Glazed Turkey Roast with Pineapple Honey Glaze

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I’ll be honest, when I first started adapting traditional holiday recipes for my kosher kitchen, the glazed ham dilemma was real. You know that beautiful, glossy centerpiece everyone talks about during the holidays? The good news is we can absolutely create that same wow factor with a perfectly seasoned turkey roast.

This recipe uses a boneless turkey breast roast that gets the full spa treatment. I score the surface in a diamond pattern, which isn’t just for looks (though it definitely helps there). Those cuts let the glaze penetrate deeper into the meat and create more caramelized edges. The pineapple honey glaze is where the magic happens. Fresh pineapple juice mixed with honey, a touch of mustard, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves gives you that classic sweet and tangy flavor profile.

Creating the Perfect Diamond Score Pattern

The key to getting that gorgeous lacquered finish is patience with the glazing process. You’ll brush it on multiple times during the last hour of cooking, building up those layers. Each application caramelizes slightly before the next one goes on. I learned this technique from watching my grandmother prepare her famous brisket, and it works beautifully here too.

Building Layers of Pineapple Glaze

This makes an absolutely stunning centerpiece for Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, or any special meal where you want something impressive but not too complicated. I like to serve it alongside roasted root vegetables and a simple green salad. The leftover turkey makes incredible sandwiches too, especially when you’ve got some of that crispy, glazed exterior in each bite.

Glazed Turkey Roast with Pineapple Honey Glaze - American recipe
I'll be honest, when I first started adapting traditional holiday recipes for my kosher kitchen, the glazed ham dilemma was real. You know that beautiful, glossy centerpiece everyone talks about during the holidays? The good news is we can absolutely create that same wow factor with a perfectly seasoned turkey roast. This recipe uses a boneless turkey breast roast that gets the full spa treatment. I score the surface in a diamond pattern, which isn't just for looks (though it definitely helps there). Those cuts let the glaze penetrate deeper into the meat and create more caramelized edges. The pineapple honey glaze is where the magic happens. Fresh pineapple juice mixed with honey, a touch of mustard, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves gives you that classic sweet and tangy flavor profile. The key to getting that gorgeous lacquered finish is patience with the glazing process. You'll brush it on multiple times during the last hour of cooking, building up those layers. Each application caramelizes slightly before the next one goes on. I learned this technique from watching my grandmother prepare her famous brisket, and it works beautifully here too. This makes an absolutely stunning centerpiece for Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, or any special meal where you want something impressive but not too complicated. I like to serve it alongside roasted root vegetables and a simple green salad. The leftover turkey makes incredible sandwiches too, especially when you've got some of that crispy, glazed exterior in each bite.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 285
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Turkey Roast
  • 1 whole boneless turkey breast roast about 4-5 pounds
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
Pineapple Honey Glaze
  • 1 cup pineapple juice 100% pure juice
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar packed
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Method
 

Prepare the Turkey
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove turkey roast from packaging and pat completely dry with paper towels.
  2. Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the turkey in a diamond pattern, making cuts about 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart.
  3. Rub olive oil all over the turkey, then season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, making sure to get seasoning into the scored cuts.
  4. Place turkey on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes while preparing glaze.
Make the Glaze
  1. In a medium saucepan, combine pineapple juice, honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar.
  2. Add cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt. Whisk to combine.
  3. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced by about half and thickened to a syrupy consistency.
  4. Remove from heat and set aside. The glaze will continue to thicken as it cools.
Roast and Glaze
  1. Roast turkey for 60 minutes without opening the oven.
  2. Remove from oven and brush generously with about 1/3 of the glaze, making sure to get it into all the scored cuts.
  3. Return to oven and roast for another 30 minutes, then brush with half of the remaining glaze.
  4. Continue roasting for 20-30 minutes more, brushing with remaining glaze every 10 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  5. Remove from oven and tent with foil. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
  6. Slice against the grain and serve immediately, drizzling any pan juices over the slices.

Notes

The turkey can be scored and seasoned up to 24 hours ahead - just wrap and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before roasting. If the glaze starts getting too dark during cooking, tent the turkey with foil. Leftover turkey keeps for 4 days refrigerated and makes excellent sandwiches.
Nutrition Facts
8 servings per recipe
Serving size 1 serving
Calories 285
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 95mg 32%
Sodium 320mg 14%
Dietary Fiber 0g
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 35g 70%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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