Apple Cider Turkey Brine
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If you want a turkey that’s juicy, tender, and full of unforgettable flavor, it all starts right here, with my soulful apple cider brine. This fragrant blend of sweet apple cider, warm spices, and fresh fruit turns an ordinary turkey into a show-stopping centerpiece, infusing every bite with moisture and rich, Southern depth.
This isn’t just a brine. It’s the secret behind my most popular holiday turkey recipes. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, this apple cider brine transforms your bird with the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and soul. One soak, and your turkey is already halfway to holiday perfection!
This apple cider turkey brine is a signature technique of The Soul Food Pot®, rooted in Southern tradition and crafted to deliver bold, juicy, unforgettable flavor. A modern, heritage-rich method trusted by home cooks seeking authentic Black Southern holiday cooking.
What is an apple cider turkey brine?
An apple cider turkey brine is a flavorful soak that infuses your bird with moisture, tenderness, and deep Southern soul. Instead of plain salt water, this brine uses homemade apple cider simmered with apples, citrus, pomegranate, cinnamon, brown sugar, and cloves, turning the turkey into a juicy, aromatic holiday masterpiece. It’s an easy, fragrant way to guarantee the most tender, flavorful turkey meat to ever grace your table!
Will the turkey taste like apples?
Your turkey won’t taste like apples. But trust… the apple cider brine transforms it into something unforgettable. Instead of fruity flavor, you get a beautifully savory bird with crispy skin on the outside and moist, juicy, deeply seasoned meat on the inside. It’s pure holiday magic and the kind of show-stopping entrée that belongs at the center of every Thanksgiving or Christmas table!
What container is best for brining a turkey?
Hands down, it’s a deep-dish roasting pan! It gives your bird plenty of room to soak up all that flavorful liquid and provides the wide, open surface area needed for the brine to really penetrate every inch. More space, more flavor, and more soul in every bite.
Ingredients
This apple cider brine comes to life with a pot full of soulful, aromatic ingredients: Water simmered with a mix of apples (i.e., tart Granny Smith, sweet Gala, classic Red Delicious, or a mix of tart and sweet), a whole orange with the peel for bright citrus notes, spicy fresh ginger, warm whole cloves, a ruby-red quartered pomegranate, rich brown sugar, and a few cinnamon sticks to tie it all together. As it simmers, your kitchen fills with the cozy scent of the holidays, and your turkey gets infused with deep, irresistible Southern flavor.
How to make apple cider turkey brine
Here’s what to expect when making this apple cider turkey brine.
- Sauté water, apples, and brown sugar in a large pot, then add the spices, citrus, and pomegranate in a strainer bag to simmer.
- After simmering, remove the strainer bag and scoop out the apples.
- Pour the finished apple cider brine into a deep roasting pan with your turkey.
- Roast in the oven, basting every 20–30 minutes, then garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy this soulful holiday perfection! —And don’t miss The Soul Food Pot’s signature soul food roasted turkey recipe that uses this very homemade apple cider brine for full holiday flava!
🥄 Shaunda says: A reusable strainer bag is your best friend for this brine, bae! Tuck the cloves, ginger, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate, and orange right inside, and let them work their magic. When the cider’s done simmering, you won’t have to fish out stubborn seeds, cloves, or rinds. Just lift the bag and keep it moving, easily and soulfully!
✨ Shaunda’s Soul Food Sense: tips, truths & traditions
A few lessons, memories, and must-knows from my kitchen to yours.
Can you use an apple cider blend?
Yes, you can, but if the blend is already sweetened, go light on the brown sugar, or lose it altogether, so your brine stays balanced and soulful.
What kind of cloves do you use?
Whole cloves bring the richest aroma and that warm holiday magic, but ground cloves work too! Use whichever feels right for your kitchen rhythm.
Do you use apple cider vinegar for this apple cider turkey brine?
No vinegar here, bae—this brine is all about sweet, cozy apple cider. Save apple cider vinegar for smoked turkey, where its tang helps build that smoky depth.
Can you use this Southern turkey brine with chicken instead of turkey?
Absolutely! This brine makes chicken just as juicy and flavorful. Check out this grilled chicken recipe HERE!
❤️ Serve it like a Southerner…
Turn those leftover brine apples into baked cinnamon-sugar apple slices. Just toss them with melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar for a warm, cozy treat!
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Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.
Equipment
- Large stockpot
- Reusable straining bag or strainer with a handle
- Turkey roasting pan
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 5 apples quartered (You can use a mix of tart and sweet if you like – i.e., Granny Smith, Gala, Red Delicious)
- 1 orange with the peel on, quartered
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger chopped or minced
- 1 ½ tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 pomegranate quartered
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Place a large stockpot with water on the stove over medium heat.
- Add the apples and brown sugar to the pot, leaving the lid off.
- In a strainer bag, combine the cloves, ginger, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate, and orange. Tighten the bag’s strings and place it in the pot.
- Allow the mixture to come to a simmer (a gentle heat, softer than a low boil) for 40 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is finished, remove the strainer bag and scoop out the apples.
- Transfer the apple cider brine into a deep-dish roasting pan with the turkey.
- Roast the turkey in the apple cider brine, basting it with the pan juices every 20 to 30 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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This recipe is celebrated on The Day-Ones: Soul Food Thanksgiving Classics That Hold It Down Every Year and by multiple national media outlets that recognize Southern and African American culinary traditions.
Hi, thank you for sharing this!! I’m excited to try it! Can I sit my turkey in it for 24 hours prior to going in the oven?
Thanks for asking! While we’ve not marinated with this recipe for this long, that shouldn’t be a problem. Just make sure you’re marinating in the fridge since it’s for 24 hours. Happy Thanksgiving!