Christmas Smoked Turkey Recipe With A Maple Butter Glaze For 2022
Hold onto your Santa hats! This year we’re bringing you our favorite Christmas smoked turkey recipe with a simple maple butter glaze. Your family will fawn over the mouth-watering crispy skin, the juicy meat, and the decadent (yet easy) maple butter glaze, when they see this succulent bird. There are a few ways to make this tasty dish and we will let you know the different ways you can prepare this Christmas smoked turkey recipe with a maple butter glaze further down the line in this article.
There are two ways you can prepare your turkey, which we will explore in this article. The first way is the traditional way, prepared in your oven. The second way is a bit more in depth, but we feel it yields a tastier bird. The second option includes spatchcocking your bird and, if you’re lucky enough to have a fire pit with a grill attachment or a smoker grill, grilling/smoking your turkey over natural wood.
The Ingredient List
The ingredients are simple, and the preparation of the bird will remain the same for each method, except for spatchcocking your bird for the grilling/smoking method.
- Turkey
- 1/2 Stick of Butter
- 3 – 4 Tablespoons of Pure Maple Syrup
- Coarse Ground Black Pepper
- Cherry Wood Smoked Salt
This is a simple recipe that delivers flavor packed results. We highly recommend using the second method of cooking because a lot of your flavors will derive from the wood smoke and the fat smoke created from a natural fire.
Christmas Smoked Turkey Recipe Preparation
First, you will take your thawed turkey and pat the skin dry with paper towels. This will help us get the crispy skin we’re looking for. Here is where you will spatchcock your bird if you’re opting in for the second method of cooking (See “The Grill And Smoking Method” down below). Once the skin is dry you can begin slathering on your maple butter glaze. Take your half stick of butter and melt it in the microwave using a microwave safe bowl. Once the butter has melted, stir is 3 – 4 tablespoon of maple syrup. Add more or less maple syrup depending on how sweet you want your glaze to be. Mix well. Begin applying the mixture evenly to the outside of the turkey. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies i.e. under the legs and wings etc. Save this for later because you will use this mixture throughout your cook to baste your turkey.
After you’ve evenly applied the butter and maple syrup mixture, it’s time to season your turkey. Evenly coat the outside of the turkey with a conservative amount of your cherry wood smoked salt and coarse ground black pepper. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies again like you did with your butter and maple syrup mixture. That’s it! See? We told you it was easy. Now, this is important, let your turkey rest while you pre-heat your oven or build your fire.
The Oven Method
First and foremost, cooking time and temp. The easiest way to calculate cooking time for your turkey is to multiply 13 min for each pound of turkey at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. So, for example, if you’re cooking a 10lb turkey, you’ll set your oven to 350 degrees and cook your turkey for 130 minutes. Once your Turkey has been seasoned, add your Turkey to the oven that has been preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for the appropriate amount of time.
Every 45 minutes to one hour open your oven and pull out the rack slightly so that you can brush on more of your maple butter. Do this until your turkey is complete and once more after it’s removed from the oven. Feel free to add more smoked salt and pepper after each baste. This is why we recommended using a conservative amount of seasonings to begin.
The Grill And Smoking Method
Before seasoning your turkey, use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the backbone out of the turkey. Use both hands, place one on each side of the rib cage to push your turkey apart so that it becomes flat. You will hear a “crack”. Turn your turkey over to season. Then, place your turkey seasoned side up on your grill.
If you’re using a smoker grill, this step will be simple. All you need to do is set your smoker grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and allow it to reach temperature before adding your Turkey. Once your Turkey is placed on your smoker grill you will open your smoker every 45 minutes to one hour to baste your Turkey in more of the Maple butter mixture. You may need to flip your bird. Keep in mind, it may be a good idea to coat your Turkey with black pepper and smoked salt after each baste. This is why you’ll use a conservative amount of salt and pepper to begin with.
If you’re cooking over an open fire (recommended) build your fire small to begin with and add more wood until you reach a consistent 350 degrees. Add more wood as necessary to maintain temperature. We would highly recommend using oak (post oak if you can find it) and keeping a medal dome on hand to cover your turkey for smoke absorption. The cooking times will remain the same as oven cooking times. Click on the icons below to follow Park Ave Magazine for more food reviews and upcoming recipes.
Time To Eat
Congratulations! You have successfully cooked your Christmas Turkey! Now it’s time to let your Turkey rest on a rack for about 10 to 15 minutes before carving into it. This will allow your Turkey to reabsorb some of the juices that it’s lost. This will also allow the turkey skin to become crispy. Enjoy, and have a happy holiday.
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