These Cinnamon Roll Turkeys are a fun and easy Thanksgiving breakfast made by transforming ordinary cinnamon rolls into adorable edible turkeys.
Warm cinnamon rolls become the turkey bodies, while crispy bacon strips create the dramatic tail feathers. Pretzel pieces form the legs, candy eyes give each turkey its personality, and colorful candies can be used for the beak and wattle.
A drizzle of sweet cinnamon roll icing finishes everything and makes these little turkeys just as delicious as they are festive.
They are perfect for Thanksgiving morning, holiday brunch, children’s Thanksgiving parties, family breakfasts, classroom celebrations, or a fun cooking activity with kids.
Best of all, using refrigerated cinnamon roll dough keeps the recipe easy enough to prepare on a busy holiday morning.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Fun Thanksgiving presentation. Ordinary cinnamon rolls instantly become cute turkey-shaped treats.
Easy shortcut recipe. Refrigerated cinnamon rolls keep prep simple.
Sweet and savory. Cinnamon rolls and crispy bacon make a surprisingly delicious combination.
Kid-friendly. Children can help add eyes, candy decorations, and pretzel legs.
Perfect for Thanksgiving morning. Serve them before the main holiday meal.
Easy to customize. Use different candies and decorations for every turkey.
Great for parties. Each turkey is an individual serving.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
- 1 package refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing, approximately 5–8 large rolls
- 8–12 slices bacon
- 20–30 thin pretzel sticks
- Candy eyeballs
- Candy corn
- Red candy pieces, such as red chocolate candies or small cinnamon candies
- Orange candy pieces, optional
Optional Decorations
- Mini chocolate chips
- Orange sprinkles
- Red sprinkles
- Autumn-colored candies
- Chocolate frosting
- Maple syrup
Ingredient Notes
Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls
Large refrigerated cinnamon rolls work especially well because they create a substantial turkey body.
You can also use homemade cinnamon roll dough if you prefer.
If the package includes icing, save it for decorating after baking.
Bacon
Regular-cut bacon works best.
Very thick bacon can be harder to arrange as turkey feathers.
Cook the bacon until crisp but not so brittle that it breaks easily.
Pretzel Sticks
Thin pretzel sticks work well for the turkey legs.
You can break them into shorter pieces and position them under the cinnamon rolls.
Candy Eyes
Candy eyeballs instantly give the turkeys their recognizable faces.
Add them after baking so they do not melt in the oven.
Candy Corn
Candy corn works perfectly as a small triangular turkey beak.
Cut it into smaller pieces if your cinnamon rolls are small.
Red Candy
A small red candy or red icing can represent the turkey’s wattle.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven according to the cinnamon roll package directions, usually around:
350°F
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Prepare the Bacon
Cook the bacon until crisp.
You can cook it:
- In a skillet
- In the oven
- In an air fryer
Transfer the cooked bacon to paper towels to remove excess grease.
Let it cool slightly.
Step 3: Separate the Cinnamon Rolls
Remove the cinnamon rolls from the package.
Separate each roll carefully so you keep the spiral shape intact.
Step 4: Create the Turkey Neck
Unroll approximately:
2–3 inches
from the end of each cinnamon roll.
Curve the loose strip upward to create a turkey neck and head.
Keep the rest of the cinnamon roll tightly spiraled to form the turkey body.
Step 5: Arrange on Baking Sheet
Place each shaped cinnamon roll on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Leave enough space between them for expansion during baking.
Step 6: Adjust the Shape
Gently curve the end of each unrolled strip to create a small head.
The shape does not need to be perfect.
A slightly different shape for each turkey makes them more fun.
Step 7: Bake
Bake according to package directions, usually around:
15–20 minutes
or until the cinnamon rolls are puffed and golden.
If using homemade cinnamon rolls, bake according to your recipe.
Step 8: Cool Slightly
Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool for approximately:
5 minutes.
They should still be warm when decorated, but not extremely hot.
Step 9: Add the Icing
Drizzle or spoon the included icing over each cinnamon roll.
You can cover the whole roll or add just a light drizzle.
Step 10: Add Candy Eyes
Press two candy eyes onto the turkey’s head area.
If they do not stick easily, use a tiny amount of icing.
Step 11: Add the Beak
Cut small pieces of candy corn if necessary.
Press one piece onto each turkey’s face to create the beak.
Step 12: Add the Wattle
Place a small red candy next to or just below the beak.
You can also use red decorating icing.
Step 13: Add Bacon Feathers
Cut or break bacon strips into sections.
Place approximately:
3 pieces of bacon
behind each cinnamon roll.
Fan them outward so they resemble turkey tail feathers.
Step 14: Add Pretzel Legs
Break pretzel sticks into shorter pieces.
Place two pretzel sticks at the bottom of each cinnamon roll.
Use smaller broken pretzel pieces to create little feet if desired.
Step 15: Serve
Serve while the cinnamon rolls are still warm.
Expert Tips for the Best Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Don’t over-unroll the cinnamon rolls. You need most of the spiral intact to create the turkey’s body.
Shape before baking. The neck and head should be formed while the dough is still raw.
Cook bacon separately. This gives you crisp bacon without adding excess grease to the cinnamon rolls.
Add candy decorations after baking. Candy eyes and candies can melt or discolor in the oven.
Use icing as glue. A tiny dab helps the eyes and candies stay attached.
Let the rolls cool briefly. Decorations may slide off if the rolls are too hot.
Make every turkey different. Slight variations make the platter look especially playful.
Delicious Variations
Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Drizzle the finished cinnamon rolls with a little maple syrup.
Maple pairs especially well with bacon.
Chocolate Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Add chocolate chips or a chocolate drizzle over the cinnamon rolls.
Pumpkin Spice Turkey Rolls
Sprinkle the rolls lightly with pumpkin pie spice before baking.
Pecan Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Add chopped pecans over the icing.
Mini Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Use smaller cinnamon rolls to create bite-size Thanksgiving treats.
These work especially well for children’s parties.
Homemade Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Make your favorite homemade cinnamon roll dough and shape individual rolls into turkeys before baking.
Sausage Feather Turkeys
Instead of bacon, use cooked breakfast sausage links cut lengthwise.
Fruit-Decorated Turkey Rolls
Use small pieces of strawberries, blueberries, or orange slices instead of candy for some of the decorations.
How to Make the Turkey Shape
The easiest way to create the turkey is to start with a standard spiral cinnamon roll.
Leave most of the roll untouched.
Gently unroll only the outer few inches.
Curve this section upward to form:
- Neck
- Head
- Small curved beak area
After baking, the shape becomes more defined once you add candy eyes and the beak.
The bacon goes behind the large spiral to form the tail.
Pretzels go underneath for legs.
This method gives you the recognizable turkey appearance without requiring complicated dough shaping.
How to Make Them Look Like the Photo
For the presentation shown in your image:
- Shape large cinnamon rolls into turkey bodies.
- Bake until golden.
- Add a generous drizzle of white cinnamon roll icing.
- Place two candy eyes near the top of the curved neck.
- Use orange or candy-corn pieces for the beak.
- Add a small red candy for the wattle.
- Place three crisp bacon strips behind each roll.
- Add pretzel sticks underneath for the legs.
- Arrange several turkeys together on a large white platter.
The mix of golden cinnamon rolls, dark bacon, white icing, and bright candies creates the festive Thanksgiving look.
What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
These Thanksgiving cinnamon rolls pair well with:
- Scrambled eggs
- Breakfast potatoes
- Sausage
- Fresh fruit
- Yogurt
- Pancakes
- Hot chocolate
- Coffee
- Apple cider
For a Thanksgiving brunch, serve them with eggs, fruit, and breakfast potatoes.
Thanksgiving Breakfast Platter Idea
Create a festive breakfast platter using:
- Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
- Fresh strawberries
- Orange slices
- Grapes
- Bacon
- Mini muffins
- Maple syrup
Place the cinnamon roll turkeys in the center and arrange the other breakfast foods around them.
This works especially well for children and family gatherings.
Make Ahead & Holiday Prep
Thanksgiving morning can be busy, so you can prepare several parts ahead.
The Night Before
Cook the bacon and refrigerate it in an airtight container.
Prepare:
- Candy eyes
- Candy corn
- Pretzels
- Red candies
Keep everything organized so assembly is quick.
Thanksgiving Morning
Shape and bake the cinnamon rolls.
Warm the bacon briefly if desired.
Decorate the cinnamon rolls immediately before serving.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator
Because the finished recipe includes cooked bacon, refrigerate leftovers within approximately:
2 hours.
Store in an airtight container for:
3–4 days.
Oven Reheating
Remove candy decorations if possible.
Warm cinnamon rolls at:
300–325°F
until heated through.
Air Fryer
Reheat cinnamon rolls at a low to moderate temperature for a few minutes.
Watch carefully because icing can melt.
Microwave
Microwave individual cinnamon rolls in short intervals.
Add decorations after reheating if they were removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Cinnamon Roll Turkeys?
They are cinnamon rolls shaped and decorated to resemble Thanksgiving turkeys using bacon, pretzels, candy eyes, and colorful candies.
Can I use store-bought cinnamon rolls?
Yes. Refrigerated cinnamon rolls are the easiest option.
Can I make them with homemade dough?
Absolutely.
How do I make the turkey head?
Unroll a small section of cinnamon roll dough and curve it upward before baking.
What creates the turkey feathers?
Crispy bacon strips are placed behind the cinnamon roll.
What can I use for the legs?
Pretzel sticks work especially well.
What can I use for the beak?
Candy corn or a small orange candy works well.
Can I make these without candy?
Yes. Use small pieces of fruit, chocolate chips, or colored icing.
Can children help make them?
Yes. Children can help decorate the baked cinnamon rolls once they have cooled enough to handle safely.
Can I prepare them ahead?
Prepare the bacon and decorations ahead, but bake and decorate the cinnamon rolls close to serving time.
Printable Cinnamon Roll Turkeys Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 15–20 minutes
Total Time: About 35 minutes
Servings: 5–8, depending on package size
Ingredients
- 1 package refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
- 8–12 slices bacon
- Thin pretzel sticks
- Candy eyeballs
- Candy corn
- Small red candies
- Additional holiday sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to cinnamon roll package directions.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Cook bacon until crisp.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Separate cinnamon rolls.
- Unroll 2–3 inches from the outer edge of each cinnamon roll.
- Curve the loose dough upward to create a turkey neck and head.
- Arrange on baking sheet.
- Bake according to package directions until golden.
- Cool approximately 5 minutes.
- Drizzle with icing.
- Add candy eyes.
- Add a candy-corn beak.
- Add a small red candy for the wattle.
- Place bacon strips behind each cinnamon roll to create feathers.
- Add pretzel sticks underneath for legs.
- Serve warm.
Final Thoughts
Cinnamon Roll Turkeys are a playful way to turn an easy breakfast staple into a memorable Thanksgiving treat.
The warm cinnamon roll makes the perfect turkey body, while crispy bacon creates dramatic tail feathers. Pretzel legs, candy eyes, and colorful candy details bring each turkey to life, and sweet icing finishes the breakfast with classic cinnamon roll flavor.
They are especially useful for Thanksgiving morning because most of the decorative ingredients can be prepared ahead, leaving only the cinnamon rolls to shape, bake, and decorate before serving.
For the best results, keep most of the cinnamon roll tightly spiraled, unroll only enough dough to form the neck, cook the bacon separately until crisp, add candy decorations only after baking, and use a little icing to hold small decorations in place.
