Holiday Recipe: Roasted Maple-Glazed Cornish Game Hens
Hosting a Festive Feast This Year? Try a Simpler, Quicker (and Delicious!) Alternative to Turkey
Do you feel a twinge of nostalgia at Thanksgiving? I always do, and even more so in these last two years since I moved to France. I was just in the States for a few days and found my heart a little heavy that I wouldn’t be there for my favorite holiday meal.
Happily, my best friend (who loves dinner parties as much as I do) and her boyfriend (a trained chef) made us a stellar Friendsgiving in their charming Brooklyn apartment, complete with tender turkey and all the sides, so I couldn’t complain!
Also, while we were on the road, I made a special trip to the grocery store in Texas to stock up on Graham crackers so I could bake a pumpkin pie back in Paris (it’s really tough to find Graham crackers here).
As for the holiday itself, in France most people have heard of Thanksgiving, but they don’t really “get” it. Thanksgiving is just not a thing, and I feel sad for them. But then, they do have Coq au vin, du Brie truffé, and the wines of Burgundy, so they’ll be okay.
Growing up in Ohio, since my parents were divorced and my mother wasn’t close to her family, we often spent holidays at whatever apartment complex we currently called home (shoutout to Scarsdale Village in Kettering and Harper’s Point in Cincinnati!). Normally, for Thanksgiving and Christmas it was just our small pod—my brother, my sister, my mom and me. She’s the one who started the tradition of cooking smaller game birds—Cornish hens—for our festivities, and while I’m not speaking to her this year (that’s another story), I do give thanks for these tasty little hens. Maybe try them at your next festive sit-down soirée?
Why? Well, first off they cook in just over an hour with very little prep and a more even result than a bigger bird. Next, they’re generally not as pricey as turkey, although I do suggest you look for an organic version if possible. And most importantly, everyone gets two drumsticks and plenty of crispy skin!
Years ago, in my book Simple Stunning Parties at Home, I included some holiday recipes, one of which is for these Roasted Maple-glazed Cornish Game Hens, so I wanted to share it with you. They are so easy to make, and if you need to, you can roast them a few hours ahead and just warm them up in a slow oven while you eat appetizers. I love the spirit of sharing recipes, so I hope you’ll take some inspiration from this one for a future festive dinner!
Roasted Maple-Glazed Cornish Game Hens
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 6)
6 Cornish Game Hens
Salt and Pepper
6 Tablespoons butter
1/2 Cup Maple Syrup
PREPARATION
STEP ONE
Preheat your oven to 425 F degrees
STEP TWO
Rince the birds and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper and arrange in a roasting pan with deep sides to catch juices.
STEP THREE
In a saucepan, melt the butter and remove it from the heat. Pour/brush the melted butter over the birds and put them in the oven, uncovered. Let them brown for 10-12 minutes.
STEP FOUR
In a mixing bowl, combine the maple syrup with 1/2 cup hot water. After the first 10-12 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees. Baste the birds with 1/3 of the glaze, using a baster or brush.
STEP FIVE
Check the birds every 10 minutes, basting them each time with the maple syrup/water combo. If they start to brown too much, cover the pan with foil. Continue cooking for approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes (including the browning time) or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F degrees when inserted into the meaty part of the thigh.
STEP SIX
Serve the birds on a platter, or plate them individually, accompanied by all your favorite holiday side dishes!
Bon apetit, les amis !