APPLE-CRANBERRY DRESSING

Apple-Cranberry Dressing image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h40m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
1 pound sliced country white sandwich bread
1 large cooking apple, such as Gravenstein, or Golden Delicious
1 medium onion
2 ribs celery with leaves
1/2 cup dried apricots
Handful fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Pinch fennel seeds, optional
3 cups chicken broth (about 1 1/2 small cans)
1 large egg
2 tablespoons turkey or chicken pan drippings or melted butter

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a shallow 3-quart casserole.
Cut or tear bread into bite-size pieces. Lay bread pieces in a single layer on 1 or 2 baking sheets. Bake until slightly dry and crisp, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool.
Peel, core, and coarsely chop the apple. Coarsely chop the onion, celery, and apricots. Chop the parsley.
Melt the 6 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the apple, onion, celery, apricots, cranberries, thyme, salt, and fennel seeds; cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and parsley and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat.
Beat the egg in a large bowl. Add the toasted bread and the onion and fruit mixture; toss until evenly moistened. Loosely pack the dressing into the prepared pan. Bake, uncovered, until the top is crusty, about 40 minutes. Drizzle the pan drippings or melted butter over the top. Cook until the top is crisp and golden, about 20 minutes more.