If you are craving a comforting side dish that perfectly balances sweet, savory, and nutty flavors, this Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe is an absolute winner. With the tartness of cranberries, the crisp bite of apple, and the delightful crunch from walnuts all nestled inside tender bread cubes, it’s a festive dish that brings warmth and cheer to your table. Whether it’s for a holiday feast or a cozy family dinner, this stuffing is irresistibly delicious and surprisingly easy to make, promising to become one of your all-time favorites.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe keeps things simple yet flavorful, relying on a handful of fresh, vibrant ingredients to create a harmony of tastes and textures. Each element plays a crucial role, from the hearty bread cubes providing structure to the fresh herbs lifting the dish with aromatic notes.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Adds richness and helps soften the vegetables without overpowering the other flavors.
- Large onion: Offers a sweet, savory base when sautéed until translucent.
- Apple: Brings a touch of natural sweetness and crispness, balancing the tart cranberries.
- Garlic cloves: Infuses the stuffing with a subtle, savory depth.
- Rosemary (or rosemary and thyme): Fresh herbs that brighten the stuffing’s flavor and create an inviting aroma.
- Cranberry walnut bread: The star ingredient that marries chewy bread, tart cranberries, and crunchy walnuts all in one.
- Egg: Helps bind the stuffing together for a perfect texture.
- Heavy cream: Adds a luscious creaminess that keeps the stuffing moist.
- Chicken stock: Enhances flavor and softens the bread to a delightful tenderness.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and lift the entire dish.
- Olive oil spray or cooking spray: Used to ensure the stuffing browns beautifully on top during baking.
How to Make Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F, creating the perfect environment for your stuffing to bake evenly and develop a golden crust that’s simply mouthwatering.
Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Toss in the chopped onion, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté until the onions become translucent and sweet, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the diced apple, letting it soften gently for another 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and freshly chopped rosemary, cooking for just another minute to release that wonderful herb aroma before removing the pan from the heat.
Step 3: Combine Bread and Vegetable Mixture
Place your cubed cranberry walnut bread into a large mixing bowl. Pour the warm onion and apple mixture over the bread cubes, ensuring the bread begins to absorb all those luscious flavors. This step is key to building that delightful sweet-savory base that makes this stuffing so special.
Step 4: Mix the Binding Ingredients
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, heavy cream, chicken stock, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Pour this mixture over the bread and vegetable mixture, tossing everything together. Watch as the bread soaks up the creamy, flavorful liquid, and feel free to add an extra splash of chicken stock if it feels a bit dry — you want the stuffing moist but not soggy.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Transfer your stuffing to a greased small baking pan or a 2-quart baking dish. Lightly spray the top with olive oil to encourage a beautifully browned, slightly crispy crust. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the top feels set to the touch. The aroma filling your kitchen at this point will be absolutely irresistible.
Step 6: Serve Warm and Enjoy
Once out of the oven, this Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe is best served warm. It’s the perfect complement to any main dish, offering both a burst of flavors and a satisfying texture that everyone will love.
How to Serve Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe
Garnishes
For an inviting presentation, sprinkle a handful of fresh cranberries or chopped walnuts over the top just before serving. The bright red cranberries add a pop of color and a slight tartness, while extra walnuts contribute more crunch and nuttiness.
Side Dishes
This stuffing pairs beautifully with roasted turkey, baked ham, or grilled chicken. You can also serve it alongside a fresh green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or roasted root vegetables for a well-rounded and festive meal.
Creative Ways to Present
Looking for a twist? Try baking this stuffing in individual ramekins for a charming personal touch or stuffing it inside roasted bell peppers for a colorful, eye-catching dish. You might even use it as a flavorful filling for turkey breast roulades, making your holiday spread truly unforgettable.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftover Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe, let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh and flavorful for up to 3 days, making for easy and delicious reheated meals.
Freezing
To freeze this stuffing, place cooled leftovers in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty zip-top bag. It will keep well for up to 2 months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best texture and taste.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F, covered with foil, for about 15 to 20 minutes until heated through. This method helps maintain the moisture and crisp edges, bringing back that fresh-baked magic.
FAQs
Can I substitute the cranberry walnut bread?
Definitely! If cranberry walnut bread isn’t available, you can use other hearty breads like sourdough, challah, or French bread and add dried cranberries and chopped walnuts separately to mimic the flavors.
Is this stuffing suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, it can be vegetarian-friendly if you use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. The combination of apples, cranberries, and walnuts provides plenty of depth and flavor without meat.
Can I prepare the stuffing ahead of time and bake it later?
Absolutely, you can assemble the stuffing up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it covered in the refrigerator and bake just before serving to enjoy fresh, warm stuffing with minimal effort.
What if I want a nut-free version?
If you need to avoid nuts, simply omit the walnuts and consider adding pumpkin seeds or toasted breadcrumbs for some texture instead.
How do I make the stuffing crispier?
To get a crispier top, try stirring in a little more olive oil and baking uncovered, or switch to a broil setting for the last 2 to 3 minutes of baking — just watch closely to prevent burning!
Final Thoughts
There’s just something magical about the blend of tart cranberries, sweet apples, and crunchy walnuts nestled in warm bread that makes this Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe an absolute joy to make and eat. It’s the kind of dish that invites you to linger over the table and savor every bite. I encourage you to give it a try the next time you want to impress your guests or simply treat yourself to a comforting classic done beautifully. You won’t regret it!
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Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing is a delightful blend of savory and sweet flavors, combining the tartness of cranberries, the crispness of apples, and the crunch of walnuts. Sautéed onions and garlic infused with rosemary add depth, while a custard of egg, cream, and chicken stock moistens the cubed cranberry walnut bread, baked until golden and set. Perfect as a warm, comforting side dish for holiday meals or special occasions.
Ingredients
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 large onion, chopped into small pieces
- 1 apple, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons rosemary, chopped (or use a mix of rosemary and thyme)
Liquids and Dairy
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken stock (add more as needed to moisten the bread)
- Olive oil spray or cooking spray
Bread and Seasonings
- 1 loaf cranberry walnut bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the stuffing later.
- Sauté Aromatics and Fruit: Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions, seasoning them with a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until they turn translucent. Add the diced apples and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until they soften slightly. Stir in the minced garlic and chopped rosemary, cooking for one minute before removing the pan from heat.
- Combine Bread and Sautéed Mixture: Place the 1-inch cubed cranberry walnut bread into a large mixing bowl. Pour the warm sautéed onion, apple, garlic, and rosemary mixture over the bread cubes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Prepare Custard Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, heavy cream, chicken stock, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Pour this mixture over the bread and sautéed ingredients. Toss everything well to combine, adding a splash more chicken stock if the bread appears too dry, ensuring the bread is evenly moistened.
- Transfer and Prepare for Baking: Grease a small baking pan or a 2-quart baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray. Transfer the combined stuffing mixture into the prepared dish, spreading it evenly. Lightly spray the top with olive oil spray to help achieve a golden crust during baking.
- Bake the Stuffing: Bake the stuffing in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Bake until the edges are browned and the top feels set and slightly crisp.
- Serve: Remove the stuffing from the oven and serve warm. Garnish with extra cranberries if desired for added color and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute cranberry walnut bread with similar fruit and nut breads such as raisin pecan or cinnamon raisin bread for different flavors.
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, substitute chicken stock with vegetable stock.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste depending on your preferred seasoning level.
- Adding extra walnuts or dried cranberries on top before baking can enhance texture and flavor.
- Ensure the bread cubes are slightly stale for better absorption of the custard mixture without becoming mushy.
