Thanksgiving’s Little Helpers: Fun Projects to Keep the Kids Busy
Check out Thanksgiving projects that are fancy enough to serve at the grownups' table, yet easy enough for kids to make.

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Edible Thanksgiving Projects for Kids
Chores like peeling potatoes can make kids start to feel like they are on KP duty, and though that may be fun for a while, it can quickly turn to drudgery. This Thanksgiving, let everyone share chores so they go by faster, then set your kids up with one of these fun projects. Even little kids can roll cheese balls and cut out shapes with cookie cutters, and older kids can do more-complicated projects like creating a turkey-shaped veggie platter. These projects are win/win/win! They teach kids how to use creative thinking in the kitchen, they take some of the work off parents’ hands, and they keep kids occupied. Plus, the results look and taste good enough to meet the standards of your most-persnickety guests.
Savory and Sweet Mini Cheese Balls
Make the Cheese Ball Base
Start with this Mini Cheese Ball recipe from Food Network Kitchen and toppings of your choosing from the grocery store. Refrigerate the cheese balls for at least 4 hours, then roll in bowls of toppings. Press in additional toppings with your hands to coat completely.
Get the Recipe: Mini Cheese Balls
Sweet, Sparkling Cheese Balls with Sprinkles
Savory Cheese Balls
Turkey Handprint Cookie Place Cards
Guests may want to gobble up these personalized hand-shaped turkey place cards inspired by the classic kids' drawings, and Ree Drummond’s Hand Cookies recipe, as soon as they sit down to the table.
Get the Recipe: Hand Cookies
Handy Cookie Cutters
To Decorate the Cookies:
Sparkle Gel Icing was used to write the names and apply the heavier candy and sprinkles. Icing writing pens with thinner tips ideal for longer names are also available. Spread a small amount of icing, Nutella or peanut butter onto the fingers, then decorate with sprinkles, cereal and candy. A dab of red sparkle icing was used to attach the candy corn beak and make the wattle (yes, that’s what the red part under their beak is called). Candy Eyeballs and Jumbo Confetti Sprinkles are both available from Wilton. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal, candy corn and India Tree’s Chocolate Decoratifs also make tasty feathers. The cookies can be made a few days in advance and stored in a cool, dry place.
Turkey Crudite Platter
You Will Need:
Up Close with the Veggie Bird
Leaf-Shaped Chips and Cheese
You Will Need:
One package of 6-inch whole-grain tortillas, slices of cheese (pepper Jack, cheddar and provolone all work well), leaf-shaped cookie cutters, olive oil, herbs and spices in autumn colors, and salt. First, cut leaf shapes out of the tortillas and the cheese slices with cookie cutters. Refrigerate the cheese until ready to serve.
Decorate the Leaf Chips
Bake the Chips and Cut Leaf Shapes Out of Cheese Slices
Pumpkin-Shaped Rolls
These seasonally themed dinner rolls look beautiful on the dinner table, and they're a fun way for kids to learn about the magic of yeast.
Shape the Dough
Divide yeast roll dough into balls, then wrap snugly with baker’s twine as shown. Let rise for at least 30 minutes before baking. The dough will rise up and around the twine to create the pumpkin shapes.
Bake and Finish With a Pecan Stem
Let the rolls cool completely, then carefully unwrap the twine. Press a pecan piece into the center for the stem.
Sweet and Salty Turkey Centerpieces
Dip pretzel rods in melted chocolate then coat with seasonally colored sprinkles, crushed cookies or finely chopped nuts. Fill a rocks glass or round glass bowl with small candy pieces, poke in the pretzel "tail feathers," then push large candy eyeballs into place. Attach the candy corn "beak" with red cookie icing.