Brown Sugar Glazed Ham – The Cookie Rookie®

When the vacations roll round, this Brown Sugar Glazed Ham is at all times the star of my dinner desk. It’s extremely simple to make, filled with candy and savory taste, and seems completely juicy each time. The straightforward glaze combines brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, and some pantry staples to create a sticky, caramelized coating that tastes simply as wonderful because it appears to be like. Whether or not you’re internet hosting Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, this baked ham makes a stupendous and spectacular vacation centerpiece.

Straightforward Brown Sugar Ham

I’ve made this ham for numerous household gatherings, and it’s at all times successful. It feels particular sufficient for a vacation desk however easy sufficient for a Sunday dinner. The simple brown sugar ham glaze bakes right into a candy, caramelized crust that provides a lot taste. In the event you’re planning an Easter feast, you may also like searching my favourite Easter ham recipes for extra concepts. Or, once you’re within the temper for one thing with a contact of fruitiness, my pineapple glazed ham is one other scrumptious possibility. Let me know your ideas within the feedback!

Suggestions for Novices

• Select the suitable ham. A bone-in ham stays the juiciest and most flavorful. Skip the pre-sliced spiral hams in case you can. Complete or half bone-in cuts cook dinner extra evenly and retain moisture.
• Plan your parts. You’ll want about ¾ pound per particular person for bone-in ham (a 15-pound ham serves roughly 20 folks).
• Rating earlier than you glaze. Use a pointy knife to chop shallow, crisscross traces over the floor. This helps the glaze soak in for that signature caramelized crust.
• Bake lined first, then uncovered. Begin with foil on to maintain the ham moist, then uncover as soon as you start glazing so the sugar can caramelize superbly.
• Baste in layers. Brush on about one-third of the glaze after the primary hour of baking, repeat an hour later, and once more close to the top—saving somewhat for the ultimate shiny coat.
• Know your cook dinner time. Bake at 325°F for 10–14 minutes per pound till the ham reaches 140°F internally (it’ll rise to 145°F because it rests).

Find out how to Make Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Step by Step

Prep the ham: Preheat your oven to 325°F. Place a 14-16 pound bone-in ham on a slicing board. Rating the ham utilizing a pointy knife to chop parallel traces about ½-inch deep and 1 inch aside throughout your entire ham. Flip the ham, after which repeat this course of, slicing traces throughout the earlier traces to create small diamond shapes.

Prepare dinner the ham: Place the ham, flat facet down, in a roasting pan. Pour 3 cups of water into the pan, then cowl with foil. The ham ought to cook dinner for about 12 minutes per pound complete, however you’ll wish to begin the subsequent step on the 1-hour mark.

Put together the glaze: After the ham has cooked for 1 hour, begin making the glaze. Add 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of honey, ⅓ cup of Dijon mustard, ¼ cup of unsalted butter, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, 3 cloves of minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon of floor cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of floor ginger to a saucepan set over medium warmth. As soon as it begins effervescent, flip down the warmth to low and proceed to cook dinner for a number of extra minutes. The glaze could appear runny at first, however it would thicken up because it sits.

Glaze the ham: Take away the ham from the oven, unfold ⅓ of the glaze over the ham, and return to the oven with out the foil. Proceed cooking for an additional hour.

Glaze once more: After 1 hour, take away the ham from the oven once more, and unfold one other ⅓ of the glaze over the ham. Prepare dinner for the remaining time based mostly on the burden of your ham (once more, 12 minutes per pound).

Relaxation and carve: Take away the ham from the oven and unfold the remaining glaze over the ham. Let the ham relaxation for at the least quarter-hour earlier than carving.

Find out how to Retailer and Reheat

I retailer leftover brown sugar glazed ham in an hermetic container, resealable bag, or wrapped in foil, within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I wrap the entire/partial ham in layers of aluminum foil or reduce it into slices earlier than storing. Our household enjoys chilly, or I reheat it within the oven at 325°F till warmed by.

When we’ve got further ham glaze, I retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge as much as 3 days. I can gently reheat it on the stovetop and use it along with your leftover ham.

Find out how to Freeze

I freeze slices of baked ham in a freezer-safe resealable bag for as much as 3 months. I let it thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating and serving.

If I’m freezing it to make use of later, I simply make the brown sugar glaze for ham, correctly retailer it in an hermetic container, after which freeze it till prepared. I let it thaw in a single day within the fridge or microwave on low for 30-60 seconds at a time, stirring between, till thawed.

Serving Options

With this simple brown sugar glazed ham on the middle of my vacation desk, whether or not it’s Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, I at all times plan a lineup of favourite sides. I like pairing it with roasted Brussels sprouts or inexperienced beans with bacon, Crockpot glazed carrots, and both roasted or mashed potatoes for one thing hearty. Contemporary dinner rolls or home made Hawaiian rolls are a should!

Extra Vacation Mains to Strive

Our Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipe was initially revealed 10/30/23. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be higher than ever 10/22/25.