Get ready to transform your ordinary holiday meal into an extraordinary culinary experience with this mouthwatering Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing! Imagine a perfect blend of crispy toasted bread, sweet-tart cranberries, juicy apples, and crunchy walnuts, all harmoniously seasoned with sage and baked to golden perfection. This isn't just a side dish – it's a flavor journey that will have your guests begging for the recipe and coming back for seconds (and thirds)!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread, cubed
- 1 cup cranberries
- 1 apple, diced
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup celery, chopped
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish by lightly greasing it with butter or cooking spray.
- Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread them out on a large baking sheet. Toast the bread cubes in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until they are lightly golden and crisp, stirring once halfway through to ensure even toasting.
- In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add chopped onions and celery, sautéing until they become soft and translucent, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Dice the apple into small, uniform pieces. Roughly chop the walnuts and measure out the cranberries.
- Add the diced apple, chopped walnuts, and cranberries to the skillet with the onions and celery. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to slightly soften the apple and release the flavors.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable broth, sage, salt, and pepper to create the liquid mixture.
- Transfer the toasted bread cubes to a large mixing bowl. Pour the sautéed vegetable and fruit mixture over the bread cubes.
- Slowly pour the seasoned broth mixture over the bread, gently stirring to ensure all bread cubes are evenly moistened but not soggy.
- Transfer the stuffing mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly and loosely to allow for air circulation.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes to create a crispy, golden top.
- Remove from the oven and let the stuffing rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the stuffing to set.
Tips
- Choose day-old bread for the best texture – slightly stale bread absorbs flavors better and creates a more authentic stuffing.
- Toast your bread cubes thoroughly to prevent a soggy final dish and add extra crunch.
- Don't overmoisten the bread – add broth gradually and stop when the bread is just dampened, not soaked.
- Use fresh herbs if possible for a more vibrant sage flavor.
- Let the stuffing rest after baking to allow flavors to meld and achieve the perfect consistency.
- For a vegetarian version, the recipe is already perfect! For added richness, you can substitute butter with olive oil.
- Customize by adding dried cranberries or swapping walnuts with pecans for variety.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 220kcal
Carbohydrates: 35g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
