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Stuffing Muffins

These individual stuffing muffins with cranberries, apples, and sausage update classic Thanksgiving stuffing by baking it in a muffin tin.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 24 muffins
Calories: 111 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 10 cups whole grain bread cubes loosely packed 1-inch-sliced, about 16 ounces
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 1 medium red onion diced
  • 3 stalks celery diced
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¾ pound sweet Italian turkey sausage
  • 1 medium-sized firm tart apple such as Granny Smith or Cortland, finely diced (ok to leave peel on), about 1 cup
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup milk any kind you like (I used skim)
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cup reduced-sugar dried cranberries
  • 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon rubbed dried sage
  • 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place two racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven and preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer on two large baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until browned and crisp. Transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Generously grease two 12-cup muffin tins (butter works best) or line with paper liners, then coat the liners with baking spray. Set aside. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Once hot, add the onion, celery, salt, and pepper. Let cook 4 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften. Remove the sausages from their casing and place in the skillet. Break the sausage into crumbles, turning and sautéing the meat as you go.
  4. Once the sausage is broken up, add the apples and garlic. Let cook until the sausage is browned, stirring occasionally, about 2 additional minutes. Place the sausage mixture in the bowl with the bread cubes.
  5. In a separate bowl, stir together the chicken broth, milk, and eggs until combined. Pour over the cubes. Add the cranberries, sage, and rosemary, then stir gently with a large spoon, tossing the ingredients until they are well distributed and the bread is evenly moistened.
  6. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin tins. Firmly press down on the tops of the bread cubes so that they touch the sides of the muffin tin (this adds a delicious crunch to the exterior and keeps the muffins from falling apart). Spoon more stuffing on top and press again.
  7. Bake the stuffing muffins at 350 degrees F for 25 to 28 minutes, until lightly browned, and set in the center. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the outsides to loosen them. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Notes

  • MAKE-AHEAD DIRECTIONS: Toast the bread cubes (Step 1) and saute the apple-sausage mixture (Step 3). Store the bread cubes in an airtight container at room temperature and the apple-sausage mixture in the refrigerator. The day you plan to bake the muffins, stir together the rest of the ingredients and press into the muffin tins. You can then refrigerate the muffin tins, unbaked, for up to 4 hours, then bake as directed. If the stuffing comes out of the refrigerator cold, you may need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
  • TO STORE: Leftover stuffing muffins may be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
  • TO FREEZE: Allow the baked muffins to come to room temperature, tightly and individually wrap them in plastic, then freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • TO REHEAT: Allow the muffins to come to room temperature. Place the room-temperature muffins (unwrapped) back into a lightly greased muffin tin, then reheat in a 350 degree F oven for 10-20 minutes, until warmed through.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1muffin Calories 111kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 14g (5%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 28mg (9%) Potassium 128mg (4%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 71IU (1%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 39mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24muffins

Amount Per Serving

Calories 111

% Daily Value*

Serving 1muffin
Calories 111kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 14g 5%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Potassium 128mg 3%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 71IU 1%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 39mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.