My Grandma Rose had a tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving dinner the Sunday before Thanksgiving. When you have a huge family, sometimes it can be hard to get everyone together on the actual day of Thanksgiving. Sometimes you have to switch years with your spouse (this year my family, next year yours). My Grandma’s tradition was a great way for everybody to be able to get together and celebrate Thanksgiving every year! Since my Grandma and Grandpa have both passed away, we still carry on the tradition! So since I will be having two Thanksgivings this year, I get to come up with two Thanksgiving desserts. This cake will be sure to wow my family and I am sure they will be wondering “How did you do that?”!
Ingredients
- 2 (16 ounce) boxes Betty Crocker Pound Cake mix
- • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided, softened
- • 4 eggs, divided
- • 1 1/3 cups milk, divided
- • brown food coloring or cocoa powder
- • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- • 2 1/2 tablespoons milk
- • 1 teaspoon butter, melted
- • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- • 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 9×5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
- Prepare your first pound cake: combine 1 box of cake mix, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) softened butter, 2 eggs, and 2/3 cup milk in a large bowl. Whisk together with an electric mixer or by hand. Add in your food coloring until you reach the desired color (I think I used 25 drops.) or use 2 TB of cocoa powder.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 8-10 minutes less than instructed on box (about 50 minutes.) Let cool, remove from pan and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Cut cold cake into slices the thickness of your cookie cutter. Cut turkey shapes from the slices. Set aside.
- Prepare your second box of pound cake mix the same as the first, except omit the food coloring. Coat a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray and pour just barely enough batter to cover the bottom. Align your turkey cut outs down the center, keeping them tightly together. Poor the remaining batter over the heart cut-outs in the pan, making sure to cover the sides and tops. (Careful the batter doesn’t overflow.) Bake according to the directions on the box, about 1 hour. Let cool when done.
- Meanwhile, prepare your icing. In a medium bowl, mix all of your ingredients together until combined and creamy. Add more powdered sugar if it appears too runny or more milk if it seems too stiff, until you reach the consistency you like.
- Remove baked and cooled pound cake from pan and top with icing. Let set; cut into slices and enjoy!
recipe and ideas from She Knows, Very Culinary, and Play Party Pin
ENJOY and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Shamene
My cake was featured here!
What a neat creation this is! My kids would love the surprise!
Thank you Julia! I think your kids would love it, mine did!
What a fun idea for a cake. It looks like a lot of work ~ yours turned out great. Would you be willing to share this recipe post and any of your other great ones at our Making Monday link party? We would love it and think our readers will, too. Thanks. Have a fantastic day. http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/making-monday-14/
Thank you so much Lori! I appreciate your comments! I linked up, so much fun!
This looks amazing!! Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you so much Elie!!
How neat! I would love to cut into this and see my kids reactions whenever I revealed the turkey inside!!
Thank you Stephanie!! I hope you get a chance to make it!
This is amazing!!!
Thank you so much Carrie!
This is so stinking cute!! I love surprises :). You are so talented!
that is amazing!!! Featured you today!! Gobble Gobble Turkey projects!! Thanks for linking up to Nap-Time Creations… Love your projects! Emily
Thank you so much Emily for featuring my cake! I am so excited!
I just love your Thanksgiving Surprise! Thanks so much for sharing your great recipe with Full Plate Thursday and enjoy your Thanksgiving week!
Come Back Soon
Miz Helen
Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment Miz Helen! I appreciate it each week!
This cake looks delicious and the turkey surprise is really clever!
Thank you so much Ritchil!
Can’t wait to surprise my family with this. Great family tradition Sunday before Thanksgiving.
Thank you Ellen, I hope you get to make it! Let me know if you do, I would love to see it!
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and enjoy your new Red Plate.
Miz Helen
Thank you so much Miz Helen!
Your cake turned out so cute, glad I could be part of the inspiration!
Thank you Britni, yours is much better though!