A delicious recipe for Cider-Maple Oven Roasted Cornish Hen, perfect for a special occasion or family dinner.
Author:Sabrina Hermes
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time:1 hour 30 minutes
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Main Course
Method:Roasting
Cuisine:American
Diet:Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
2 Cornish hens (about 1.5 pounds each)
1 cup apple cider
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 apple, quartered
1 onion, quartered
Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider, maple syrup, melted butter, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cinnamon.
Rinse the Cornish hens under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Place them in a roasting pan, breast side up.
Pour half of the cider-maple mixture over the hens, making sure to coat them evenly. Reserve the other half for basting.
Stuff the cavity of each hen with the quartered apple and onion.
Roast the hens in the preheated oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Baste the hens with the reserved cider-maple mixture every 30 minutes.
Once cooked, remove the hens from the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes before carving. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs if desired.
Notes
For extra flavor, try adding a splash of balsamic vinegar to the cider-maple mixture.
You can also substitute the apple with pears for a different twist.