Maple Butter Glazed Turkey – The Perfect Holiday Centerpiece

A beautifully bronzed turkey cloaked in a sweet, buttery maple glaze is the ultimate showstopper for your holiday table. This maple butter glazed turkey recipe delivers the perfect balance of sweetness, savoriness, and succulence in every bite. Let’s break down how to achieve maple butter glazed turkey perfection.

Selecting and Preparing the Turkey

You’ll want to start with a high quality fresh or defrosted turkey, ideally 12-14 pounds. Make sure to remove the neck and giblets from the cavity before cooking

For the most even seasoning and cooking, this recipe calls for breaking down the turkey into parts before roasting. This may sound intimidating, but it’s actually quite easy to do. Simply remove the legs and wings at the joints. You can also trim off a portion of the backbone to allow the breast to lie flatter. Ask your butcher to do this dirty work if you prefer.

Once broken down, arrange the turkey pieces skin side up on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. This allows air flow all around for optimal browning and fat rendering.

Dry Brining is Key

To achieve super juicy and well seasoned meat it’s essential to dry brine the turkey. This involves generously coating the turkey pieces with a mixture of salt sugar, garlic powder, and pepper. Kosher salt is ideal as it adheres best.

Let the turkey dry brine for at least 1 hour at room temperature or up to 1 day chilled. The salt will deeply season the meat while the sugar promotes browning. Brining also enhances moisture retention so the turkey stays juicy through the long roast.

Low and Slow Roasting

With the turkey properly brined and arranged on a rack, it’s ready to meet the heat. Start by roasting at a high temp of 425°F for 20-30 minutes. This jumpstarts the browning process.

Then drop the temp down to 300°F and roast until the breast reaches 150°F and the thighs reach 170°F internally. For a 12-14 pound turkey, expect the total roasting time to be around 1 1/2 hours.

Roasting low and slow is key for even cooking so the white breast meat doesn’t dry out while the dark leg and thigh meat cooks through. Basting the turkey with the glaze also keeps it super moist.

Whip up a Sweet Maple Glaze

While the turkey roasts, you’ll want to prepare the glaze. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Then whisk in maple syrup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and fresh thyme.

Simmer the glaze for 8-10 minutes until thickened to a brushable consistency. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

The butter provides richness, while the maple syrup brings sweetness and amber color. The acid from the vinegars helps balance and brighten the glaze. Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce add savory, umami notes.

Brush on the Glaze for Stunning Color

Here’s where the magic happens. Every 20 minutes while the turkey roasts, generously brush the glaze all over the top and sides. This helps the turkey develop an incredible lacquered mahogany color.

You’ll also want to add water by 1/2 cupfuls to the roasting pan as needed. This creates steam which keeps the turkey moist.

In total, expect to brush on 2-3 coats of glaze during the last half of roasting time. The final turkey should be beautifully glazed with crisp, crackling skin.

Rest and Carve for Best Results

Once the turkey reaches the target internal temperature, remove it from the oven and let rest for 30-60 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when you carve.

To serve, simply remove the breasts and thighs by slicing through the joints. Then slice the breast meat crosswise. Arrange the pre-sliced white and dark meat on a platter for an elegant presentation.

Pass any accumulated pan drippings to serve alongside for mopping up with rolls or gravy making.

Tips for Maple Butter Glazed Turkey Success

Follow these tips and tricks for the best possible maple butter glazed turkey:

• Dry brine up to 1 day in advance for fullest flavor penetration. Even 1 hour makes a difference.

• Pat turkey pieces very dry before roasting to maximize browning.

• Use an instant read thermometer to check internal temperature. Take it out before it reaches final temp.

• Start basting with glaze halfway through roasting time for the prettiest color.

• Add liquid to the roasting pan to create steam for extra moist turkey.

• Allow to rest before carving so juices have time to reabsorb.

• Carve by removing the breast and thigh portions to make serving easier.

• Make pan gravy from the drippings for the perfect holiday table.

With this straightforward roasting technique and luscious maple glaze, you’ll have the star of your holiday meal! Impress your guests with moist, flavorful turkey cloaked in sweet, buttery glaze.

Frequently Asked Questions About Maple Glazed Turkey

Here are answers to some common questions about making maple butter glazed turkey:

What size turkey should I buy?

Look for a 12-14 pound turkey to serve 8-10 people. Larger birds can dry out.

Can I use frozen turkey?

Yes, just be sure to thaw fully in the fridge 1-2 days before roasting.

What kind of maple syrup works best?

Grade A dark amber maple syrup has the richest flavor. But any real maple syrup will taste great.

Should I brine the turkey first?

Dry brining with salt, sugar, and spices gives great flavor. No wet brining required.

Can I stuff the turkey cavity?

For food safety and even cooking, it’s best to cook stuffing separately.

What temperature should the turkey roast at?

Roast at 425°F for 20-30 minutes, then drop to 300°F until done.

How long does it take to roast turkey?

Plan for around 1 1/2 hours total roasting time for a 12-14 lb turkey.

How do I get really crisp skin?

Dry skin thoroughly before roasting. Baste with glaze and add steam from pan liquids.

What sides go well with maple glazed turkey?

Mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, stuffing, cranberry sauce are perfect complements.

Can I prep this ahead of time?

Dry brine up to 1 day in advance. Make glaze ahead too. Roast day-of.

Enjoy Golden Maple Glazed Turkey Year-Round

While this turkey is ideal for a festive holiday meal, don’t save it just for special occasions. You can roast up maple glazed turkey any time of year by cooking a bone-in breast or other smaller cuts.

For easy weeknight dinners, maple glazed boneless, skin-on turkey thighs are delicious. The glaze also pairs wonderfully with chicken.

Finally, use leftover maple glazed turkey for incredible sandwiches, soups, pot pies, and more!