Description
My cozy, slightly chaotic Apple Walnut Stuffing recipe! Made with fresh herbs, sweet apples, and toasted walnuts, it’s the perfect side for any holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Stuffing Base:
- 1 loaf (about 1 lb) day-old crusty bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
- Herbs & Aromatics:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- Flavor & Crunch:
- 1 cup walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
- 2–3 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Toast the Bread Cubes: First things first, let’s handle the bread. Spread your stale bread cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer. Don’t crowd the pan! We want them to toast, not steam. Bake them at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and feel dry to the touch. This step is so important because it helps the bread hold its shape later. Your kitchen will start to smell amazing already. This is where the magic begins!
- Sauté the Foundation: While the bread is in the oven, let’s get the veggies going. Melt a generous amount of butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once it’s foamy, add your chopped onion and celery. Cook them down until they’re soft and translucent, which usually takes me about 8 minutes. Don’t rush this part! You’re building layers of flavor. This is also the point where I always spill some chopped celery on the floor. Every. Single. Time. It’s my little kitchen tradition.
- Add Apples & Aromatics: Now, toss in your chopped Granny Smith apples and minced garlic. Cook for another 5 minutes, until the apples start to soften just a little bit around the edges. You don’t want them to turn into applesauce! The goal is for them to hold their shape. The garlic will become super fragrant. This combination of sweet apple and sharp garlic smells absolutely divine and signals that something truly delicious is on the way. It’s a promise of the goodness to come.
- Bloom Those Beautiful Herbs: This is my favorite part! Add the fresh, chopped sage, thyme, and rosemary to the skillet. Stir everything together for just one minute. This quick step in the hot butter helps the herbs “bloom” and releases all their essential oils and incredible fragrance. Seriously, your whole house is about to smell like the coziest holiday dream. This is what makes homemade stuffing so much better than anything from a box. It’s pure, fragrant magic happening right in your pan!
- Combine Everything Together: Time to bring it all together! In a very large bowl, combine your toasted bread cubes, the apple and vegetable mixture from the skillet, and the toasted walnuts. Give it a gentle toss to mix everything without completely crushing the bread. Season generously with salt and pepper. Now, slowly pour in the vegetable broth, starting with about 2 cups and adding more if it looks too dry. You want the bread to be moist, not swimming in liquid.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Transfer the stuffing mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. I like to dot the top with a few extra pieces of butter because… why not? Cover it with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the top is beautifully golden brown and crispy. The center should be hot and steamy. Letting it rest for a few minutes before serving is hard, but it helps it set up perfectly. Enjoy the cheers!