A beautifully glazed ham stands as the ultimate centerpiece for holiday celebrations, transforming any gathering into a memorable feast. This glazed ham recipe combines a tender, juicy spiral-cut ham with a glossy, caramelized glaze made from brown sugar, honey, and Dijon mustard that creates an irresistible balance of sweet and savory flavors. The result is a stunning main course with a golden-brown exterior that’s as impressive to look at as it is delicious to eat. This recipe serves 12 to 15 people generously, making it perfect for Easter dinner, Christmas celebrations, or any special occasion that calls for an elegant and satisfying centerpiece that will have your guests asking for seconds.
Serving Size: 12-15 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Rest Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Ingredients
- 1 spiral-cut ham (8-10 pounds), fully cooked
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons pineapple juice (optional)
- Whole cloves for studding (optional)
Selecting and Preparing Your Ham
Choose a high-quality spiral-cut ham that’s already fully cooked, as this saves considerable time and ensures even heating throughout. Look for hams that are labeled as water-added or natural juice, avoiding those with too much added solution which can make the meat mushy.
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the ham from its packaging and discard any plastic wrapping or netting, but leave any natural casing in place. If your ham came with a glaze packet, you can discard it since you’ll be making a much better homemade version.
Place the ham cut-side down in a large roasting pan or disposable aluminum pan. If the ham is too large for your roasting pan, you can use a large disposable turkey roasting pan. Add about 1/2 inch of water to the bottom of the pan to prevent the drippings from burning during the long cooking process.
Scoring and Studding the Ham
Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern, making cuts about 1/4 inch deep and spacing them about 1 inch apart. This scoring serves two purposes: it allows the glaze to penetrate into the meat and creates an attractive presentation.
If you want to add whole cloves for traditional flavor and appearance, insert one clove into the center of each diamond created by your scoring. This is completely optional, but it adds a wonderful aromatic quality and classic holiday look to your ham.
Creating the Perfect Glaze
The glaze is what transforms a simple ham into something truly spectacular. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and melted butter. Whisk the mixture constantly as it heats to ensure the brown sugar dissolves completely.
Add the cinnamon, ground cloves, black pepper, and garlic powder to the glaze mixture. If you’re using pineapple juice, add it now for a subtle tropical note that complements the ham beautifully. Continue cooking the glaze for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until it becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
Remove the glaze from heat and set it aside. It will continue to thicken as it cools, which is exactly what you want for proper coating and adherence to the ham.
Initial Baking Process
Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil, making sure the foil doesn’t touch the surface of the ham. This tent will help the ham heat evenly without drying out during the long cooking process.
Place the covered ham in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes per pound. For an 8-pound ham, this means approximately 2 hours of initial cooking time. The internal temperature should reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit at this point, as measured with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham.
Applying the Glaze
Remove the ham from the oven and carefully remove the foil tent. The ham will be very hot, so use oven mitts and be cautious of steam. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using a pastry brush or large spoon, generously coat the entire surface of the ham with about half of your prepared glaze. Make sure to get glaze into all the scored lines and cover every visible surface for even browning and flavor.
Final Glazing and Browning
Return the uncovered ham to the oven at the higher temperature. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, then remove and apply another layer of glaze using the remaining mixture. The ham should be developing a beautiful golden-brown color at this point.
Continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the glaze is bubbly and caramelized, and the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface should be a gorgeous mahogany color with a glossy finish.
Resting and Carving
Remove the glazed ham from the oven and tent it loosely with foil. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is moist and flavorful.
The beauty of spiral-cut ham is that it’s already pre-sliced, making carving much easier. Simply follow the pre-cut lines with a sharp carving knife, cutting all the way down to the bone. The slices should fall away easily, maintaining their shape and showing off that beautiful glaze.
Serving Your Glazed Ham
Arrange the carved ham slices on a large serving platter, fanning them out to show the glazed edges. Pour any accumulated pan juices over the slices for extra flavor and moisture. The contrast between the caramelized exterior and the tender, pink interior makes for a stunning presentation.
Glazed ham pairs beautifully with traditional holiday sides like scalloped potatoes, roasted vegetables, dinner rolls, and cranberry sauce. The sweet and savory flavors complement both rich and light side dishes.
Storage and Leftover Ideas
Leftover glazed ham will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days when stored in covered containers. The ham is delicious cold in sandwiches, diced into breakfast hash, or chopped for salads and casseroles.
You can also freeze leftover ham for up to 2 months. Slice or dice it before freezing for easier use later. Frozen ham works great in soups, pasta dishes, and breakfast casseroles.
Make-Ahead Tips
While ham is best served fresh from the oven, you can prepare the glaze up to 2 days ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator. Simply reheat it gently before applying to the ham.
You can also score and prepare the ham up to one day ahead, covering it tightly and refrigerating until ready to cook. This advance prep makes holiday cooking much more manageable.
Troubleshooting Tips
If your glaze seems too thick, thin it with a tablespoon of warm water or apple juice. If it’s too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes to reduce and concentrate the flavors.
If the ham is browning too quickly during the final glazing, reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees and continue cooking until the internal temperature is reached.
This perfect glazed ham recipe creates a show-stopping centerpiece that combines ease of preparation with impressive results. The balance of sweet and savory flavors, combined with that gorgeous caramelized finish, makes this the kind of dish that creates lasting holiday memories and has everyone gathered around the table asking for your secret.
