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Home > Best Chicken Recipes > Cornish Game Hens with Whisky Herb Citrus Glaze

Cornish Game Hens with Whisky Herb Citrus Glaze

January 14, 2015 By Lea Ann Brown 66 Comments

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Cornish game hens roasted in Cast Iron Skillet

 

It’s time for Bloggers Clue Again.

Blogger Clue Society Logo

How much fun is this…each month we’re assigned to a blog and we’re given a clue. With that clue, we’re to sneak around, find a recipe, cook the recipe and blog about it. This month’s assignment was to find a food that sparkles. We were to think sparkly thoughts of bubbles or shiny with sugar or salt. Heading over to Lemons and Anchovies, I started the search for a shiny treat, and landed on this Cornish Game Hens with Whisky Herb Citrus Glaze. Those little baked hens were gleaming with that beautiful glaze. Selection made!

The great thing about these types of groups is finding new blogs. Jean and her husband live in the San Francisco Bay, they love to travel to get acquainted to different cultures through their cuisine. At home she gravitates towards simple, rustic dishes. She shares comfort food, a balance between guilt-free and absolutely sinful!  You should take a look at her site. Not only does she share great recipes, her photos are professional quality.

Cornish game hens roasted in Cast Iron Skillet

Her recipe is below. I didn’t use Sumac because I couldn’t find it. Instead I sprinkled two teaspoons Herbs de Provence in the cavity of the birds. Not a substitute at all for the Sumac, I just thought it sounded good. This recipe is absolutely divine. It’s been at least twenty years since I’ve cooked Cornish Game Hens and I really can’t give you a reason for the lapse in time and why I’ve not had them since. These little treats were tender, juicy and loaded with flavor. I did follow instructions and brine the birds, not over night but for eight hours. And that glaze … sticky in places, crispy in places, boozy and fresh with citrus. I really liked using my cast iron skillet to roast in the oven. My sides were a tossed green salad and broccoli. Thanks for a great recipe Jean.

Jean served this chicken dish with polenta. For her recipe and food magazine quality photo of the meal, here’s the link.

5 from 8 votes
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Cornish Game Hens with Whisky Herb Citrus Glaze
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Jean, Lemons and Anchovies
Ingredients
  • ***For the Game Hens***
  • 2 Cornish Game Hens rinsed and patted dry with paper towels
  • 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons sumac a Mediterranean herb that imparts a lemony flavor
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder not garlic salt
  • lemon slices and herbs for stuffing optional
  • ***For the Glaze *** you may not need all of this for 2 game hens
  • 4 Tablespoons tangerine jam or orange marmalade, my jam isn't overly sweet so adjust to taste depending on the brand you use
  • 2 Tablespoons Meyer lemon juice or regular lemon juice
  • 3 Tablespoons whiskey
  • 8-9 fresh sage leaves roughly chopped
Instructions
  1. To prepare the glaze: combine all the ingredients together in a bowl. You may heat up the mixture in the microwave for about 30 seconds or over the stovetop just to make it easier to stir the jam into the rest of the ingredients. Set aside.
  2. To prepare the game hens: Preheat your oven to 400℉ (or 375℉ if using convection).
  3. Combine all the seasoning ingredients--the salt, sumac and garlic powder-- and rub on both hens, including the inside. Stuff the lemon slices and herbs into the cavity of each chicken, if using.
  4. Place the hens on a baking sheet or a cast iron skillet like I did. Brush the hens with a little of the glaze and bake uncovered for 40-50 minutes, brushing the hens with more glaze halfway through the cooking time. If the chicken skin browns too much, cover with foil. For crispier skin, pop them under the broiler for just a few seconds.

Cornish Game Hens with Whisky Herb Citrus Glaze…It’s what’s for Dinner.
For a lineup of recipes from our group of little sleuths, please visit everyone’s links.

  • Sparkly Shortbread Cookies from Lisa of Authentic Suburban Gourmet
  • Cherry and Cream Pavlova from Ramona of Curry and Comfort
  • Pomegranate Champagne from Christy of Confessions of a Culinary Diva
  • Rosemary Peach Sparkling Cocktail from Alice of A Mama, Baby and Shar-pei in the Kitchen
  • tba from Azmina of Lawyer Loves Lunch
  • Maple, Caramel, Golden Sugar Blondies from Kelli of Kelli’s Kitchen
  • Strawberry Champagne Cocktail from Stacy of Food Lust People Love
  • Milky Way Martini from Aly of Cooking in Stilettos
  • Cornish Game Hens with Whisky Herb Citrus Glaze Lea Ann of Cooking on the Ranch
  • Peach Buckle from Anna of Anna Dishes
  • Potato Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette from Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm
  • Lemon-Ginger Crinkle Cookies from Jean of Lemons and Anchovies
  • Soft Pretzel Sticks with Spicy Mustard Sauce from Heather of girlichef
  • Salted Toffee Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
  • Blood Orange Margaritas from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake

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Filed Under: Best Chicken Recipes Tagged With: cornish, game, glaze, hens

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Comments

  1. Liz says

    January 14, 2015 at 5:49 am

    What an elegant, delectable entree! I’d love to serve this to my family or even company 🙂

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 6:14 am

      Thanks Liz. I really liked the recipe and yes, it’s company worthy.

      Reply
  2. Ramona W says

    January 14, 2015 at 6:18 am


    I love using orange marmalade as a glaze… these Cornish game hens look amazing. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:49 pm

      Me Too! Thanks Ramona.

      Reply
  3. Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says

    January 14, 2015 at 7:37 am

    Lea Ann, it’s been about that long since I last cooked Cornish game hens, and I don’t know why! Love these with the gorgeous glistening glaze!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:49 pm

      Thanks Jean. This is a good recipe, I hope you give it a try.

      Reply
  4. Cathy at Wives with Knives says

    January 14, 2015 at 8:04 am

    Great recipe selection, Lea Ann. I have a couple of game hens in the freezer that will be perfect for this dish. The orange marmalade glaze sounds delicious.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:49 pm

      Thanks Cathy.

      Reply
  5. Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says

    January 14, 2015 at 8:29 am

    Wow!! Look at that sheen on those little hens. My mouth is watering!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:48 pm

      Thanks Wendy, that sheen was a must for this post.

      Reply
  6. [email protected] Riffs says

    January 14, 2015 at 10:37 am

    I haven’t done anything with Cornish game hens in ages! As in years. Decades, probably. 🙁 That’s gotta change — and this recipe would be a good way to start! Thanks for this.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:48 pm

      Thanks John. Same here, I have no idea why I don’t cook Cornish Game Hens more often.

      Reply
  7. Coffee and Crumpets says

    January 14, 2015 at 2:47 pm


    Ooooh, these look delicious Lea Ann! Love rustic dishes but I can never do them at home. They always end up being so involved. This was an excellent pick.
    Btw, you can find sumac at the Middle Eastern shops on Parker Rd, it features heavily in Persian and ME cooking.

    Nazneen

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:47 pm

      Well now you tell me! I know about that market and have never been there.

      Reply
  8. Sandy says

    January 14, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    How can one join the blogger c.l.u.e. society? My daughter is is new to food blogging. She recently started a blog that features family recipes. I think she would love to be a part of this club!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      I’ll send you some information.

      Reply
  9. Robyn Lindars says

    January 14, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    Wow, I love whiskey and I love cornish game hens. Im with you Lea Ann, everything is better in cast iron!! Must try this!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      ok, no whisky for you! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Rocky Mountain Woman says

    January 14, 2015 at 3:49 pm


    I haven’t made them in years either and don’t know why! I’ll try this one soon…

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      Let me know what you think, we really liked the recipe. And it was easy.

      Reply
  11. Heather says

    January 14, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    I need to cook with these baby birds more often! It’s more my size! Yummy!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:45 pm

      That’s what the Hubs kept calling them. 🙂

      Reply
  12. adam j. holland says

    January 14, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    With meals like this, looks like you’ve settled very nicely in your new digs. Absolutely beautiful (and mouthwatering photos)!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:45 pm

      Thank you Adam, I was a little disappointed in my photos so I appreciate your compliment.

      Reply
  13. Carol at Wild Goose Tea says

    January 14, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    What a special treatment of these game hens. It also reminds me it has been waaaaaaaaaaaay too long since
    I fixed these. I sort of forgot about them. Thank you. The glaze is absolutely mouthwatering.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:45 pm

      What’s up with our Cornish Game Hen absences? Hope you try them, we thought it was a great recipe.

      Reply
  14. Larry says

    January 14, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    Sounds really good LA – I beleive this might work well on the grill spit as well.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 15, 2015 at 7:53 am

      I’m sure it would Larry. I’ll be doing more grilling than ever this season. With all this stainless steel in our new kitchen, I’m constantly polishing. Outdoor cooking is becoming very attractive.

      Reply
  15. Chris says

    January 14, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    I love a good whiskey sauce so I think this would rock.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 15, 2015 at 7:54 am

      I thought it was delicious.

      Reply
  16. jean | lemons & anchovies says

    January 14, 2015 at 8:22 pm


    Lea Ann, thank you so much for your nice comments about my blog. I would happily devour your version of these games any day! I think the Herbs de Provence is a very nice touch and like you, I don’t think of using game hens often enough.

    So nice to be introduced to your blog, too. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 15, 2015 at 7:56 am

      Thanks Jean. And thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
  17. Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says

    January 15, 2015 at 4:22 am

    We love Cornish hens and serve them quite often for the two of us. I’ve never seen sumac in any store where we shop, but Herbs de Provence would definitely work for me.
    Sam

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 15, 2015 at 7:57 am

      I need to make them more Sam. Why don’t I?

      Reply
  18. Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet} says

    January 15, 2015 at 12:06 pm

    Jean is a dear friend of mine and she has a such a wonderful blog! You picked a wonderful recipe and love the twist you did. Great choice for blogger clue society!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:52 am

      Thank you Lisa.

      Reply
  19. Susan says

    January 15, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    I’ve yet to try sumac myself but it’s on my list the next time I visit the Penzeys store. I’d love to try these game hens. The preparation and sauce sound delicious, Lea Ann!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:51 am

      I need to take the time to run over to our spice shop and pick up Sumac. And try this again. It’s a good recipe and very easy.

      Reply
  20. Heather | girlichef says

    January 16, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    Oh my gosh, this glaze has my mouth watering – it sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:51 am

      Thank you Heather!

      Reply
  21. kateiscooking says

    January 16, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    I told myself that I was going to work my way down the list and read one at a time. But, I really wanted to start with this recipe. I’ve been hungry for Cornish game hens for a couple of months now but hadn’t found the perfect recipe. I’m thinking I’ve found my Valentine’s Day recipe. YAY!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:50 am

      My friends in California made this last night and loved it. I must make it again soon so I can get a better photo. It’s hard to take a good blog post photo when you’re starving! 🙂

      Reply
  22. Alice says

    January 17, 2015 at 12:35 am


    you had me at boozy!! 🙂 I’m loving this! What a fantastic job and this fit the theme so nicely!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:49 am

      Thanks Alice

      Reply
  23. Debra says

    January 17, 2015 at 9:09 am


    You know, it’s been about twenty years since I cooked game hens, too. Excellent idea for this round—a sparkly glaze. I just couldn’t get past dessert ideas for this month.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:49 am

      I hear ya about those desserts. That shiny glaze just jumped out.

      Reply
  24. Nancy says

    January 17, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    We have some home-grown Meyer Lemons that have been looking for a recipe. This is on our menu for tomorrow night 🙂 Looks so good!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      January 18, 2015 at 3:06 pm

      btw – found Sumac at the local Draegers grocery store.

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        January 19, 2015 at 6:48 am

        I’m sure our Savory Spice shop has Sumac. I just didn’t have time to run over there. Next time.

        Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:48 am

      I wish we could grow citrus trees around here. Enjoy.

      Reply
      • Nancy says

        January 19, 2015 at 12:35 pm


        We did! Wonderful recipe. Dry brined them for 6 or so hours. Made a deglazing sauce as well…very tasty. He used Blood Orange marmalade. Made enough for left-overs – so we’ll enjoy them again! We have Cornish Hens often, but usually just grilled with a rub. This was a treat! Thanks!

        Reply
  25. Christy @ Confessions of a Culinary Diva says

    January 18, 2015 at 4:38 pm


    Wow! I always forget about Cornish Game Hens – these look and sound fabulous.

    Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:46 am

      Same here, I think I forget about them. And I don’t know how, when I went to buy them there was an entire freezer end cap full of them. You can’t miss them.

      Reply
  26. Lawyer Loves Lunch says

    January 18, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    I love Jean’s blog and it was so neat to read about a new twist on her recipe! I have never made a Cornish game hen but this post definitely made me want to try this soon 🙂

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:45 am

      Let me know what you think. And thanks for stopping in and the comment.

      Reply
  27. Anna @annaDishes says

    January 18, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    This sounds fantastic! The flavor combination sounds divine. I love the idea of serving with polenta, one of my favorites. I will definitely have to make this soon.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Brown says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:44 am

      Thanks so much Anna. My friends in California made this last night and loved it.

      Reply

Trackbacks

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