Get a quick lesson on table setting fundamentals with Betty’s easy guide!

Everyone knows the kids’ table is where it’s at, and this one—complete with snacks, stamps and crayons—is no exception!

Hosting the biggest meal of the year is no reason to panic. Betty has you covered with a Thanksgiving primer that walks you through making all the classic dishes in five simple steps or less.

Take the guesswork out of pairing with our favorite wines that go well with everything from turkey and gravy to cranberries and pumpkin pie.

Putting together an irresistible cheese plate shouldn’t be intimidating! Here are the top tips and favorite combos for party-perfect presentations.

Whether you’re an experienced cook or just starting out, we’ve gathered the top 10 kitchen gadgets you won’t want to go without on turkey day.

Tackling your first Turkey Day but don’t know where to start? Betty breaks it down for you in this step-by-step timeline that takes you from planning the menu to dishing up dinner for your guests.

Hosting your first Thanksgiving is a rite of passage that needn’t be nerve-wracking—the trick is planning ahead, and Betty’s here to help every step of the way.

First Thanksgiving Menu

Anchor your holiday table with one of these easy DIY centerpiece ideas.

5 Fabulous Thanksgiving Centerpieces You Can Make Yourself

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Hosting the biggest meal of the year is no reason to panic. Betty has you covered with a <a href="/special-occasions/thanksgiving-recipes">Thanksgiving</a> primer that walks you through making all the classic dishes in five simple steps or less.

bettys thanksgiving 101

Betty's Thanksgiving 101

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Get ready for the cutest, messiest milestone! Your little one's first birthday is a monumental occasion, and what better way to celebrate than with a homemade First Birthday Smash Cake designed for pure, unadulterated joy (and adorable photo ops!). Forget complicated baking; this&nbsp;easy first birthday cake recipe&nbsp;is quick to whip up, even for busy parents. It's perfectly sized and&nbsp;decorated with Cheerios, making it the ideal&nbsp;kid-friendly smash cake&nbsp;for tiny hands to explore, squish, and, yes, completely destroy! Let's bake up some unforgettable memories with this&nbsp;simple smash cake&nbsp;that's guaranteed to be a hit (and a delicious mess!).

first birthday smash cake

If short on time? Substitute Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting in place of the frosting in recipe. Add food color to get desired color.

No 6-inch round cake? Use 8-inch round cake pan. Fill pan with 2 1/2 cups batter, bake 25 to 30 minutes. Use remaining batter to make 15 cupcakes. Make a paper template for a 6-inch circle. Place template on 8-inch cake and use it to cut out 6-inch round cake.

Celebrate your little one's first birthday with this easy, quick, and kid-friendly smash cake recipe! Decorated with Cheerios for extra fun.

Here’s what ingredients you’ll need and why each is perfect for this awesome cake.Yellow Cake Mix:&nbsp;This is your secret for a&nbsp;quick and easy smash cake. Think of it as your baking fairy godmother.Bananas (very ripe):&nbsp;Not just for flavor, these bananas are the unsung heroes of moisture and natural sweetness! They help keep the cake incredibly soft and tender, making it super easy for tiny hands to, well,&nbsp;smash. Plus, they add a lovely, subtle fruitiness that babies often adore.Cream Cheese:&nbsp;Softened cream cheese whips up into a smooth, tangy, and rich frosting that's less sugary than traditional buttercream, making it a fantastic&nbsp;baby-friendly frosting&nbsp;option.French Vanilla or Vanilla Yogurt:&nbsp;This adds a wonderful tang and extra creaminess to our frosting, balancing the richness of the cream cheese. It also helps achieve that perfect, spreadable consistency without adding too much extra sugar.Yellow Food Color: It gives your frosting that cheerful, sunny yellow hue, making your&nbsp;first birthday cake&nbsp;look extra festive and inviting. Because who doesn't love a bright, happy cake?Cheerios™ Cereal:&nbsp;The ultimate&nbsp;kid-friendly cake decoration! These little O's provide a fun, edible texture and are a familiar favorite for most babies. They're perfect for little fingers to grab and munch on, making the smash experience even more interactive.Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Water, vegetable oil, eggs

Recipe Ingredients

Ah, the age-old question of storing leftovers! Now, when it comes to this particular&nbsp;First Birthday Smash Cake, let's be real: "leftovers" won’t exist. You see, this cake has a very specific, very glorious destiny – to be utterly, joyfully, and completely annihilated by a tiny human with an insatiable curiosity for texture and a surprising amount of upper body strength.Any crumbs that&nbsp;might&nbsp;escape the initial onslaught will likely be lovingly smeared into the high chair, the floor, or perhaps even your hair. So, while you&nbsp;could&nbsp;theoretically try to salvage a piece, the true beauty of this cake is that its mission is accomplished in its magnificent destruction.

How to Store First Birthday Smash Cake

first-birthday-smash-cake

First Birthday Smash Cake

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Capture first birthday moments with this cake idea.

first birthday lion cake

Short on time? Substitute Betty Crocker™ Whipped fluffy white frosting in place of the frosting in recipe. Add food color to get desired color.

No 6-inch round cake pan? Use 8-inch round cake pan. Fill pan with 2 1/2 cups batter; bake 25 to 30 minutes. Use remaining batter to make 15 cupcakes. Make a paper template for a 6-inch circle. Place template on 8-inch cake and use it to cut out 6-inch round cake.

first-birthday-lion-cake

First Birthday Lion Cake

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Turkey gravy made from savory drippings is the perfect addition to any holiday meal. In just 10 minutes and with only 5 ingredients, this highly rated homemade recipe is easy to make and elevates everything it touches—from turkey to mashed potatoes and stuffing. Whether for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive gathering, it adds extra deliciousness to every bite.Our turkey gravy recipe has a rich history, dating back to the 1950 Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book, which offered options for thin, thick, or medium gravies to suit every taste. In 1956, we introduced a pan gravy recipe that paired well with roasts, steaks, and other meats. While the recipe was originally more general, by the 2011 Big Red edition, we made it specifically for turkey, responding to the growing demand for how to make turkey gravy. This timeless recipe remains a cornerstone of fall and holiday traditions.

turkey gravy

Learn how to make turkey gravy from drippings with this easy homemade recipe. Create rich, flavorful turkey gravy that will elevate your holiday meal.

Taste as you go! Gravy is often the star of a turkey dinner, the condiment that ties the meat, potatoes, and veggies together. So be sure it’s well seasoned before the gravy boat is set on the table.

Do like the pros: use a medium-sized wire whisk to stir up the gravy, vigorously mixing in the flour into the pan drippings to create a roux (a thickening mixture that’s equal parts fat and flour), then as you stir in the liquid.

Recipe meets Kitchen Tested criteria.  Reviewed as part of project  MSO-5941 BC Audit 200 recipes

The best turkey gravy is made from drippings, using the leftover fats and juices from roasting, and requires just a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need.Turkey Drippings: The fats and juices left in the roasting pan are key to how to make turkey gravy delicious.Flour: This essential ingredient combines with the fat in the drippings to thicken the gravy, creating the desired consistency.Liquid: In 1950, liquid options were limited. Today, we have the convenience of using boxed broth, along with water and turkey juices. Any of these liquids help thin the gravy to the right consistency while adding extra flavor.Salt and Pepper: We recommend tasting after seasoning and adjust as needed.

It doesn't take fancy cookware to make our turkey gravy recipe. Here's the basic equipment you'll need.Bowl: A medium-size bowl makes it easy to catch the drippings when pouring from the roasting pan.&nbsp;Whisk: A silicone whisk is ideal for making gravy since it’s gentle on your roasting pan and helps break up lumps. If you don’t have a whisk, a wooden spoon will work just fine.Other Cookware You’ll Need: Glass measuring cup, dry measuring cup, and measuring spoons.

Cookware You’ll Need

Here's how to make turkey gravy in just a few simple steps:<h3>1. Separate the Fat from the Drippings</h3>You won’t need all the drippings, but keep those flavorful brown bits in the pan. Pour the fat and juices into a bowl, leaving the bits behind. These add tons of flavor, so don’t skip it. Measure carefully—too little fat and your gravy may be lumpy, too much will cause it to separate.<h3>2. Stir Flour Into Fat</h3>Flour helps thicken the gravy when mixed with fat, forming a roux. A roux is a mixture of fat and flour that thickens sauces like this gravy. Stir constantly to prevent the flour from burning, and be sure to scrape up the browned bits in the pan for extra flavor.<h3>3. Add Liquid and Seasonings</h3>Once the mixture is smooth and bubbly, add your liquid—broth, water, or some of the turkey drippings—and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting as needed, and your turkey gravy from drippings is ready to serve.

How to Make Turkey Gravy

We’ve heard from you that you love switching things up with this turkey gravy recipe. Try any of these tasty variations:Switch Up the Liquid: Try swapping wine or milk for part of the 2 cups of liquid. Or, as Loveit1 recommends, “…adding a little half-and-half to the 2 cups of liquid (I used chicken broth plus drippings and probably enough half-and-half as I use in my morning coffee). It came out absolutely perfect…”Seasonings: Add garlic or onion powder, thyme, sage, rosemary, or Worcestershire sauce for an extra flavor boost. Start with 1/2 teaspoon of your chosen seasoning and adjust to taste.<a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/no-drippings-gravy/574d05f8-d4dd-4db3-8a81-fa473da1b077">Turkey Gravy Without Drippings</a>: No drippings? No problem. You don’t need to roast anything to make this easy, savory sauce.

Possible Variations

Wondering what to serve with your turkey gravy? The turkey itself is the obvious (and most delicious) choice. We love using this easy-to-follow <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/roast-turkey/925f9e20-4e5d-4b16-a00a-b1b7373ff92a">turkey recipe</a> for a juicy, moist bird that makes the holiday dinner centerpiece. No holiday meal is complete without classic sides like creamy <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/homemade-make-ahead-mashed-potatoes/907d6ced-69bb-4197-bea7-062a5d6f8b30">mashed potatoes</a> and flavorful <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/traditional-stuffing-recipe/33c60498-d187-43ae-a189-c7f23377b734">stuffing</a>—tasty on their own, but even better with a generous ladle of homemade turkey gravy on top.Besides topping a savory sandwich made with your favorite holiday leftovers, there’s really no limit to how you can use this easy turkey gravy. We’ve heard from you that you love drizzling it over biscuits, dinner rolls, roasted vegetables, or rice. While it’s a holiday staple, this versatile sauce is perfect for elevating any meal or side dish year-round.

Serving Turkey Gravy

If you happen to have any turkey gravy leftovers, here’s how to store and reheat it for your next meal.<h3>Refrigerator</h3>Allow the gravy to cool slightly before storing in a well-sealed container for up to 2 days.<h3>Freezer</h3>Store in a well-sealed container or resealable plastic bag for up to 4 months.<h3>Reheating</h3>• From Refrigerator: Reheat gravy in a small saucepan on the stove over low heat. Stir often and remove from heat once gravy comes to a simmer.• From Freezer: Remove the gravy container from the freezer the day before and let thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, reheat gravy as you would from the refrigerator.<h3>Microwave</h3>We don’t recommend warming gravy in the microwave, since it’s easy to overcook and curdle the gravy.Note: If you added any milk or cream to your homemade turkey gravy, it’s likely to separate when reheated.

Storing and Reheating

We’ve heard from users that this turkey gravy is both easy and foolproof, even for first-time gravy makers. The simple steps, along with helpful tips like using cornstarch or shaking the flour with liquid first, ensure a smooth, lump-free texture every time. Many users also appreciate how versatile the recipe is—whether they stick with flour or opt for cornstarch, they can customize the flavor by adding their preferred seasonings or using turkey drippings for extra richness.What truly sets this recipe apart is its nostalgic, classic flavor that reminds users of the homemade turkey gravy their grandmothers or mothers used to make. With consistent results, it’s become a family favorite at holiday gatherings, with guests raving about the flavor and even requesting it year after year. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner, this recipe promises a delicious, comforting gravy that will elevate any festive meal.

Why Betty Crocker Users Love This Recipe

Turkey drippings are the flavorful juices and fats released during roasting. As the turkey cooks, these liquids collect in the bottom of the pan, creating a rich base for homemade gravy. You’ll also notice brown, caramelized bits called "fond", which are pieces of meat and seasoning that separate from the liquid. These bits add even more depth and flavor, making turkey drippings the best ingredient for a savory gravy.

What are turkey drippings?

Here are a few simple tips to adjust the consistency of your turkey gravy recipe.How to Thin Out Turkey Gravy: Add a hot liquid like stock, broth, potato water, white wine, or plain water. Whisk it into the gravy until the desired consistency.How to Thicken Turkey Gravy: Mix 1 tablespoon of flour with 2 tablespoons of water or broth until dissolved. Whisk this mixture into the hot gravy and bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute.

How to thicken or thin my gravy?

Lumpy gravy can result from a few common issues.Too Little Fat: If there’s not enough fat, the flour can clump together instead of mixing. Be sure to use the correct amount of turkey drippings for a smooth texture.Improper Mixing: Not stirring constantly can cause lumps. Keep whisking constantly as you cook.Bits of Meat: Browned bits from the meat and seasonings can cause lumps. This is normal, but feel free to remove.If you do end up with lumps, simply strain the gravy through a fine mesh sieve or process in a food processor until smooth.

Why is my gravy lumpy?

turkey-gravy

Turkey Gravy

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A simple, spiced pumpkin cake with an irresistibly crunchy streusel topping that you’ll want to make all the time, and not just because it’s easy. Cut out a piece for an afternoon snack, grab a bit for a morning pick-me-up, or bring it out for a comforting chaser to a fall dinner—it’ll get raves every time.

pumpkin streusel coffee cake

You can freeze leftover pumpkin in an airtight container for your favorite recipes. Just thaw and stir before adding.

Pumpkin pie spice is a staple spice in many fall recipes, and it's easy to make your own: Mix 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves. Mix the spices, and store mixture in a clean small jar.

pumpkin-streusel-coffee-cake

Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake

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What colors your day? Set yourself up the night before by whipping up some Overnight Oatmeal!

color your own overnight oatmeal

Passionate Overnight Oatmeal: Stir in 1/4 cup raspberries. Energized Overnight Oatmeal: Stir in 1/4 cup mandarin orange segments. Positive Overnight Oatmeal: Stir in 1/4 cup pineapple pieces. Harmonious Overnight Oatmeal: Stir in 1/4 cup diced kiwifruit. Relaxed Overnight Oatmeal: Stir in 1/4 cup blueberries. Romantic Overnight Oatmeal: Stir in 1/4 cup sliced grapes.

Recipe meets Kitchen Tested criteria.  Reviewed as part of SEO improvements Oct. 2019.

color-your-own-overnight-oatmeal

Color Your Own Overnight Oatmeal

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When was the last time you truly enjoyed your holiday turkey? If it’s been a while, we suggest you give your regular recipe a rest and try out this whole turkey instead. As you might have noticed (from its 100-plus, five-star ratings), it’s been helping home cooks master succulent and tender-to-the-bone turkeys for decades now. And its success is nearly guaranteed—a bold promise, yes, but we’ll stand behind it. The reason this recipe turns out time after time is because it uses the brining technique. Brining, in this case, wet brining, involves soaking the bird in a simple solution of salt and water for an extended period of time (8 to 12 hours) prior to roasting. The soak breaks down tough muscle tissue and infuses the meat with flavor. So when we say you don’t have to suffer lackluster turkey again, it’s not a false promise, all you have to do is make this fan-favorite recipe. Our guess is that you’ll never go back to your old standard.

brined whole turkey

The turkey’s skin may bake onto the rack during roasting. Avoid this by coating your roasting rack with cooking spray before placing the turkey on the rack. 

The breast skin often separates from the meat when slicing. For a pretty presentation, slice slowly and keep the skin and meat slices matched up, so they look nice when served. 

To keep a turkey warm after it has finished cooking, set your oven to 200°F and leave the turkey in the oven, whole, on the roasting rack. Another option is to carve the bird, then place the roasted meat on an oven-safe platter covered with foil. 

Always remember, juices collect in the cavity of the bird during roasting. Be careful these juices don’t spill out and burn you when you move the turkey. 

Turkey can be brined a day ahead. Rinse well, cover and refrigerate until time to roast.

Do-Ahead Tip                

Frozen turkey tastes just as good as fresh and is easily available at any supermarket. Just remember to allow enough time for thawing, since the turkey must be completely thawed before brining. To thaw this size of whole turkey, place the turkey (in its original wrap) in a pan in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Did You Know...             

This recipe is for those of you who could take or leave turkey. (No, it’s not blasphemy to be on the fence about this bird.) The enormous size of a turkey makes it a considerable challenge to cook correctly. To get the whole bird done, some parts, like the breast, end up getting cooked too long resulting in dry meat, which is precisely what so many people find off-putting about turkey. Luckily, there’s a way around this, and it’s called brining. Brining is a way to prepare your meat, so it turns out succulent and tender. It can be done two different ways with a wet brine, as this recipe calls for, or with a dry brine. When you wet brine a turkey, it means you immerse it in a salty liquid, a brine, for an extended period — in this case, 8 to 12 hours. The salty brine breaks down the tissue of the meat, which leads to better texture and flavor. So this Thanksgiving, roasting a brined turkey is the way to convert even the skeptics into turkey lovers! Just remember that if you start from frozen, you’ll need a few days to both thaw and brine your turkey. Refer to our handy <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/tipslibrary/charts-timetables-measuring/poultry-thawing-chart">poultry thawing chart</a> to find out how much time your turkey will need to defrost. Then, get step-by-step instructions on <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/tipslibrary/cooking-tips/how-to-brine-a-whole-turkey">how to brine a turkey</a> and <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/tipslibrary/cooking-tips/how-to-cook-a-turkey">how to cook a turkey</a>. And if you want to try another approach, we recommend our <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/lemon-garlic-and-herb-dry-brined-turkey/82e0114c-1f0f-462f-bfc1-0be990d65d7a">Lemon, Garlic and Herb Dry-Brined Turkey recipe</a>, or skip the brining entirely, and explore a few more of our <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/main-ingredient/turkey-recipes">turkey recipes</a>.

brined-whole-turkey

Brined Whole Turkey

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How to Host Your First Thanksgiving

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Betty's Thanksgiving 101

Try these

First Birthday Smash Cake

First Birthday Lion Cake

Turkey Gravy

Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake

Color Your Own Overnight Oatmeal

Brined Whole Turkey

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Bake Up Something Special

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How to Host Your First Thanksgiving

Try these

First Birthday Smash Cake

First Birthday Lion Cake

Turkey Gravy

Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake

Color Your Own Overnight Oatmeal

Brined Whole Turkey

Bake Up Something Special

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How to Host Your First Thanksgiving

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Try these

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Bake Up Something Special

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How to Host Your First Thanksgiving

Try these

Bake Up Something Special

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