From overhead, the dish exudes warm tones of autumn with tender, golden brown Cornish hens crowning the plate. Adjacent, neat layers of Sweet Potato Mille Feuille peak through a creamy drizzle. The striking ruby red of the cranberry-apple stuffing brings a vibrant pop of color that promises a sweet-tart explosion.

Thanksgiving Cornish Hen with Cranberry-Apple Stuffing and Sweet Potato Mille Feuille

Name: Thanksgiving Cornish Hen with Cranberry-Apple Stuffing and Sweet Potato Mille Feuille
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Cornish hens, 6 whole, giblets removed; Fresh cranberries, 1 cup; Granny Smith apples, 3 peeled, cored and diced; Sweet potatoes, 6 thinly sliced; Heavy cream, 500 milliliters; Ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon; Fresh thyme, 3 sprigs; Fresh rosemary, 2 sprigs; Olive oil, 3 tablespoons; Salt, to taste; Pepper, to taste

Category Main Course

Prep 30 minutes

Cook 60 minutes

Style American

Technique Roasting

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily Recipe: November 27, 2025

This Thanksgiving, let's turn a traditional feast into an iconic display of culinary creativity featuring Roasted Cornish Hen with a Sumptuous Cranberry-Apple Stuffing and Sweet Potato Mille Feuille. Our star ingredients include Cornish hens for a personal touch, fresh cranberries, and crisp autumn apples for our stuffing, and sweet potatoes layered with a creamy spiced cream.

Ingredients (for 6)

Cornish hens - 6 - whole, giblets removed
Fresh cranberries - 1 cup
Granny smith apples - 3 - peeled, cored and diced
Sweet potatoes - 6 - thinly sliced
Heavy cream - 500 milliliters
Ground nutmeg - 1 teaspoon
Fresh thyme - 3 sprigs
Fresh rosemary - 2 sprigs
Olive oil - 3 tablespoons
Salt - to taste
Pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔥🌡️👍

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C)
Step 2 - 🍎🍇🥣

Combine cranberries, diced apples, a tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper in a baking dish and toast for 15 minutes or until softened
Step 3 - 🍗🌿🍏

Rub the Cornish hens with remaining olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Stuff each with a portion of the cranberry-apple mixture
Step 4 - 🍗🥘⏲️

Arrange the hens in a roasting pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until juices run clear
Step 5 - 🥔🧂🥛

Layer the sweet potato slices in a baking dish, seasoning each layer with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Pour over the heavy cream
Step 6 - 🍠🔪🍽️

Bake for 30 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Slice into individual portions and plate with your Cornish hens

Additional

Cornish hens offer a classy alternative to the typical Thanksgiving turkey, and allow each guest to have their own serving. Plus, they cook faster. Fun fact: The Mille Feuille is a kind of pastry and its name means a thousand leaves in French, signifying the layers of the pastry. In this recipe we apply the same concept to sweet potatoes. Kids can help layer the sweet potatoes for the Mille Feuille, creating a fun and engaging way to involve them in the kitchen.