Thanksgiving has always felt like a gathering in motion for me. The kitchen was full, everyone working on something, music playing softly in the background, and the smell of warm rolls filling the whole house. My grandma makes the best rolls I’ve ever tasted — the kind you look forward to all year. That memory is part of why Thanksgiving feels so special to me. Food has always been a way my family comes together.
Every Thanksgiving growing up, the kitchen was alive. The kind of alive that only happens once a year — with the smell of warm bread, savory meats, and the steady hum of laughter and clattering dishes. Everyone had a job, and somehow it all worked in its own beautiful chaos.
Right in the middle of it all, my dad had his own special project: our Sweet Thanksgiving Turkeys. They were these adorable little cookie and candy creations that we’d make together at our big kitchen table. He’d have all the parts laid out like an assembly line, chocolate melting on the stove, and a sparkle of determination in his eyes that screamed “project manager dad” in the best way.
My brother and I would wait for our turn to start building the turkeys — cookies, candy, and chocolate, all coming together in a sweet little masterpiece. My dad was careful to prep everything for us so the pieces were just right. He wanted them to look perfect, but he always laughed when ours came out a little crooked or when the chocolate didn’t quite set.
One year, we got creative and tried using canned air to harden the chocolate faster. It worked, but it definitely wasn’t edible afterward — lesson learned!
The best part wasn’t the treat itself though. It was sitting around the table together, doing something creative and lighthearted in the middle of all the Thanksgiving busyness. Those little turkeys became a tradition, one that stuck around far longer than I think any of us expected.
Now that we have our son, I think a lot about what I want Thanksgiving to feel like for him. I hope it feels warm and peaceful — that he knows the joy of gathering around a table and sharing food made with love. I want him to have memories of helping in the kitchen and feeling like he’s part of something meaningful.
One tradition I’m excited to start is the Giving Plate. The idea is simple: bake something, fill a plate, and gift it to someone. The only request is that they pass it on to another family when they’re ready. It turns the holiday into a circle of kindness and connection.
Another thing I can’t wait to share with him is my grandma’s rolls. They’re a taste of home for me, and I look forward to teaching him how to make them when he’s old enough to stand at the counter beside me.
Thanksgiving can be vibrant and loud or relaxed and slow. What makes it special is the way it feels when everyone is together — and sometimes, that feeling comes from something as simple as a chocolate turkey.
Sweet Thanksgiving Turkeys Recipe
There’s something about Thanksgiving that fills every inch of the kitchen — the warmth of the oven, the smell of fresh bread, the sound of laughter from the next room. And somewhere between the mashed potatoes and the pumpkin pie, my dad would pull out our favorite project: Sweet Thanksgiving Turkeys.
They’re simple, sweet, and fun to make with kids (or adults who want to feel like kids again). These little turkey treats make the perfect centerpiece or after-dinner dessert to send home with guests.
You’ll need:
- Chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos)
- Mini peanut butter cups
- Candy corn
- Chocolate chips or melting chocolate
- Candy eyes (optional but cute!)
Instructions:
- Prepare your base: Place one cookie flat on the table. This will be your turkey’s body.
- Make the tail: Melt a small amount of chocolate in the microwave (about 30 seconds at a time). Dip the pointed end of the candy corn into the chocolate and press them along one side of the cookie in a fan shape. Let it set for a few minutes.
- Add the body: Using more melted chocolate, attach a mini peanut butter cup (wide side down) to the front of the cookie so it looks like the turkey’s body.
- Create the face: Dab a bit of melted chocolate on the top of the peanut butter cup and stick on candy eyes and a single candy corn as the beak.
- Let them cool: Allow everything to harden for about 15 minutes. If you’re impatient (like we were), you can put them in the fridge to set faster — but skip the canned air!
Each little turkey turns out slightly different, which is part of the charm. We used to line ours up down the dining table like a sweet little turkey parade.
If you make these with your family, share a photo and tag us — I’d love to see your own versions of this tradition.
Keep the Memories Going
At Journey Me This, we create keepsakes that tell the stories behind your favorite traditions — from personalized ornaments to wall art that celebrates family and faith. Follow along at @JourneyMeThis for more handmade holiday inspiration.