Why We Love This Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe
Simple. I only need a few ingredients to make the best ham glaze! Flavorful. I absolutely love that the mix of brown sugar, honey, and mustard makes for something sweet, savory, and tangy. Moist. I’ve found that basting the ham with glaze as it cooks makes it so juicy!
Variations
This simple brown sugar glaze for ham is perfect as it is if you ask me, but it’s an easy recipe to change up. In general, you only need a few main parts for a glaze: something sweet to complement the savory pork, something tangy or acidic to balance it out, and something to add a bit more flavor. Some other flavors I’ve added: maple syrup for more sweetness; ground mustard, garlic powder, or onion powder; nutmeg, cloves, or another warm spice; pineapple or orange juice for something fruity and acidic; or aromatic and savory herbs like rosemary or oregano.
How to Store and Reheat
I store leftover brown sugar glazed ham in an airtight container, resealable bag, or wrapped in foil, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I wrap the whole/partial ham in layers of aluminum foil, or cut it into slices before storing. Our family enjoys cold, or I reheat in the oven at 325°F until warmed through. When we have extra ham glaze, I store it in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. I can gently reheat it on the stovetop and use it with your leftover ham.
How to Freeze
I freeze slices of baked ham in a freezer-safe resealable bag, for up to 3 months. I let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving. If I’m freezing to use later, I just the brown sugar glaze for ham, properly store in an air-tight container and then freeze until ready. I let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator or microwave on low for 30-60 seconds at a time, stirring between, until thawed.
Serving Suggestions
With this easy glazed ham at the center of own holiday table, whether it’s Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, I’m going to want lots of delicious side dishes. I love to serve it up with roasted Brussels sprouts or green beans with molasses, Crockpot glazed carrots, and roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes. And of course I’ll make dinner rolls or homemade Hawaiian rolls. For something fresh, I start with this cucumber apple salad. For something extra sweet, I’ll add this ambrosia salad to the table.
More Glazed Ham Recipes To Try
Honey Baked Ham Cranberry Glazed Ham (Air Fryer) Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Orange Honey Glazed Ham Pecan Bourbon Glazed Ham Marmalade Glazed Ham Apple Ginger Glazed Ham Instant Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham …More Easter Ham Recipes!
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 cutting board. Score the ham using a sharp knife to cut parallel lines about ½-inch deep and 1 inch apart across the entire ham. Turn the ham, and then repeat this process, cutting lines across the previous lines to create small diamond shapes. Cook the Ham: Place the ham, flat side down, in a roasting pan. Pour 3 cups of water into the pan, then cover with foil. The ham should cook for about 12 minutes per pound total, but you’ll want to start the next step at the 1-hour mark. Prepare the Glaze: After the ham has cooked for 1 hour, start 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 ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger to a saucepan set over medium heat. Once it starts bubbling, turn down the heat to low and continue to cook for a few more minutes. The glaze may seem runny at first, but it will thicken up as it sits. Glaze the Ham: Remove the ham from the oven, spread ⅓ of the glaze over the ham, and return to the oven without the foil. Continue cooking for another hour. Glaze Again: After 1 hour, remove the ham from the oven again, and spread another ⅓ of the glaze over the ham. Cook for the remaining time based the weight of your ham (again, 12 minutes per pound). Rest and Carve: Remove the ham from the oven and spread the remaining glaze over the ham. Let the ham rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.
