Maple Orange Glazed Citrus Cornish Hens Recipe

"Cornish hens are such a nice change from the traditional roast chicken or turkey. They are quick cooking, full of flavor and just delicious; and are great to entertain with. You can stuff them or not - either way, they are great. I love to stuff these with onion, garlic, citrus, and fresh herbs and finish it off with my Maple Orange Glaze recipe, posted here on Zazz. Serve some fruit and nut stuffing on the side and roasted green beans for a nice weekend dinner."

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Glaze ... Mix all the ingredients for the glaze and set to the side. I often will microwave it for a few seconds to warm it up and so it is easier to brush on. This recipe will make enough for 2 hens glazed twice during baking. So you may want to double the recipe, since you are making 4 hens.

Step 2

Hens ... Clean the hens and make sure to dry them well. Stuff each bird with 2 orange pieces, 1 onion quarter, 2 garlic cloves, 1 sprig each of rosemary, thyme and sage). You could always use parsley or even marjoram if you prefer. And when I say "smashed" garlic. Just, press down with the palm of your hand or a knife to lightly "smash" the clove, then peel off the skin. No chopping, no mincing - just smashed, it adds a subtle flavor to the hen. Rub the butter on the outside of the chicken and season with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Bake ... I don't serve a gravy with this recipe, but I do like the hens to set on a small rack or you can just use a couple of carrots or thick onion slices. Just something so they don't sit directly on the pan. Add the hens to a shallow roasting pan or a 13x9" pan lined with foil. And use a couple of thick onion slices or carrots to set on. Bake in a pre-heated oven, 425 degrees for 15 minutes uncovered, then reduce to 350, brush on the glaze, and cook approximately 30 additional minutes until the juices run clean and the internal temperature is 160-165. That last 30 minutes, brush the glaze on a couple of times. Once the hens are done, remove to a serving platter and cover with foil to rest a few minutes before serving.

Step 4

Serve ... I like to serve with a fruited nut stuffing or wild rice. ENJOY!

Tips

No special items needed.

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Bergy

We loved this recipe - The hen was loaded with flavour and moist. I only did one hen which I cut in half, placed the stuffing under each half, glazed them 3 times while cooking. I had the temperature at 425 for 15 minutes, turned heat to 350 for an additional 20 minutes perfect Thanks KC for a lovely Christmas dinner