TURKEY APPLE STUFFING

Turkey Apple Stuffing image

Complementing your golden bird, the well-seasoned bread stuffing is sparked by a festive sweetness from apples and raisins. It's a staple on our holiday menu. -Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 4h5m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup butter, cubed
9 cups day-old cubed whole wheat bread
3 cups finely chopped apples
3/4 cup raisins
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
Additional butter, melted

Steps:

In a Dutch oven, saute celery and onion in butter until tender. Remove from the heat; stir in the bread cubes, apples, raisins, salt, thyme, sage and pepper. , Just before baking, loosely stuff turkey with 4 cups stuffing. Place remaining stuffing in a greased 2-qt. baking dish; refrigerate until ready to bake. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush with melted butter. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 3-3/4 to 4 hours or until a thermometer reads 180° for the turkey and 165° for the stuffing, basting occasionally with pan drippings. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.), Bake additional stuffing, covered, for 20-30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until browned. Cover turkey and let stand for 20 minutes before removing stuffing and carving turkey. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 839 calories, Fat 41g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 317mg cholesterol, Sodium 774mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 88g protein.