Thanksgiving is wonderful for so many reasons – celebrating gratitude, gathering with family and friends – but when it comes to the food, it is all about the turkey. What we all tend to forget, though, is that getting the perfect juicy turkey is actually pretty tricky, but anybody who’s ever had to suffer through a dry, flavorless bird knows what we mean! There are lots of tried-and-true ways out there to bring out the best flavor, and one of the most popular is brining: the process of soaking meat in salty water to help it retain its taste and moisture. If you’re looking to try it this year – or even if you’ve always done it this way! – why not make it extra special by adding another wonderful fall flavor: apple cider! Allrecipes has the method, so give it a watch, then keep reading.

What You’ll Need

– One 16-pound whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
– 1 1/2 gallons water
– 1 gallon apple cider
– 1 1/2 cups kosher salt
– 1 cup white sugar
– 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
– 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

Get your full printable recipe over on Allrecipes, then definitely let us know if you decide to try it this Thanksgiving! Are you a fan of brining turkeys? Have you ever done a variation like this one before?