Description
Classic glazed easter ham delights families with its sweet and savory profile. Rich honey-mustard glaze creates irresistible flavor for festive holiday gatherings. Guests will savor each tender, succulent slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8-10 lbs / 3.6-4.5 kg) bone-in spiral-cut ham
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (170 g / 6 oz) honey
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) apple cider vinegar or orange juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and Position: Warm the oven to 325F (165C). Place the ham cut-side down in a roasting pan, fully covering with aluminum foil to preserve moisture and prevent excessive browning.
- Initial Roasting: Cook the ham for 10-12 minutes per pound, with an 8-pound ham requiring approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. This slow roasting ensures tender, evenly heated meat.
- Glaze Preparation: Combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black pepper in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the mixture thickens and develops a rich, glossy consistency.
- First Glazing Stage: Remove ham from the oven and increase temperature to 400F (200C). Brush half the glaze generously over the entire surface, paying attention to the slice crevices. Return to the oven uncovered and bake for 15 minutes to initiate caramelization.
- Final Glazing and Caramelization: Apply the remaining glaze, creating a sumptuous coating. Continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the surface transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown masterpiece with intense flavor depth.
- Resting and Serving: Extract the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes, allowing internal juices to redistribute. Slice and serve warm, drizzling any residual pan glaze for an extra flavor boost.
Notes
- Optimize Ham Temperature: Let the ham sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even heating and prevent dry edges.
- Control Glaze Consistency: Whisk glaze ingredients continuously while simmering to prevent burning and achieve a smooth, glossy texture that adheres perfectly to the ham’s surface.
- Monitor Caramelization Carefully: Watch the ham closely during the final glazing stages to prevent burning, as sugars can quickly transform from golden to charred.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: For low-sugar diets, replace brown sugar with monk fruit sweetener and use a sugar-free honey alternative to maintain the glaze’s richness without compromising flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg