Florida OJ Cranberry Turkey Sliders Recipe

Introduction

These Florida OJ Cranberry Turkey Sliders combine tangy cranberry orange sauce with savory turkey and melted Swiss cheese for a perfect handheld treat. Ideal for holiday leftovers or game day gatherings, they offer a delightful balance of sweet, herbaceous, and cheesy flavors.

Ingredients

• Cranberry Orange Sauce:
• 1 cup Florida Orange Juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 small bundle fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs, optional (3-4 sprigs each, tied together with kitchen twine)
• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• Sliders:
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 package (12 count) sweet dinner rolls
• 3/4 cup cranberry orange sauce (from above)
• 7 ounces thick-sliced deli turkey or leftover holiday turkey
• 4 ounces (about 6 slices) Swiss cheese
• Additional fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Step 1: To make the cranberry orange sauce, combine the Florida orange juice, orange zest, granulated sugar, and the herb bundle in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Stir in the cranberries and bring the mixture to a boil. Then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens and most cranberries burst, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Remove and discard the herb bundle. Let the sauce cool completely—it will thicken further as it cools.
3. Step 3: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
4. Step 4: Prepare the garlic Dijon herb butter by whisking together the melted butter, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and parsley. Set aside.
5. Step 5: Using a sharp serrated knife, slice the sweet dinner rolls in half horizontally, keeping the top and bottom halves intact as one piece. Place the bottom half on a rimmed baking sheet.
6. Step 6: Brush about half of the garlic Dijon herb butter evenly over the bottom half of the rolls. Spread the cranberry orange sauce evenly over this buttered layer.
7. Step 7: Layer the sliced turkey evenly over the cranberry sauce, covering all 12 slider sections. Then top with Swiss cheese slices. If needed, cut cheese slices to fit and overlap slightly to cover the rolls.
8. Step 8: Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese layer. Brush the remaining garlic Dijon herb butter on the tops of the rolls.
9. Step 9: Cover the sliders tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the tops are golden and the cheese is melted.
10. Step 10: Let the sliders cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing individual portions along the roll perforations. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Tips & Variations

• You can assemble the sliders up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate them before baking. Just add 5 more minutes to the covered baking time if baking from cold.
• For a different cheese twist, try using provolone or Havarti instead of Swiss.
• Leftover cranberry orange sauce keeps well and can be used as a dip or spread on sandwiches.

Storage

Store any leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a 350°F oven covered with foil for about 10 minutes to preserve moisture and melt the cheese again.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen cranberries for the sauce?

Yes, fresh or frozen cranberries both work well. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them first—simply add them directly to the saucepan.

What can I substitute if I don’t have fresh herbs?

Dried herbs can be used as a substitute, but reduce the amounts to about one-third of the fresh quantity since dried herbs are more concentrated. For example, use 1/8 teaspoon each of dried rosemary and thyme.

Florida OJ Cranberry Turkey Sliders Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 64 reviews

These Florida OJ Cranberry Turkey Sliders combine a tangy homemade cranberry orange sauce with savory turkey and melted Swiss cheese on soft sweet dinner rolls. Perfectly brushed with a garlic Dijon herb butter and baked until golden, these sliders are an ideal festive appetizer or easy party meal.

• Author: Maya
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 sliders 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cranberry Orange Sauce

• 1 cup Florida Orange Juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 small bundle fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs, optional (3–4 sprigs each, tied together with kitchen twine)
• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

Sliders

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 package (12 count) sweet dinner rolls
• 3/4 cup cranberry orange sauce
• 7 ounces thick-sliced deli turkey or leftover holiday turkey
• 4 ounces (about 6 slices) Swiss cheese
• Additional fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Make Cranberry Orange Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, granulated sugar, and the herb bundle over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens and most cranberries burst, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove herb bundle and discard. Let sauce cool completely; it will thicken further as it cools.
2. Prepare Garlic Dijon Herb Butter: In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, rosemary, thyme, and parsley until well combined. Set aside.
3. Assemble Sliders: Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a serrated knife, slice the sweet dinner rolls horizontally, keeping top and bottom halves intact as one piece. Place bottom half on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush half of the garlic Dijon herb butter evenly on the bottom half. Spread cranberry orange sauce evenly over buttered rolls.
4. Add Turkey and Cheese Layers: Layer sliced turkey evenly over the cranberry sauce covering all slider sections. Top with Swiss cheese slices, cutting and overlapping as needed to cover all buns.
5. Finish Assembly and Bake: Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese. Brush tops with remaining garlic Dijon herb butter. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 5-10 minutes until tops are golden and cheese is melted.
6. Serve: Remove from oven and let rest 2-3 minutes. Slice into individual sliders along roll perforations. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.

Notes

• Sliders can be assembled up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated before baking; add 5 extra minutes to baking if baking from cold.
• Use leftover holiday turkey or thick-sliced deli turkey for convenience.
• The cranberry orange sauce can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, then warmed slightly before using.
• Fresh herbs add aromatic flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
• For a sharper cheese option, try gruyere or fontina instead of Swiss.

Keywords: cranberry orange sauce, turkey sliders, holiday appetizer, Florida orange juice, sweet dinner rolls, sweet and savory sliders, baked sliders, party food