For years, I have recommended my easy recipe for Cider Baked Turkey Breast, but had never converted the recipe to a whole turkey. Being stuck with two eighteen pound turkeys that did not get cooked for Thanksgiving, I realized that today was the day to give it a try.
The results for the whole baked turkey were the same delicious old time harvest flavor that I have received with just a turkey breast.
I am giving you the directions that I have used for turkey breast. I improvised for the whole baked turkey with the same ingredients.
Whole Baked Turkey: Cider Baked Turkey Breast
- 1 5-6-pound turkey
- 1 1/2 cups plus 1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 TB cornstarch
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Place turkey breast, skin side up, in a large roasting pan.
- Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
- Remove turkey from oven and lower temperature to 325 degrees.
- In a large bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups apple cider and the soy sauce; pour mixture over turkey breast.
- Cover and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours more, basting turkey frequently with cider mixture.
- In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining 1/2 cup apple cider.
- Remove turkey from oven and bake, uncovered, until sauces is thickened, about 15 to 20 minutes more.
- Transfer turkey to serving platter and serve with the sauce.
This is the easiest turkey recipe EVER. If you’ve never cooked a turkey or are a master in the kitchen, it’s a tried and true recipe meant for sheer taste. Additional info. I am a busy mom who has never basted the turkey the entire time. In a perfect world, this would be ideal. I have intentions of basting it frequently, but always forget. It’s still tasty. I have also substituted some orange juice when I ran out of apple juice for a wonderful flavor as well.
(My bedlam moment came when I desired lots of gravy. Well, before I knew it, I heard splattering in the oven…oops, it was overflowing… everywhere. Now that was a mess to clean. 
)
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