The Ultimate Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe: Your Guide to a Perfectly Sweet and Savory Centerpiece

Prepare to impress your guests and delight your family with this incredible Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, the quintessential dish for any festive occasion. Whether it’s the centerpiece of your Easter dinner menu, a magnificent Christmas feast, or a comforting Sunday roast, this recipe promises an unforgettable culinary experience. It’s renowned not only for its ease of preparation but also for its spectacular balance of sweet and tangy flavors that will have everyone asking for seconds. Say goodbye to dry, bland ham and hello to a truly succulent and flavorful masterpiece.

Why This Easy Baked Ham Will Be Your New Favorite

There are countless reasons why this Brown Sugar Glazed Ham stands out, earning its place as a cherished family recipe. The magic truly lies in the brown sugar glaze, which transforms during baking into a shimmering, crispy, and delightfully sweet coating. Beneath this irresistible crust, the ham remains exceptionally tender and juicy, creating a perfect textural contrast in every bite. This isn’t just a dish for special holidays; its simplicity and incredible taste make it a fantastic option for year-round enjoyment, far surpassing the quality and flavor of pre-packaged lunch meats.

Imagine crafting the perfect leftover ham sandwich – a culinary delight born from this very recipe. For the ultimate experience, pair slices of this flavorful ham with a slice of truly homemade sandwich bread. The combination is simply divine. If you aspire to achieve those perfectly thin, deli-style ham slices, a little patience goes a long way. Allow the ham to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. The next day, you can use a meat slicer to effortlessly create uniformly thin slices that are ideal for gourmet sandwiches or charcuterie boards.

While this brown sugar glazed ham recipe is a staple for festive gatherings like Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, its versatility knows no bounds. It’s an easy-to-prepare and endlessly delicious option that can be served in a myriad of ways, making it suitable for any meal, any time you crave a comforting and satisfying ham dish.

To complete your holiday spread or family meal, this glazed ham pairs beautifully with a variety of classic side dishes. Some of our absolute favorites include Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms, creamy Whipped Potatoes, rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese, fluffy Carrot Souffle, elegant Roasted Asparagus with Sour Cream Sauce, and comforting Easy Sweet Potato Casserole. Each of these sides complements the sweet and savory notes of the ham perfectly, creating a balanced and memorable meal.

Essential Ingredients for Your Glazed Ham

Selecting the Perfect Ham for Your Glaze

The foundation of an exceptional glazed ham starts with selecting the right cut. For this recipe, we highly recommend using a **fully cooked bone-in ham**. While spiral-cut hams are convenient, they tend to dry out much faster, especially during reheating, making a half-ham a superior choice for moisture retention. Most hams found in your local grocery store are already baked, smoked, or boiled, meaning they are fully cooked and ready for you to add your signature glaze.

Always double-check the packaging to ensure it explicitly states “fully cooked” before making your purchase. The real secret to achieving a truly juicy and tender ham lies in opting for a bone-in variety. Hams cooked with the bone not only retain more moisture throughout the baking process but also impart a richer, more profound flavor to the meat. The bone acts as a natural insulator and adds depth, resulting in a more succulent and enjoyable final product.

When selecting your ham, consider whether you prefer a shank end or a butt end. The shank end is typically leaner with a single long bone, making it easier to carve. The butt end is often more tender and fattier but has an irregularly shaped bone that can be trickier to navigate. Both will work wonderfully with this glaze, so choose based on your carving preference.

Crafting the Irresistible Brown Sugar Glaze

The beauty of this ham glaze lies in its simplicity and the powerful flavor combination of just three humble ingredients. For the perfect balance of sweetness and tang, you will need: **dark brown sugar** (or light brown sugar if dark is unavailable, though dark provides a deeper molasses flavor), **whole grain mustard**, and **apple cider vinegar**. Chances are, these essential items are already staples in your kitchen pantry, ready to be transformed into a magical coating.

One of the best aspects of this glaze is that there’s absolutely no need to warm it beforehand. In fact, it’s much easier to spread evenly over the ham when it’s slightly thick at room temperature. As the ham bakes in the oven, the heat will work its magic, melting the brown sugar and combining it with the mustard and vinegar to create a beautifully crystalized, crunchy, and incredibly flavorful crust. The whole grain mustard adds a delightful texture and a robust, tangy kick that perfectly complements the rich sweetness of the brown sugar, while the apple cider vinegar provides a bright acidity that cuts through the richness of the ham.

For those looking to explore variations, a pinch of ground cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg can be added to the glaze for a more aromatic profile. A splash of orange juice or pineapple juice could also introduce a fruity sweetness, creating a different but equally delicious experience.

The Art of Scoring Your Ham

Scoring the ham is a simple yet crucial step that elevates both its presentation and its flavor. It allows the rich brown sugar glaze to deeply penetrate the meat, ensuring that every bite is infused with that irresistible sweet and tangy goodness, while also helping to create that desired crispy crust. Here’s how to do it:

Begin by laying the ham flat side down in your roasting pan or on a sturdy cutting board. Using a sharp knife, carefully make diagonal cuts across the surface of the ham. These cuts should be about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch deep. Once you have a series of parallel diagonal lines, make another set of diagonal cuts in the opposite direction. This crisscross pattern will create beautiful diamond shapes all over the ham’s surface. Not only does this technique prepare the ham for maximum glaze absorption, but it also creates an appealing, professional-looking presentation that is sure to impress.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Bake Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Baking this brown sugar glazed ham is surprisingly straightforward, guaranteeing a mouthwatering result with minimal effort. Follow these easy steps for a perfectly cooked and glazed ham:

First, preheat your oven to 325ºF (160ºC). To ensure easy cleanup and even cooking, line a sturdy roasting pan with aluminum foil, then place a roasting rack inside the pan. This setup allows air to circulate around the ham and prevents it from sitting in its own drippings, which could make the bottom soggy.

Carefully place the prepared ham, with its scored side facing up, flat side down on the roasting rack. This orientation helps to keep the ham stable and allows the glaze to adhere beautifully to the top. Next, cover the entire roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil. This crucial step creates a steamy environment that helps to prevent the ham from drying out during the initial baking phase, ensuring it remains incredibly moist and tender.

Bake the covered ham for approximately 1 hour. This initial baking period allows the ham to heat through gently. While the ham is in the oven, it’s the perfect time to prepare your simple yet potent glaze. In a small bowl, combine the dark brown sugar, whole grain mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Stir these ingredients together until you have a thick, well-mixed glaze. Remember, there’s no need to heat or boil the glaze; its slightly thick consistency at room temperature makes it ideal for spreading.

After the initial hour of baking, remove the foil from the roasting pan and continue to bake the ham, now uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes. This step allows the surface of the ham to begin crisping up.

Now for the grand finale! Remove the ham from the oven once more. Generously pour or brush the prepared brown sugar glaze completely over the entire surface of the ham, ensuring every crevice and diamond cut is coated. Return the ham to the oven, baking it uncovered for another 30 to 35 minutes, or until its internal temperature reaches 140ºF (60ºC) when measured with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part, avoiding the bone. During this final baking stage, the glaze will caramelize, forming that glorious, sweet, and tangy crust that defines this dish.

Just behold that stunning, golden-brown, sweet, and tangy crust that has formed on your brown sugar and mustard glazed ham! Once baked to perfection, carefully transfer the ham from the roasting pan to a large serving platter. Loosely tent it with aluminum foil and allow the ham to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. This resting period is absolutely essential: it allows the meat juices to redistribute throughout the ham, ensuring every slice is as moist and flavorful as possible.

This same delectable brown sugar mustard glaze can also be applied to a spiral-cut ham, following similar baking principles but with careful attention to moisture, as noted in our tips section.

Voila! Easy, right? This glazed ham recipe is destined to become your go-to for Christmas dinner, Easter brunch, or any holiday occasion where you desire a show-stopping main course with minimal fuss.

Expert Tips and Delicious Variations for Your Glazed Ham

Achieving a perfectly baked and glazed ham is simple with a few key insights and optional variations:

• For Spiral-Cut Hams: If you opt for a spiral-cut ham, it’s crucial to cover it tightly with foil during the first baking time. These hams are pre-sliced, making them more prone to drying out. Adding about 1 inch of water or even a little apple juice to the bottom of the pan can also create a moist environment and prevent dryness.
• Roasting Pan Alternatives: No dedicated roasting pan? No problem! A large 9×13 inch baking pan can work wonders. Alternatively, a sturdy baking sheet with sufficiently high sides to catch any delicious drippings will also suffice. You can also use a disposable aluminum roasting pan for easy cleanup.
• Mustard Preference: We lean towards whole-grain mustard for its robust flavor and appealing texture, which adds a distinct “kick” to the glaze. However, feel free to experiment with other varieties. Dijon mustard offers a sharp, tangy profile, while honey mustard will provide an extra layer of sweetness. Choose what best suits your palate!
• Calculating Cooking Time: A general rule of thumb for fully cooked ham is to allow 10-12 minutes of cooking time per pound of meat. This means if your ham is larger or smaller than the approximate 10 pounds mentioned in our recipe, you should adjust the baking time accordingly to prevent overcooking, which can lead to a dry ham.
• The Importance of a Meat Thermometer: To absolutely ensure your ham is perfectly cooked and not overdone, invest in a reliable probe meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat, being careful not to touch the bone. The ideal internal temperature for a fully cooked ham is 140ºF (60ºC). This precise measurement is your best friend against dry ham.
• Don’t Waste the Bone! After you’ve carved all the delicious meat, save that ham bone! It’s a treasure trove of flavor perfect for making rich stocks, hearty stews, and comforting soups. It imparts a savory depth that can’t be replicated.
• Basting for Extra Shine: While this recipe’s glaze caramelizes beautifully on its own, for an extra lustrous finish and even deeper flavor, you can baste the ham with the pan drippings or additional glaze a few times during the last 30 minutes of baking.
• Fruity Accents: For an added layer of flavor, consider placing pineapple rings, orange slices, or even maraschino cherries around the ham in the roasting pan during the last hour of baking. The fruit will caramelize and release juices that mingle with the ham drippings, creating a wonderful aroma and an even more flavorful pan sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Glazed Ham

Making the Most of Your Leftover Ham

One of the many joys of baking a large ham is the delicious bounty of leftovers! Don’t let a single savory morsel go to waste. Leftover ham is incredibly versatile and can be transformed into a myriad of new, exciting meals throughout the week. Here are some fantastic ideas to inspire you:

Brown Sugar Glazed Baked Ham Recipe

Brown Sugar Glazed Ham – The easiest and most flavorful baked ham!

Average Rating: 4.64 from 11 votes

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Course: Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Pork

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Resting Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 992 kcal

Author: Leigh Harris

Ingredients

• 10 lb smoked cured ham
• 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup prepared whole grain mustard
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160ºC).
2. Score the top of the ham into a diamond pattern using a sharp knife.
3. Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan, cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 1 hour.
4. Remove the foil and continue to bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes.
5. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, whole grain mustard, and cider vinegar. Stir until well mixed.
6. Remove ham from the oven. Generously spread the glaze evenly over the entire surface of the ham. Bake uncovered for another 35 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140ºF (60ºC) using a meat thermometer.
7. Transfer the baked ham to a serving platter. Loosely tent it with aluminum foil and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute for maximum tenderness and flavor.

Notes

• If using spiral-cut ham, be extra careful not to overcook and dry it out. Cover it tightly with foil during the first baking period and consider adding about 1 inch of water or apple juice to the bottom of the pan to create a moist environment.
• Always use a digital meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham (avoiding the bone) to ensure accurate cooking and avoid overcooking. The ham should read 140 degrees F (60ºC).
• Allow approximately 10-12 minutes of cooking time per pound of meat for a fully cooked ham. If your ham is larger or smaller than 10 pounds, adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Storing and Freezing: Let the ham cool completely before storing. Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the ham in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 992kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 82g | Fat: 64g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 234mg | Sodium: 4551mg | Potassium: 1113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg