Description
This Brown Sugar Glazed Ham is a show-stopping holiday centerpiece that combines sweet and savory flavors with minimal effort. It features a homemade glaze of brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, and spices that caramelizes beautifully during baking. Perfect for festive gatherings, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results without the stress.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 spiral-cut ham (7–10 pounds, bone-in preferred)
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (dark brown offers richer flavor)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup (Grade A Dark Robust recommended)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (whole grain optional for texture)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (white wine vinegar as substitute)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup pineapple juice (orange juice for citrus variation)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water (for thickening)
- Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Place ham cut-side down in roasting pan with rack; add ½ cup water to bottom.
- Tent ham loosely with foil to prevent premature browning.
- Bake initially at 325°F for ~1.5 hours (based on 15 min/lb).
- Prepare glaze : In saucepan, combine brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, butter, and pineapple juice. Simmer until reduced slightly.
- Thicken glaze : Whisk cornstarch slurry into simmering glaze and cook until syrupy.
- Score ham surface in diamond pattern and brush one-third of glaze over top.
- Increase oven temp to 400°F and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
- Apply second third of glaze and bake another 15 minutes.
- Final glaze application , then bake until internal temperature reaches 140°F and glaze is caramelized (15–30 mins more).
- Rest ham for 15–20 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Glazing Tip: Apply glaze in final 45 minutes to avoid burning.
- Scoring: Enhances glaze penetration by up to 40%.
- Leftovers: Store in fridge for 3–5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Make Ahead: Glaze can be made 2 days ahead and reheated.
- Bone-In vs Boneless: Bone-in adds flavor; reduce time by 10 min/lb if using boneless.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2–3 hours
- Category: Dinner
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz
- Calories: 285 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Protein: 31 g
Keywords: Brown sugar glazed ham, holiday ham, easy ham recipe, dinner recipes