The Gobbler Recipe

Combine cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water and orange zest in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. As berries burst (about 6–8 minutes), mash a few with the back of a spoon to achieve a saucy but slightly chunky texture.

Reduce heat to low and simmer 2 more minutes to thicken. Taste and add a pinch of salt and black pepper to balance sweetness. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature; the sauce will thicken further as it cools.

If making ahead, refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before assembling sandwiches.

In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, chopped parsley, chopped thyme, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper until smooth and evenly combined.

Taste and adjust: add more lemon for brightness, or more herbs for an earthier note. Keep chilled until assembling.

Prepare bread

Slice rolls in half horizontally. Lightly butter cut sides if toasting. Toast cut sides in a skillet or under a broiler until golden and crisp, about 1–2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

Optional warm mozzarella

If you prefer warm melted mozzarella: heat 1 tsp olive oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place mozzarella slices and warm briefly 30–60 seconds per side until they soften but do not fully melt. Remove from heat.

Spread roughly 1 tbsp of the herb-mayonnaise on each bottom roll half.

Place lettuce leaf on each mayo-coated bottom half to create a moisture barrier.

Layer 4 oz (half of the turkey quantity per sandwich) ovengold turkey slices evenly over the lettuce on each sandwich.

Spoon about 1.5 tbsp of the cranberry-orange sauce over the turkey on each sandwich, spreading gently but leaving some pockets of sauce for bursts of flavor.

Top cranberry layer with 2 oz (per sandwich) sliced fresh mozzarella and tomato slices. Add red onion rings if using.

Spread remaining herb-mayonnaise on the inside of the top roll halves. Place top halves over assembled sandwiches and press lightly to set.

Slice each sandwich in half on the diagonal if desired. Serve immediately while rolls are still slightly crisp and mozzarella is tender.

Optional: serve extra cranberry-orange sauce on the side for dipping, and pair with kettle chips or a simple green salad.