Description

Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey is a show-stopping holiday centerpiece featuring a juicy roasted turkey with a tangy-sweet glaze made from cranberries, orange juice, and warm spices. It’s a festive, flavorful twist on the classic Thanksgiving bird.

Ingredients

For the Turkey:

1 whole turkey (10 to 14 lbs)

2–3 tbsp olive oil or melted butter

Salt and black pepper, to taste

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage)

2 oranges, halved

1 onion, quartered

For the Cranberry Orange Glaze:

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

1 cup orange juice

1 tbsp orange zest

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp honey or maple syrup

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

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Instructions

Thaw the turkey completely, pat dry, and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Season the turkey with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Rub olive oil or melted butter over the skin.
Stuff the cavity with halved oranges, onion, and fresh herbs. Place turkey on a roasting rack or a bed of vegetables in a roasting pan.
Roast turkey uncovered according to weight (about 15 minutes per pound).
While roasting, make the glaze: In a saucepan, combine cranberries, orange juice, zest, sugar, honey/maple, balsamic, cinnamon, and salt. Simmer for 15–20 minutes until thickened and cranberries have burst.
During the final 30–45 minutes of roasting, brush turkey with glaze every 10–15 minutes.
Once internal temp reaches 165°F in the breast and 175°F in the thigh, remove turkey from oven. Tent loosely with foil and let rest for 20–30 minutes before carving.

Notes

Substitute brown sugar with all maple syrup for a deeper flavor.

Add Dijon mustard or port wine to the glaze for extra complexity.

Use leftover glaze as a sauce or sandwich spread.

Use a vegetable bed instead of a roasting rack if needed.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 3.5 hours
Category: Main Course
Method: Roasting
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 portion (approx 6 oz meat + glaze)
Calories: 410
Sugar: 10g
Sodium: 460mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 12g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 42g
Cholesterol: 130mg