Salt and pepper to taste
12 ounces Coca-Cola
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Sliced oranges and thyme for garnish
Wild rice for serving
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rinse each Cornish hen in cold water and dry with paper towels. Add Cornish hens to a skillet or deep pan for roasting. Sprinkle the skin of the hens with salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 45 minutes. While hens roast, create the glaze. In a medium sized pan or pot, whisk together Coca-Cola, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and orange juice and bring to boil over high heat. Turn heat down to medium and continue to cook until glaze has reduced and is thick and sticky. Remove hens from oven and brush half of glaze equally over each hen. Bake for 10 minutes then repeat with remaining glaze on hens. Bake for 15 more minutes or until hens are completely cooked through. If you would like, turn the oven to broil to further brown the tops of the hens. Let rest for 10-15 minutes then serve with wild rice and garnish plates with orange slices and thyme.