Apple Pie Smoked Turkey

[Preacher Man]

I like a little sweetness on my turkeys, and found myself with the urge to do a little kitchen creativity. Lo and behold: The Apple Pie Smoked Turkey.

It all starts with the brine:
1 1/2 gallons of water
1/2 gallon of apple juice
1 1/2 cups kosher salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 16 oz. jar apple pie filling
2 Tbsp cure#1

I used my own apple pie filling that I canned last summer, but I'm sure store bought would work just fine.

The amount for the cure#1 was borrowed from Pop's Brine that suggests 1 Tbsp per gallon of water.

I let the bird bathe in the brine for 2 days.

After removing from the brine and rinsing, I struggled with what to rub the bird with. I settled on nothing. I ultimately decided that I wanted to know what the brine did without my taste buds battling with flavors from the rub.

I smoked it at 275° with apple wood (surprise surprise!) until I hit an internal temperature of 162°.

After an hour rest it was tender, it was juicy, and it was apple pie-y. The apple pie flavor wasn't like a pop, but it was ever so subtle but still present. It was a beautiful compliment.

What do y'all think would make a good rub for this recipe?

 

[smokerjim]

looks delicious.

 

[JC in GB]

It seems to me a pecan rub would really work well.

 

[Winterrider]

That looks wonderful preacher. I think that was a good call not rubbing. You now know what affect the brine had on the bird and could build from there.

 

[chilerelleno]

That looks great Preacher and I bet it taste better than it looks.
Like!

I'm thinking no rub, but going all the way with the apples and doing something like a glaze with minced apple, sweet onion, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper, or maybe put it under the skin.

 

[Preacher Man]

looks delicious.

Thanks!

 

[Preacher Man]

It seems to me a pecan rub would really work well.

How would make that?

 

[Preacher Man]

That looks great Preacher and I bet it taste better than it looks.
Like!

I'm thinking no rub, but going all the way with the apples and doing something like a glaze with minced apple, sweet onion, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper, or maybe put it under the skin.

I knew I should've PM'ed you before I stuck it in the smoker.

 

[chilerelleno]

Total experimentation here on my part, no recipe to work from.
Make a caramel sauce of butter and brown sugar, now add your homemade apple sauce and some finely minced sweet onion, keeping a thick consistency.
Now go really easy on the cinnamon and nutmeg, and even easier on the black pepper or cayenne.
That aught to do it.
Now a little under the skin just before going in the smoker, and then repeated bastings to build up a glaze from about midway to the end.

I don't know might be good with some work.
I like to cook by the seat of my pants.

 

[Preacher Man]

Total experimentation here on my part, no recipe to work from.
Make a caramel sauce of butter and brown sugar, now add your homemade apple sauce and some finely minced sweet onion, keeping a thick consistency.
Now go really easy on the cinnamon and nutmeg, and even easier on the black pepper or cayenne.
That aught to do it.
Now a little under the skin just before going in the smoker, and then repeated bastings to build up a glaze from about midway to the end.

I don't know might be good with some work.
I like to cook by the seat of my pants.

I do the same. And I like the sound of this. I'm thinking I'd puree my apple pie filling (not sauce) to make it like an apple sauce. It's already heavy on the cinnamon. I didn't think about the nutmeg...

That was my last turkey I snagged at Thanksgiving. I'm gonna have to find me a nuther'n.

 

[chopsaw]

Nice lookin bird Preacher .

 

[Preacher Man]

Nice lookin bird Preacher .

Thanks chopsaw

 

[Smoke23]

Looks great just the way it is!

 

[GaryHibbert]

Great idea. Love new ideas!!
The bird looks beautiful, and I figure it had to taste great.
I like the sound of putting some pureed pie filling under the skin before smoking. And I would add some nutmeg to compliment the cinnamon.
POINT
Gary