Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey (Printable)
Tender turkey breast glazed with a sweet-tart cranberry and orange sauce for flavorful meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Turkey
01 - 1 (3 to 4 lb) boneless, skin-on turkey breast
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
04 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
→ Glaze
05 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
06 - ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
07 - ¼ cup honey
08 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
09 - 1 tablespoon orange zest
10 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
13 - ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
14 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
→ Aromatics
15 - 1 orange, sliced
16 - 1 small onion, quartered
17 - 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat turkey breast dry and rub with olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper.
02 - Place orange slices, quartered onion, and rosemary sprigs in the bottom of a roasting pan. Lay turkey breast on top, skin side up.
03 - Combine cranberries, orange juice, honey, brown sugar, orange zest, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst, about 8–10 minutes.
04 - Mash or blend the mixture until smooth. Optionally, dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon water and stir in, simmering 1–2 minutes to thicken.
05 - Brush half of the glaze over the turkey breast. Roast uncovered for 40 minutes.
06 - Baste turkey with remaining glaze and continue roasting, basting every 15 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C), approximately 1 hour 15 minutes total.
07 - Let the turkey rest loosely covered with foil for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Serve with remaining glaze.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This glaze feels like a warm hug with a zesty citrus twist that only close friends get to enjoy.
- The balance of sweet and savory makes this turkey a favorite that always impresses.
02 -
- Patting the turkey breast completely dry before seasoning is the game changer for crispy skin.
- Simmering the glaze long enough to burst the cranberries unlocks the natural sweetness and bright flavor.
03 -
- Using fresh orange zest rather than pre-ground spices makes a remarkable difference in brightness.
- The secret to perfect glaze consistency is adding cornstarch gradually to avoid over-thickening.