If you love easy Thanksgiving desserts, this Chocolate Brownie Turkey Tart is exactly the kind of recipe you will want on your holiday table.
This playful brownie tart is simple, festive, and fun to decorate. It gives you all the charm of a themed Thanksgiving dessert without adding a complicated baking project to an already busy cooking day.
Thanksgiving usually comes with a long list of dishes to prepare. There is the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables, rolls, and all the little details that make the meal feel special. With so many things competing for oven space, dessert needs to be realistic. This turkey tart keeps things manageable by starting with a boxed brownie mix, then turning it into a cute Thanksgiving treat with chocolate buttercream and colorful candies.
The best part is that you do not need special baking skills to make it. A tart pan gives the brownie a neat, finished look, especially if it has a removable bottom. If you do not have one, an 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan will also work. The goal is to bake one large brownie base, frost it, and decorate the top like a turkey.
The directions are wonderfully simple: buy a box of brownie mix and prepare it according to the instructions on the package. If you have a favorite homemade brownie recipe, you can use it instead, but a mix is a smart shortcut when you are making a full Thanksgiving meal. This dessert is less about making the most complicated brownie and more about creating something sweet, seasonal, and memorable.
Once the brownie has baked and cooled completely, spread a layer of chocolate buttercream over the top. The frosting gives the candies something to stick to and adds rich chocolate flavor. It also creates a smooth surface for arranging the turkey design.
Regular M&Ms work well for decorating. Sort out the brown, red, yellow, and orange candies for the turkey, and set aside the green and blue ones for snacking or another use. Depending on the size of your tart and the pattern you choose, you may need one or two bags to get enough of each color.
For the easiest decorating method, start with the turkey’s feet, then outline the body using brown M&Ms. After that, build the feathers around the body in rows or patterns using red, yellow, and orange candies. You can keep the colors in order or make the feathers more playful and random. Fill in the turkey’s body with brown M&Ms, add a candy beak, and finish with candy eyes. A tiny bit of extra buttercream can help hold the eyes in place.
This Chocolate Brownie Turkey Tart is a great choice when you want a Thanksgiving dessert that feels homemade, looks adorable, and does not take all day. It is especially fun for kids to help decorate, and it makes a cheerful centerpiece for a dessert table. Serve it in slices just like a brownie cake, and enjoy a sweet ending to the holiday meal.
Chocolate Brownie Turkey Tart
A fun and easy Thanksgiving brownie dessert decorated with chocolate buttercream, M&Ms, and candy eyes.
Ingredients
- 1 box brownie mix, plus the ingredients listed on the box
- 1-2 bags regular M&Ms
- 2 candy eyeballs
Chocolate Buttercream
- 1 stick butter, 1/2 cup
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2.5-3.5 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
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Preheat the oven according to the directions on the brownie mix box.
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Generously butter the bottom and sides of a tart pan. A tart pan with a removable bottom is recommended. If needed, use an 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan.
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Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Prepare the brownie batter as directed on the package, then pour it into the pan.
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Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Let the brownie cool completely before removing it from the pan.
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Spread chocolate buttercream evenly over the cooled brownie.
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Sort the M&Ms by color. Use brown candies for the body and warm colors such as red, yellow, and orange for the feathers.
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Start by placing the turkey’s feet, then create the outline of the body with brown M&Ms.
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Add the feathers in any color order or pattern you like. Fill in the body with brown M&Ms. Make a beak using 2 M&Ms cut in half and 1 whole M&M. Add the candy eyes, using a little extra buttercream as glue if needed.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 58g |
Protein: 3g |
Fat: 14g |
Saturated Fat: 7g |
Sugar: 45g |
Sodium: 157mg
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided as a courtesy. Changing ingredients or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
