Brandy-Vanilla Butter Roasted Chicken Drumsticks- Fascinating recipe and so unusual! Delicious chicken drumsticks that are moist, perfumed, and perfect for a fancy dinner.
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Reasons to Love This Dish
Fascinating recipe, but so unusual and oh, so good! I found this fun and interesting recipe in a new book I recently bought, called "Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook" by F.L.Fowler.
I laughed going through the recipes as the entire book is a parody of the famous novel " Fifty Shades of Grey." There are many recipes that interested me in this book, but this particular recipe fascinated me.
I had never combined meats with vanilla before, and I was unsure if that would ever work well together, so I had to try it.
The original recipe calls for an entire chicken, but I chose chicken legs for this occasion. My experience with vanilla has been unexpected and wonderful so far!
The recipe is full of flavor (yes, your kitchen will smell like cookies or cake from vanilla) and very easy to make.
Ingredients needed
You will basically need only chicken, butter, your favorite brandy, vanilla extract, some sugar, coarse kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. The result will be a juicy, succulent, a little bit sweet, and very perfumed roasted chicken.
How To Make This Butter Vanilla Chicken Drumsticks
For the complete instructions, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Mix together softened butter, brandy, vanilla extract, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Thoroughly massage this mixture onto your drumsticks.
- Arrange the drumsticks on a baking rack set over a pan or in a suitable bakeware dish.
- Roast until golden and the juices run clear, about 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on size. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
What To Serve With These Vanilla Drumsticks
- Roasted Vegetables: A medley of seasonal vegetables like carrots, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes, roasted until caramelized, can add a sweet and earthy contrast to the rich flavors of the chicken.
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes: Smooth, buttery mashed potatoes make for a classic pairing, offering a comforting base that complements the savory chicken beautifully.
- Green Salad: A light, crisp salad with a vinaigrette dressing can provide a refreshing balance to the meal, cutting through the richness of the brandy-vanilla butter.
- Grain Salad: Quinoa or farro salads with a mix of herbs, nuts, and dried fruits offer a delightful texture and nutty flavor that complement the chicken.
- Rice Pilaf: A fragrant rice pilaf with almonds and raisins can add an exotic touch and a different texture to your dinner plate.
- Crusty Bread: Fresh, crusty bread is perfect for mopping up any leftover brandy vanilla butter sauce, ensuring you enjoy every last drop.
- Steamed Green Beans: Lightly steamed green beans tossed with garlic and lemon zest offer a crunchy, zesty side that complements the chicken's sweetness and spice.
- Squash: This dish is perfect for a romantic dinner when you want to impress your partner. Serve it with roasted squash, and you will remember it as a fantastic meal. And have a glass of your favorite wine. Make it fancy!
Storage Tips
Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or wrap and freeze for up to 4 months for longer freshness.
More Chicken Recipes To Love:
📖 Recipe
Brandy-Vanilla Butter Roasted Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter very soft
- 1 tablespoon brandy
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 3 ½-to 4 pound chicken, patted dry with paper towels Either a whole chicken or parts, like thighs, legs, and breast.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, brandy, vanilla extract, sugar, part of the salt, and part of the black pepper. Whip these ingredients until they form a smooth mixture. The mixture may initially appear curdled, but continue to mix until it smoothens.
- Generously season the chicken's exterior and cavity (or chicken pieces, if preferred) with the remaining salt and pepper.
- For whole chicken, gently insert your hand beneath the skin of the breast, spreading the brandy-vanilla butter directly onto the meat underneath. Extend the application to the thighs. If using chicken parts, thoroughly massage the mixture onto each piece.
- Position the chicken on a rack set within a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips (for whole chicken). If using parts, arrange them in a single layer in nonstick bakeware, avoiding overcrowding.
- Roast in the preheated oven until the chicken achieves a golden-brown crispness and the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Oven times may vary, especially if you use parts of chicken.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes after roasting. This step ensures the juices redistribute, enhancing the meat's moistness and flavor before carving or serving.
Hank says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I was doing some travel (through google maps) and discovered a restaurant - that had this on their menu. (I like looking at overseas restaurant menus for ideas in my kitchen). The restaurant has many customer pics, lots to see at this place.. "Le Bois Cheri Restaurant, Mauritius" Looking forward to building this. Cheers
Gabriela says
How cool is that! Let me know what you think, it is a very interesting and unusual recipe, but very good!