Turkey Brushstroke Cake: Easy Cake Decorating Hack
The Turkey Brushstroke Cake is an easy and impressive decorating hack for Thanksgiving. Simple melted chocolate is painted into feather shapes and arranged on a frosted cake to create a stunning, dimensional turkey design, turning any layer cake into a festive holiday centerpiece.
Equipment
- Layer cake pan
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush (clean)
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch layer cake, baked and cooled
- 4 cups Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup dark melting chocolate
- 1 cup milk melting chocolate
- 1 cup white melting chocolate
- 1/2 cup yellow/red/orange candy melts
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil or shortening (optional)
Instructions
- Bake and fully cool your layer cake. Apply a crumb coat, then a final, smooth coat of buttercream frosting.
- Melt the different colors of chocolate and candy melts in separate bowls. Add 1/4 teaspoon of coconut oil to each for smoother consistency if needed.
- Using a clean pastry brush, paint long, curved feather shapes (about 2-3 inches long) onto parchment paper. Repeat for all colors, creating 40-50 total feathers.
- Transfer the parchment paper to the freezer for 10-15 minutes until the chocolate is fully set and hard.
- Carefully peel the hardened chocolate feathers from the parchment. Starting at the back, gently insert the base of the feathers into the frosting, overlapping them to create a fan effect for the turkey's tail.
- Use smaller, rounder pieces of yellow and red chocolate or a bit of colored frosting to create the turkey's 'head' and 'wattle' on the front of the cake.
- Chill the cake briefly to set the feathers in place before serving as a stunning centerpiece.
Notes
Use high-quality melting chocolate or candy melts for the feathers. Ensure the chocolate is fully set in the freezer before handling. The cake must be frosted with a firm buttercream for the feathers to adhere.