Christmas Roast Duck With Cranberry-Orange Glaze Recipe
Make the holidays special with this Christmas roast duck with cranberry-orange glaze! Featuring perfectly crisp skin and a spiced glaze full of festive flavors, this roast duck adds elegance to your holiday table.
How to Make the Best Christmas Roast Duck With Cranberry-Orange Glaze
There’s nothing quite like a perfectly roasted duck with a glossy, jewel-toned glaze to make your holiday table feel truly special. This Christmas roast duck with cranberry-orange glaze combines elegant presentation with rich, festive flavors that will impress your guests. The crispy skin and tender meat provide a luxurious contrast, while the spiced cranberry-orange glaze adds brightness and a touch of sophistication.
Why Roast Duck for the Holidays?
Duck is an underrated holiday protein that offers so much more than your typical poultry. Unlike chicken or turkey, duck has rich, flavorful dark meat and renders beautiful golden skin that becomes incredibly crispy when roasted properly. The natural richness of duck pairs beautifully with the tartness of cranberry juice and the bright notes of fresh orange and warming spices like cinnamon and ginger.
The Secret to Crispy Duck Skin
The key to perfect roasted duck is starting with a dry bird. Pat your duck thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning—this helps the skin render and crisp up during roasting. Scoring the skin in a crosshatch pattern also helps the fat render more evenly, resulting in that restaurant-quality crispy exterior you’re after.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate holiday dinner or looking to elevate your festive table, this roast duck is guaranteed to be the showstopper everyone will be talking about!
Christmas Roast Duck With Cranberry-Orange Glaze
Make the holidays special with this Christmas roast duck with cranberry-orange glaze! Featuring perfectly crisp skin and a spiced glaze full of festive flavors, this roast duck adds elegance to your holiday table.
Ingredients
For the Duck
For the Cranberry-Orange Glaze
Instructions
Roast the Duck
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat the duck dry and season inside and out with salt.
- Stuff the cavity with the quartered onion, lemon, and herb sprigs.
- Place duck breast-side up on a roasting pan. Combine paprika, pepper, and garlic powder, then rub all over the duck.
- Roast for 2 hours and 20 minutes (approximately 20 minutes per pound), or until the skin is crispy and the meat reaches 165°F internally.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Cranberry-Orange Glaze
- While the duck roasts, combine cranberry juice, orange juice, molasses, and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the grated garlic, ginger, balsamic vinegar, salt, and cayenne.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes until slightly reduced and syrupy.
- Mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Stir into the glaze and simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in the fresh orange zest. Remove cinnamon sticks.
- Brush the glaze over the cooked duck just before serving, or serve on the side.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, score the duck skin in a crosshatch pattern before roasting.
- The cranberry-orange glaze can be made ahead and reheated before serving.
- Serve with roasted vegetables or a fresh salad for a complete holiday meal.