This homemade brown sugar ham glaze is a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors to complement your baked ham. Orange juice, brown sugar, and honey add the sweetness, while Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and cloves bring the warm, savory flavors. In this post, I'll provide simple step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the glaze and how to glaze your ham so you can make the perfect glazed ham for your next holiday meal!
Jump to:
Why this Recipe Works
When you're cooking a holiday meal, nothing is more nostalgic than a perfectly glazed ham. Whether it's Easter lunch, Christmas dinner, or just a special gathering with friends and family, this brown sugar and honey glaze recipe will take your ham to the next level.
It's a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors, with warm and cozy cloves and cinnamon spice that bring classic holiday vibes. It's a perfect complement to the salty and smokey flavors of your ham.
This ham glaze recipe works with any ham-spiral cut, bone-in, or even a smaller ham steak. As it bakes, the sugars caramelize into a glossy, golden coating that clings to every slice.
The best part is that it's so easy to make. It uses common pantry ingredients and is ready in just 10 minutes. Brush it on during the last 30 minutes of baking, and soon, you'll have a perfectly glazed ham that everyone will love!
Ingredient Notes
- Brown Sugar - You can use light brown or dark brown sugar in this recipe. The dark brown sugar will have a slightly more intense flavor.
- Mustard - I recommend Dijon mustard in this ham glaze, but regular yellow mustard or brown mustard will also work.
- Orange Juice - Use a high-quality orange juice with no pulp for this recipe.
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add the glaze ingredients to a small saucepan and cook over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a low simmer and stir until the sugar and butter have completely melted.
- Simmer for 3-4 minutes, then remove from the heat and let cool for at least 5 to 10 minutes before spreading onto your ham.
Recipe Tips
- This recipe makes enough glaze for a 10-pound ham. If you're preparing a larger ham, scale the recipe up a bit.
- For a thicker glaze, simmer the glaze for 20 to 30 minutes until reduced by around a third.
- If the glaze sits for too long and thickens, it can be difficult to brush on the ham. To loosen it up, reheat the glaze for about 30 seconds over medium heat. If needed, stir in a splash of water or pan juices.
How to Glaze a Ham
- Place your ham in a roasting pan with the cut side down and wrap it with foil. Let it rest at room temperature for around 1 hour before baking. Bake at 325°F for around 12 to 15 minutes per pound.
- When the ham reaches an internal temperature of about 120°F, remove it from the oven and baste it with half of the glaze.
- Place the ham back in the oven, uncovered, and continue baking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center (avoiding the bone) reads 140°F, about 30 minutes more.
- Remove the ham from the oven and set the oven to broil. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham, then return it to the oven. Broil for about 1 minute, keeping a close eye to prevent burning.
- Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
What to Serve with Glazed Ham
This brown sugar ham glaze goes well with all of your favorite holiday classics. I love to serve it with scalloped potatoes and green bean casserole. A festive salad like my shaved Brussels sprouts and kale salad is a great way to start the meal!
Recipe Variations
- You can make this into a pineapple ham glaze by adding pineapple juice instead of orange juice and about ½ cup of diced pineapple.
- For maple glazed ham, substitute the honey for maple syrup.
- This honey ham glaze recipe is perfect for baked ham, but to take your ham to the next level, try cooking it in your smoker. Check out my smoked spiral ham recipe post for all the details!
Storage and Reheating
This easy brown sugar ham glaze can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
When you're ready to use it, heat it in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through, or microwave it for about 45 seconds.
More Holiday Recipes
📖 Recipe
Ham Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- ½ cup honey
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Add the glaze ingredients to a small saucepan and cook over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a low simmer and stir until the sugar and butter have completely melted.
- Simmer for 3-4 minutes, then remove from the heat and let cool slightly before spreading onto your ham.
Nutrition
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
Leave a Reply