Description
This Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey is bursting with festive holiday flavor! The sweet-tart cranberry sauce, fresh orange zest, warm spices, and buttery herb rub create a showstopping Christmas or Thanksgiving centerpiece. Juicy, golden, aromatic, and perfect for holiday gatherings!
Ingredients
Scale
-
- For the Turkey:
- 1 whole turkey (10–14 lbs), thawed if frozen
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 onion, quartered
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- For the Cranberry Orange Glaze:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Place the turkey on a roasting rack inside a large roasting pan.
- Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Rub softened butter and olive oil all over the skin and under the breast skin.
- Season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and rosemary.
- Stuff the cavity with orange slices, onion, and garlic cloves.
- Tuck the wings under and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
- Pour 1 cup of water or broth into the bottom of the pan. Roast the turkey uncovered.
- While turkey cooks, prepare the glaze: Combine cranberries, orange juice, honey, brown sugar, orange zest, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a saucepan. Simmer 10–15 minutes until thickened.
- During the last 45 minutes of roasting, brush the turkey generously with the cranberry orange glaze every 15 minutes.
- Roast until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh.
- Let turkey rest 20–30 minutes before carving. Serve with extra glaze on the side.
Notes
For extra flavor, dry brine the turkey overnight with salt and spices. Add fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs to the roasting pan for more aroma. The glaze can be made up to 3 days in advance. Perfect for Christmas dinner or holiday parties!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roast
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 55g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
Keywords: cranberry turkey, orange glaze turkey, holiday turkey recipe, Christmas turkey, Thanksgiving turkey, festive glazed turkey