Best Roast Turkey Dinner Cake Recipes

A SIMPLY PERFECT ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place rack in the lowest position of the oven.
• Remove the turkey neck and giblets, rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Loosely fill the body cavity with stuffing. Rub the skin with the softened butter, and season with salt and pepper. Position an aluminum foil tent over the turkey.
• Place turkey in the oven, and pour 2 cups turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. Baste all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 to 2 cups at a time. Remove aluminum foil after 2 1/2 hours. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 4 hours.
• Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter, and let it stand for at least 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Select a turkey that is plump and meaty with smooth, moist-looking skin. The skin should be creamy colored. The cut ends of the bones should be pink to red in color.
• If the turkey is frozen, thaw it either slowly in the refrigerator or in cold water or quickly in the microwave, following the manufacturer's directions. A turkey weighing 8 to 12 pounds will thaw in about 2 days in the refrigerator. A turkey weighing 20 to 24 pounds will thaw in about 5 days in the refrigerator. A whole turkey can be safely thawed in cold water. Leave the turkey in its original wrap, free from tears or holes. Place in cold water, allowing 30 minutes per pound for thawing, and change the water often.
• Remove the package of giblets (gizzard, heart and neck), if present, from the neck cavity of the turkey, and discard. Rinse the cavity, or inside of the turkey, with cool water; pat dry with paper towels. Rub the cavity of turkey lightly with salt if desired, but do not salt the cavity if you will be stuffing the turkey.
• Stuff the turkey just before roasting--not ahead of time. Fill the wishbone area (the neck) with stuffing first. Fasten the neck skin to the back of the turkey with a skewer. Fold the wings across the back so the tips are touching. Fill the body cavity lightly with stuffing; do not pack the stuffing because it will expand during roasting. Tuck the drumsticks under the band of skin at the tail, or tie or skewer the drumsticks to the tail.
• Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Brush with melted butter or margarine. It is not necessary to add water or to cover the turkey. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of thigh and does not touch bone. Follow Timetable for approximate roasting time. Place a tent of aluminum foil loosely over the turkey when it begins to turn golden. When two-thirds done, cut the band or remove the skewer holding the drumsticks; this will allow the interior part of the thighs to cook through.
• Roast until the thermometer reads 165°F (for a whole turkey) and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted. Thermometer inserted in center of stuffing should read165°F. When the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and let it stand for 15 minutes for easiest carving. Keep turkey covered with aluminum foil so it will stay warm.

ROAST TURKEY DINNER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease with shortening or spray with cooking spray 2-quart stainless steel bowl; lightly flour. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make cake batter using 1 box cake mix, water, oil and eggs called for on box. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon. Pour batter into bowl. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool in bowl 5 minutes. Turn out cake onto serving platter; cool completely. Refrigerate cake 2 hours.
• Make second box of cake mix as above, stirring in remaining 2 tablespoons cinnamon. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
• When round cake is thoroughly chilled, carefully carve away 2 long tapered pieces from each side of cake using serrated knife. This will leave a roughly turkey breast-shaped center. Reserve the 2 side pieces for later use; these will become the turkey drumsticks. Cut an inward notch at one pointed end of cake to create turkey neck area. Cut a slightly wider inward notch at opposite end. Refrigerate cake while carving drumsticks.
• Carve turkey drumstick shapes from 2 reserved side pieces of cake using a serrated knife. Refrigerate pieces while preparing frosting.
• Place three-fourths of container of frosting in large bowl. Beat in cocoa 1 teaspoon at a time until a light brown caramel color is achieved. Frost chilled cake and drumstick pieces with a thin coat of frosting. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Apply a final smooth coat of frosting to turkey breast cake; place drumstick pieces on either side. Frost drumstick pieces with a final smooth coat of frosting. Add turkey frills.
• For "stuffing," cut 4 of the cupcakes into even cubes. Place cubes at back of cake between turkey drumsticks. Just before serving, garnish plate with orange slices and lettuce or leaves.
• For "side dish" cupcakes, frost each of 10 cupcakes with 1 to 2 tablespoons of remaining frosting; dip into green candies. Cover remaining 10 cupcakes with a thick layer of frosting; use spoon to create divot in center of frosting. Drizzle a little maple syrup into each divot; top each with 1 yellow candy. Store cakes loosely covered with plastic wrap.

PERFECT ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the zest and juice of the lemon and 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves to the butter mixture. Set aside.
• Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.
• Roast the turkey about 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.
• Slice the turkey and serve.