Cranberry Stuffed Cornish Hens

5 from 1 vote

These delicious game hens are stuffed with orange-scented cranberries and raisin bread.

Prep Time35

Cook Time1 30

Total Time2 5

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cornish game hens, cranberry, stuffed

Servings: servings

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a large bowl, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange zest, salt and cinnamon. Add the bread cubes, sprinkle with melted butter and orange juice. Toss lightly to mix.
Season the cavities of the hens with salt. Lightly stuff the birds with the cranberry mixture. Pull the neck skin to the back of each bird and fasten securely with a small skewer. Tie the legs to the tail, twisting the wing tips under the back.
Place the Cornish hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Brush the hens with cooking oil, cover loosely with foil. Roast the hens for about 30 minutes.
Combine the basting ingredients. Uncover the birds and baste with the orange juice mixture. Roast, uncovered, until done (a drumstick will twist easily when done), about 1 hour longer. Baste once or twice with the orange juice mixture while cooking.

To toast bread cubes, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place cubes of bread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cubes are crisp and toasted.
For the nutritional information, you will notice that it's quite high. This is taking into account that you will eat all of the meat and skin of a single hen. You likely won't do that. It also includes all of the basting ingredients, whereas much of that drips off the hen while roasting.