Wash the thyme and shake dry. Peel and wash the carrots and cut them into thick slices. Peel and halve 4 onions and cut into slices. Clean and wash the leek and cut into thick rings. Mix carrots, leek, onions, about half of the thyme, cinnamon, 6 cloves and star anise, season with salt and pepper. Spread evenly on a fat pan
Wash the turkey thoroughly, dab dry and season inside and out with salt and pepper. Add the remaining thyme to the turkey. Plug the opening with wooden skewers and tie up with kitchen string. Tie the wings together with kitchen string as well
Place the turkey on the vegetables on the fat pan. Roast in the preheated oven (electric cooker: 150 °C/ circulating air: 125 °C/ gas: see manufacturer) for approx. 4 1/2 hours. Add cream approx. 2 hours before the end of the roasting time. Turn on the oven approx. 1 hour before the end of the roasting time (electric oven: 175 °C/ convection oven: 150 °C/ gas: see manufacturer)
Wash 6 apples and add them to the fat pan 35-40 minutes before the end of the frying time. Spread the turkey with maple syrup 15-20 minutes before the end of the roasting time
For the dumplings, finely dice rolls. Peel and finely dice 1 onion. Wash parsley, shake dry and chop finely. Put the bread roll, onion, parsley, except for 1 tbsp. for garnishing, and eggs in a bowl. Warm the milk and pour it over. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Cover and let rest for about 1 hour
Form approx. 16 dumplings from the dumpling mixture (sticks a little bit) with moistened hands. Put dumplings into a wide pot with plenty of boiling salted water and let them simmer for 15-20 minutes. Then lift them out of the water and let them drip off a little
Arrange turkey with braised vegetables, apple and cream stock on a plate. Garnish with thyme if desired. Arrange dumplings in bowls, sprinkle with remaining parsley. Red cabbage tastes good with it