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Prepare Time |
Cook Time |
Total Time |
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30 minutes |
2 hours |
2 hours and 30 minutes |
Christmas is almost here, and there’s nothing quite like a festive meal to bring the family together. While roasted turkey might be the first thing that comes to mind, we already enjoyed that at Thanksgiving, so my family and I voted for glazed ham for Christmas.
After experimenting with various recipes over years, I’ve settled on a brown sugar glaze that gives the ham a delicious caramel finish with a touch of spice - it’s easy to make and super tasty!
With just a few basic ingredients, you can whip it up too, and I’ve got some simple tips to make your Christmas ham look and taste just as good as the ones in the magazines! Trust me, everyone will be going back for a second helping. So, let’s get started.
Ingredients:
- 1 fully cooked bone-in ham, about 8-10 pounds
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Equipment:
- A roasting pan
- Aluminum foil
- A cooking thermometer
- A whisk
- A basting brush
Why Choose Brown Sugar Glazed Ham for Christmas?
The ham is rich and tender, while the glaze made from brown sugar, honey, and mustard brings a delightful sweetness with a little bit of tartness that perfectly balances the saltiness of the ham. Stick to my recipe, and you’ll end up with a super juicy ham. It’s easy to make and store. If you’re short on time on the big day, you can prepare it the day before, keep it in the refrigerator, and reheat it on the stovetop when you’re ready to serve.
What Ham is the Best?
I typically go for bone-in, spiral-cut ham. Leaving the bone in helps keep the meat moist and flavorful throughout the cooking process. Most importantly, choose the ham that is natural wood smoked and ready to eat. Not raw options like cured ham.
How to Make Brown Sugar Glazed Ham?
Alright, let’s get down to the fun part. Here’s the instruction of my brown sugar glazed ham recipe:
Step 1: Prepping the ham
First things first, preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Then, remove the ham from its packaging, place it on a cutting board, and pat it dry with some paper towels.
Using a sharp knife, score the ham in parallel lines about 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch wide. Turn the ham over and do the same, scoring it in a way that forms little diamond patterns.
Step 2: Creating the glaze
In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, unsalted butter, thyme, rosemary, ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper. Heat it over medium until it bubbles, then lower the heat and continue to cook for about 3-4 minutes until it thickens a bit.
Step 3: Glazing the ham
Place the ham cut side down in a baking pan with 3 cups of water in it to keep the ham moist while it roasting. Then, brush 1/3 of the glaze on the ham, ensuring you coat the inside of the score evenly.
Step 4: Roast the ham
To better monitor the roasting progress of the ham, I usually use a wireless meat thermometer, which lets me check the internal temperature remotely, preventing any overcooking. Simply insert it into the meat, avoiding any bone.
Cover the ham with foil and place it in the preheated oven. Every 30 minutes, take the ham out of the oven, remove the foil, baste it with glaze, re-cover, and return it to the oven until the internal temperature reaches around 140°F (60°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, plan for about 2 to 2.5 hours of baking, using the guideline of 1 pound per 12 minutes.
After that, take off the foil, increase the oven up to 400°F (200°C), brush on the remaining glaze, and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes to get a caramelized golden brown finish. Watch closely to avoid getting too dark - no one wants a charred ham for Christmas!
Step 5: Rest and serve
After removing from the oven, let the ham rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing, which helps the juices redistribute, making sure every bite is tender and flavorful. Then, slice thinly and place on a serving plate. If there is any glaze left, drizzle it over the top or use it as a dip.
What to Serve with This Christmas Ham?
Brown sugar glazed ham is a classic for Easter or Christmas dinners, and I love to complement it with some traditional sides, such as:
- Roasted vegetables like Brussels spouts and carrots
- Creamy mashed potatoes with gravy
- Green beans and almonds
- Potato gratin
- Sous vide egg bites
- Sweet cornbread
- Apple Cider
How to Store and Reheat?
If you’ve got leftovers, wrap the ham tightly in plastic wrap or foil after it cools down, and store any extra glaze in an airtight container. Put them all in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, just put the slices in a baking dish, splash in a bit of water or broth, cover it with foil, and heating in the oven at 325°F until it’s warmed up. You can heat the glaze on the stovetop and drizzle it over the ham when serving.
