Description
A tender, juicy spiral-cut ham coated in a glossy brown sugar Dijon glaze that’s perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy. Ideal for holidays or family gatherings, this show-stopping centerpiece is surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 fully cooked spiral-cut ham (about 8–10 lbs)
- 1 cup water or apple juice
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C) and position a rack in the lower third of the oven.
- Remove packaging and plastic disk from the ham bone. Place ham cut-side down on a roasting rack inside a pan. Pour 1 cup of water or apple juice into the bottom of the pan.
- Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 10–12 minutes per pound (about 1 ½ to 2 hours total for a 9 lb ham) until warmed through to about 120°F (49°C).
- While ham bakes, combine brown sugar, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C). Uncover ham and brush on half of the glaze, making sure it seeps between slices.
- Return to oven uncovered for 10 minutes. Brush with remaining glaze and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbling and caramelized.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Add liquid like apple juice to the pan to keep the ham moist. Baste often during the final glazing for a glossy crust. If the glaze thickens too much, reheat gently to loosen. Tent with foil if browning too quickly. Leftovers store well and taste even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 oz (115 g) p
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 11
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 22
Keywords: spiral ham, glazed ham, brown sugar ham, Dijon glaze, holiday ham, Easter ham, Christmas ham