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Salty and Sweet Cranberry Citrus Brine

By: Simply Whimsy

"Most everyone loves the taste of a salty sweet flavor. I have been using brine for years when making my turkey and chicken. I've tried this one or that one, but finally settled on taking the best elements of my 3 favorite ones to create my own with all the wonderful flavors of Thanksgiving."

Rate/Review | Read Reviews (4)

Prep Time:
10 Min

Ready In:
10 Min

Servings (Help)

US Metric Calculate

Original Recipe Yield 6 cups of brine

Ingredients

1 cup kosher salt
1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen cranberry juice concentrate
1 gallon water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 red onion, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic
4 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a large stockpot, mix together the kosher salt, orange juice concentrate, cranberry juice concentrate, water, brown sugar, cinnamon stick, lemon wedges, orange wedges, onion wedges, garlic cloves, bay leaves, thyme, and black pepper; stir until the salt and brown sugar have dissolved. To use, place a whole turkey into the brine, cover, and refrigerate 14 to 16 hours before roasting. Discard used brine.

Footnotes

Cook's Note
Before roasting, stuff the brined turkey with a smashed garlic clove and 2 lemons, 2 oranges, and 2 red onions, all cut into wedges. For juicier turkey meat, roast breast side down.