The Best Honey Glazed Ham Recipe – Just In Time For The Holidays

I am not sure why I don’t make honey glazed ham more often. I only make it around the holidays and it is so good that I could almost eat the whole ham myself!

But what makes it so delicious is the sweet citrus glaze that is spread all over the ham. In fact, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Although it has taken me a few trials, I have finally come up with the 6 ingredients that make the perfect glaze that compliments the saltiness of the ham perfectly.

So What Ingredients Are In The Most Delicious Honey Glazed Ham

Over the years I have tried several different types of glazes. My first attempt included just 2 basic ingredients: brown sugar and orange juice.

I thought it would be best to keep things simple back then and I was afraid to branch outside of the norm too much in fear of failure.

Unfortunately I didn’t know that I should wait until the last 30 minutes of the cooking process before adding the glaze.

The glaze got a little over done and made the entire top of the ham dark and crusty. Not quite what I was going for.

So the next time I stuck with the same concept, but added in a little pineapple juice as well. In fact, I even put pineapple slices on top of the ham.

And of course, I waited until the last 30 minutes to baste on the glaze. I was afraid the glaze would just melt off the top so every 10 minutes I would put a baster in the bottom of the roasting pan and give the ham glaze shower.

The pineapple slices were a little overcooked and began to fall off by the time the ham was done. And the flavor was okay, but a little too sweet in my opinion.

The Secret Ingredient

So I knew that I needed to add something to balance out the sweetness. What else goes good with ham? Dijon Mustard, of course!

That was the perfect addition to my glaze. A tangy condiment added just enough balance of the strong citrus flavor of the orange juice and the tropical flavor of the pineapple juice.

We also use Dijon mustard in our Holiday Ham recipe.

Add in a little ground cloves and you have the BEST honey glazed ham that you have ever tasted!

HONEY GLAZED HAM RECIPE

INGREDIENT LIST

• 8-10 pound Fully-Cooked, Bone-In Ham, spiral or whole ham
• Light brown sugar
• Pineapple Juice
• Honey
• Orange, juiced and zested
• Dijon mustard
• Ground cloves

What Type Of Ham Should You Use?

I often get the question on what is the best type of ham to buy for this recipe. And the answer is quite easy.

Hands down, without a doubt, buy a bone-in ham. The bone adds so much flavor to the ham during the cooking process.

Although, I also highly recommend and prefer to buy a pre-cut, spiral ham whenever possible. This allows the honey glaze to drip into the center of the ham, providing additional flavor in every bite.

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE THE BEST HONEY GLAZED HAM

The first step is to preheat the oven and find a roasting pan that is big enough to hold your ham. Then place the ham down inside the roasting pan.

You can use a roasting rack if you prefer, but I find it unnecessary and it is just one more dish to clean at the end of the day.

Keep the roasting pan uncovered and bake the ham for 1 1/2 hours.

During the last 30 minutes of baking, prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, honey, orange juice, orange zest, Dijon mustard, and ground cloves.

Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often. Set aside.

Remove the ham from oven and pour, baste, or brush the glaze all over the ham. Bake for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, adding more glaze every 10 minutes.

Should I Use A Baster or Brush?

I have made honey glazed ham with both a baster and a brush. The choice is based on what type of ham that you have purchased.

However, if you use a whole ham that has not been pre-sliced, I would recommend using a brush. The force of the bristles gets the glaze in all those tiny nooks and crannies of the outer portion of the ham.

If you bought a spiral ham, stick with a baster or simply pour the glaze over top of the ham and between the pre-cut slices. It would nearly be impossible to brush each individual slice and a baster is quick and easy.

Once the ham is done, remove it from the oven and use the remaining glaze on top of the ham. Let the ham sit for a few minutes before slicing.

Serve warm.

Enjoy! Mary

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