Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey (Printable)
Tender turkey breast roasted to perfection with a sweet cranberry orange glaze and aromatic herbs.
# What You'll Need:
→ Turkey
01 - 1 boneless, skin-on turkey breast (3 to 4 lb)
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 ½ 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)
→ 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, onion quarters, and rosemary sprigs in the bottom of a roasting pan. Position 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 small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst, about 8 to 10 minutes.
04 - Mash or blend the cranberry mixture until smooth for a finer texture. If desired, dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon water and stir in, simmering 1 to 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 in the thickest part, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes total.
07 - Let the turkey rest loosely covered with foil for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with leftover glaze.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This glaze feels like a little holiday magic you can share with close friends.
- Roasting the turkey to perfection while the sweet aroma fills your home makes every bite feel like a warm embrace.
02 -
- Don’t skip resting the turkey—it’s the key step that locks in all those gorgeous juices.
- Simmering the glaze until cranberries burst is a flavor game-changer, transforming simple ingredients into a lush sauce.
03 -
- Use an instant-read thermometer to nail the perfect doneness every time—no guesswork, just juicy results.
- Adding orange zest last minute to your glaze brightens flavors and makes all the difference in freshness.