Sausage and Apple Stuffing (Cranberries)

sausagecranberryapplestuffing Full of flavour this homemade stuffing recipe is filled with savoury sausage, sweet apples and tart cranberries. Sausage Cranberry Apple Stuffing is a family favourite for Christmas.

2 Tbsp. butter
2 cups yellow onions, finely diced
1 cup celery, finely diced
1 lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed
2 cups Granny Smith apples, finely diced
2 cups fresh cranberries
2 cups chicken stock
1 tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. black pepper, freshly cracked
2 tsp. dried sage
3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary
6-8 cups bread cubes, cooled if toasted

Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C/140°C fan, Gas Mark 3). Butter a 9x13" casserole dish or line it with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large Dutch oven over medium heat melt the butter. Add in the diced onion and celery. Sauté for 4-5 minutes or until the onion and celery have become tender.

Add the ground sausage to the center of the pan. Crumble and cook until most of the pink is gone, about 7-8 minutes. It will continue to cook when it bakes.

Add the apple, cranberries, stock, salt, pepper, sage and herbs to the skillet. Mix together and cook on low for 5-10 minutes or until the cranberries begin to pop.

Add the bread cubes a cup at a time, stirring with each addition until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Toss everything together until evenly combined. Pour into the prepared casserole dish.

Cover with aluminum foil and cook for 30 minutes (If your oven can't fit both; the remaining cook time can be done when the turkey comes out of the oven to rest). Uncover the dish and cook another 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest at least 5 minutes before serving.

Makes 16 servings.

Cook's Notes:

For the apple variety use a hard apple, any of the following apples will work well (but isn't limited too) Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious. Just note while all these apples are of the harder variety some will be sweeter than others, if you are looking for less sweet I recommend a Granny Smith. If you are looking for sweet go with a Fuji or Gala. Looking for an in between pick the honeycrisp.
Make-Ahead: Go ahead and make the casserole but before baking simply keep it in the fridge instead, it can be made a full day before. Once ready to cook remove from the fridge at least 45 minutes before baking.