A beautifully browned and gleaming turkey sits at center stage of your Christmas dinner table. Its skin evokes a flawless, golden hue under the soft lighting. Glistening cranberry glaze lends a satisfying sheen and a pop of festive color. Peeping from within, hints of a beautifully packed chestnut stuffing provide exciting contrast and texture. The turkey is elegantly garnished with a generous sprinkle of fresh herbs and circled by an arrangement of roasted winter vegetables and vibrant fresh cranberry fruits.

Cranberry Glaze and Chestnut Stuffed Turkey

Name: Cranberry Glaze and Chestnut Stuffed Turkey
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 225 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12-pound turkey, 1 cleaned thoroughly; cranberry juice, 2 cups; brown sugar, 1/2 cup; ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon; fresh cranberries, 1 cup; dry white wine, 1/2 cup; chestnuts, 1 cup cooked and chopped; breadcrumbs, 1-1/2 cup; unsalted butter, 1/2 cup softened; medium-sized onions, 2 chopped; large celery stalks, 2 chopped; fresh thyme, 2 teaspoons finely chopped; fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon finely chopped; salt and freshly ground black pepper, as per taste; mixed fresh herbs and roasted vegetables, for garnishing

Category Main Course

Prep 45 minutes

Cook 180 minutes

Style American

Technique Roasting

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: December 24, 2024

There's nothing that captures the spirit of Christmas Eve like a gorgeous stuffed turkey, perfectly bronzed and gleaming under the twinkling fairy lights. The key feature of this roast is the sweet tartness of cranberries coupled with the richness of chestnut stuffing, all enveloped within the juicy succulence of the turkey, promising a memorable feast.

Ingredients (for 8)

12-pound turkey - 1 - cleaned thoroughly
Cranberry juice - 2 cups
Brown sugar - 1/2 cup
Ground cinnamon - 1 teaspoon
Fresh cranberries - 1 cup
Dry white wine - 1/2 cup
Chestnuts - 1 cup - cooked and chopped
Breadcrumbs - 1-1/2 cup
Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup - softened
Medium-sized onions - 2 - chopped
Large celery stalks - 2 - chopped
Fresh thyme - 2 teaspoons - finely chopped
Fresh rosemary - 1 teaspoon - finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper - as per taste
Mixed fresh herbs and roasted vegetables - - for garnishing

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔥⏲️🛠️

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2 - 🥣🔮🎈

For the cranberry glaze, simmer cranberry juice, brown sugar and cinnamon in a pan till it forms a syrup. Keep aside.
Step 3 - 🥘🌰🍷

For the stuffing, sauté onions and celery in butter till translucent, mix in cooked chestnuts, breadcrumbs, thyme, rosemary. Season and moisten with wine.
Step 4 - 🍞🦃🍽️

Loosely stuff the turkey with this mixture. Place the turkey in a roasting pan.
Step 5 - 🖌️🍇🔁

Brush the turkey with the cranberry glaze and put it in the pre-heated oven. Extra glaze can be brushed additional times after every 30 minutes.
Step 6 - 🔥⌛🌡️

Roast for about 3 hours, or until the thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 7 - ✨🍗🎉

Let it rest for 20 minutes before carving. Serve with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and a ring of roasted vegetables.

Additional

This fabulous turkey forms the centerpiece of a classic Christmas table. To make it even more Christmasy, you can add a few sprigs of holly around the dish. If you have kids who like to help in the kitchen, ask them to brush the glaze on the turkey. It's a simple task and they'll love to be part of the magic!