey Disguise Project
The turkey disguise project has been a classroom favorite for years, and it all likely started with the children’s book Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano. In the story, a clever turkey tries to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner by dressing up in different costumes. Kids loved the idea—and so did teachers!
Before long, the story turned into a hands-on project where students could color, cut, and glue their own turkey disguises. Over time, it’s become a fun Thanksgiving tradition with turkeys disguised as superheroes or unicorns, and even Santa Claus.
Craft Supplies Needed to Make a Santa Turkey Disguise
Before you start this craft, make sure you have all the right arts and craft supplies.
- Cupcake Turkey Disguise Template (free with email subscription)
- Colored pencils or crayons
- Scissors
- Mini Glue Dots or glue
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Cupcake Turkey Disguise
This craft is easy to set up—just download the free printable, gather your supplies, and let kids make a playful turkey disguise they’ll love!
STEP 1: Print the template. Click the link in the materials list and subscribe to our free craft newsletter to get the Cupcake Turkey Disguise PDF. Then, go to the post titled “Cupcake Turkey Disguise” on Substack to find your download link. Print the templates on white paper or cardstock.
STEP 2: Get the disguise ready. Use colored pencils to fill in your turkey template—try pink, brown, light brown, yellow, orange, red, and green!
STEP 3: Cut out the shapes. Use scissors to cut out the patterns.
STEP 4: Put the turkey together. Use glue or Glue Dots (a less messy option) to assemble your turkey and cupcake pieces.
Take It Further
If your kids or students want to keep creating, try one of these extension ideas:
- Mix in different materials – Try adding tissue paper, pom poms, felt, puffy paint, or foam shapes to make the turkey stand out.
- Create a cupcake scene – Draw or cut out a background to show your turkey hiding in a bakery or kitchen.
- Give your turkey a personality – Add funny faces, hats, or accessories to make each disguise unique.
- Turn it into a group project – Have each child make a turkey disguise and connect them for a classroom or hallway bulletin board display.
- Combine with writing – Ask kids to describe their turkey’s disguise or invent a short story about why it chose that cupcake.
More Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
Want more ways to keep kids busy and creative this Thanksgiving? Check out these fun projects:
- Thanksgiving Suncatchers – Use colorful tissue paper and contact paper to make bright, festive window decorations. Includes a turkey suncatcher!
- Gratitude Tree Craft – Create a small tree and add leaves where kids can write what they’re thankful for.
- Gratitude Stones – Paint small stones with hearts or simple symbols to represent thankfulness.
- Design Your Own Turkey Craft – Let kids combine popsicle sticks, paper, paint, leaves, and whatever supplies they like to make a completely unique turkey.
- Pine Cone Turkey – Use pine cones, ribbon, and small craft supplies to make a turkey with a 3D body.
- Paper Turkey Craft – Create a turkey with just paper strips.
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