Turkey Shaped Cinnamon Rolls

I love cooking with my son. Not only is it fun, it helps him practice measuring skills, reading, following directions, gross motor skills, fine motor skills and patience. Yeah, especially patience.

I saw some adorable Turkey Shaped Cinnamon Rolls the other day on Pinterest and showed J the picture. He could hardly wait to make them. 

I already had a roll of Light Cinnamon Rolls in the fridge, but no biscuits. So, last night before bed I made a half batch of Refrigerator Biscuits and stuck them in the fridge.

This morning went something like this:

6:30a.m.

 Me: “Do you want to help Mommy make the Turkey Cinnamon Rolls?”

J: “YES!”

Send J to wash his hands. Preheat oven. Take out cinnamon rolls and biscuit dough from fridge. Remove about 1/3 of the biscuit dough and flatten it out by hand because I was uncaffeinated and too lazy to get the rolling pin (the rest of the dough went back in the fridge) .

Put some colored sprinkles in a small bowl and get out some chocolate chips. Get out large baking sheet.

6:35 a.m.

Open cinnamon rolls.

J: “It POPPED!” giggle giggle

Cut feathers and heads from the biscuit dough, decide to skip the feet because they looked funny and I was feeling lazy.

Let J dip feathers in the sprinkles then assemble on the baking sheet. Three feathers per turkey (his choice, I’d have done 4 or 5), then cinnamon roll on top and push down gently, put head on top and push down gently, push in two chocolate chip eyes.

6:39 a.m.

J: “Can I eat them?”

Me: “First they have to bake.” Snap a quick photo then into the oven they go.

6:40 a.m.

Decide against making turkeys with the remaining 4 rolls because I was still uncaffeinated (and still lazy). Put them on small baking pan and into the oven as well.

J: “Are they done yet?”

Me: “No, I was just putting in the other rolls. Why don’t you go play for a little bit while they cook?”

6:41 a.m.

J: “Are they done yet?”

Me: Turning on oven light so we could peek “Hmm, do they look done yet to you?”

J: “Yes.”

Me: “I think they need a little longer, probably until six fifty.”

6:42 a.m.

J: “Is it six fifty yet?”

Me: “What does the clock say?”

J: “Six forty TWO. Are they ready yet?

Me: “Not until six fifty. Let’s count how many more minutes that is. Forty three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, six fifty. Eight more minutes.”

6:43 a.m.

J: Hearing the microwave beep. “Are they done yet?”

Me: “That was just my coffee. Let’s sing the Daniel Tiger “When we wait” song.”

J: Sighs and gives me that universal “Don’t be stupid, mom!” look and goes into the other room.

6:44 a.m.

J: “Is it six fifty YET?”

Me: “Moooom, we’re dying! No you’re not, you’re just hungry.* How about some juice or milk while you wait?” Pour him a cup of juice.” (*from a Totino’s Pizza Rolls commercial – one of his favorites)

6:46 a.m.

J: “Are they ready?”

Looks at clock, heads back to the other room, pouting.

6:48 a.m.

As quietly as can be I open the oven door and sneak a peek. Within seconds…

J: “Can I have one now?”

Me: “Sorry champ, I think they need a few more minutes.”

J: “Noooooooooo! Don’t put them back in.”

6:50 a.m.

Remove turkey shaped rolls from oven, put one on a plate to cool, quickly snap a few pictures.

J: “Are they done?”

Me: “Yes!”

I quickly smeared on some icing on the body than gave him the plate. We had a moment of panic when he picked it up and the feathers fell off.

Me: “Let’s just eat the feathers first.”

J: Thinking about it, “Okay.” He then proceeded to polish off two rolls in about 5 minutes.

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For a healthier, all homemade, whole-wheat version go visit Life as Mom the original site I borrowed the idea from. I still have it pinned and think I will try those next year, or maybe on Thursday morning.

Until next time, happy (and hopefully, patient) eating!
~Audrey