If you’re craving a dish that’s bursting with sweet, warm flavors wrapped around tender, juicy meat, this Honey Glazed Ham Recipe is exactly what you need on your table. Imagine a bone-in ham, slow-baked to perfection, each bite infused with a sticky, aromatic glaze that features honey’s natural sweetness blended with brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and a touch of zesty orange. This recipe transforms a simple ham into a spectacular centerpiece that will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s comfort food elevated, perfect for gatherings or a special family dinner, and surprisingly easy to prepare with just a handful of pantry staples.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients is the secret to nailing this Honey Glazed Ham Recipe. Each one plays a key role: the ham provides a hearty base, while honey and brown sugar bring sweetness and caramelization. The warm spices add depth, and the orange zest brightens up the whole flavor profile, making this dish irresistible.
- 7 pound Ham (bone-in): The star of the dish, ready-made and full of flavor, perfect for glazing and slow roasting.
- 1 cup Honey: Adds natural sweetness and a beautiful glossy finish to the glaze.
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar (firmly packed): Balanced sweetness with a hint of molasses to deepen the glaze’s richness.
- 1 teaspoon Ground ginger: A subtle spice that adds warmth without overpowering.
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon: Contributes a comforting aroma and taste that pairs perfectly with honey.
- 1 teaspoon Orange zest: Lifts the glaze with fresh citrus notes for brightness and complexity.
How to Make Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Start by preheating your oven to 300 degrees F. This moderate temperature ensures the ham heats evenly without drying out, giving you that juicy, tender texture you want from a perfectly cooked ham.
Step 2: Score the Ham
Take your fully cooked ham and score the surface with diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep, first one way, then the other, creating a beautiful diamond pattern. This not only looks lovely but helps the glaze penetrate the meat. For an added touch, tuck whole cloves where the cuts intersect; these cloves infuse a hint of spice that pairs beautifully with the honey glaze.
Step 3: Make the Glaze
In a mixing bowl, combine honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and orange zest. This mixture is where the magic happens — the blend of spices and citrus with the sticky sweetness of honey will coat the ham in irresistible flavor.
Step 4: Heat the Glaze
Pop your glaze mixture into the microwave for about 15 to 30 seconds, depending on your microwave’s power. You want the honey to become runnier so it easily brushes onto the ham, ensuring every nook and cranny gets its share of that luscious glaze.
Step 5: Prepare the Ham for Baking
Place the ham cut side down in a baking dish, adding just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. This trick creates steam during baking, keeping the ham moist and tender throughout the long cooking time.
Step 6: Glaze and Cover
Brush your freshly warmed glaze generously over the ham. Once coated, cover the ham tightly with foil to trap moisture and start the slow baking process, locking in all those delicious flavors.
Step 7: Baste and Finish Baking
In the last 45 minutes of cooking, remove the foil and baste the ham with the glaze every 15 minutes. If the glaze thickens too much, simply warm it again to keep it brush-friendly. This repeated glazing builds layers of sticky, caramelized goodness that make this honey glazed ham absolutely unforgettable.
Step 8: Ready to Serve
When the ham is fully warmed through and beautifully glazed, remove it from the oven. Don’t forget to pull out those whole cloves before slicing—while they add aroma and flavor during cooking, they’re not fun to bite into. Slice and get ready to impress!
Step 9: Enjoy!
This Honey Glazed Ham Recipe is all about savoring those sweet and spicy notes paired with juicy ham, perfect for any celebratory occasion or a comforting Sunday feast.
How to Serve Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
Garnishes
To add a little extra charm (and flavor!), sprinkle some fresh herbs like chopped thyme or parsley over the ham just before serving. These fresh greens add a lovely color contrast and a hint of earthiness that balances the glaze’s sweetness.
Side Dishes
Classic sides like mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a crisp green salad make wonderful companions to this honey glazed ham. For a more festive spread, consider creamy scalloped potatoes or glazed carrots to echo the sweet-savory vibe.
Creative Ways to Present
Serving your honey glazed ham on a large wooden board garnished with citrus slices and sprigs of herbs makes for a stunning presentation. You can also carve the ham into thick slices and serve it with small bowls of extra glaze or mustard for dipping, turning your meal into an interactive experience.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, wrap your leftover ham tightly in foil or place it in an airtight container. Stored this way in the refrigerator, it will stay fresh for up to 4 days, ready to be enjoyed cold or reheated.
Freezing
If you want to keep your honey glazed ham longer, slice it and freeze in portions. Use freezer-safe bags or containers and consume within 2 months for the best taste and texture retention.
Reheating
Reheat slices gently in the microwave or in a covered pan on low heat to keep the ham moist. You can brush with a bit of leftover glaze before warming to revive some of that fresh-baked shine and flavor.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of ham for this recipe?
Absolutely! While a bone-in ham adds great flavor, you can use boneless or spiral-cut ham as well. Just adjust the cooking time slightly since spiral-cut hams heat faster.
Is it necessary to score the ham?
Scoring helps the glaze seep deeper into the slices and gives a beautiful presentation, but if you’re short on time, you can skip this step and simply brush the glaze on top.
Can I prepare the glaze ahead of time?
Yes, you can mix the glaze ingredients a day ahead. Store it in the fridge and warm it up just before applying to the ham for the best texture.
What if I don’t have orange zest? Can I substitute?
If you don’t have orange zest, you can use a little lemon zest or a splash of orange juice for acidity and brightness in the glaze.
How do I know when the ham is done?
Since this recipe uses a fully-cooked ham, the goal is to warm it through and caramelize the glaze. When the internal temperature reaches about 140 degrees F and it’s beautifully glazed, your ham is ready to serve.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly heartwarming about gathering around a beautifully baked honey glazed ham, and this Honey Glazed Ham Recipe delivers that joy in spades. With its simple ingredients and straightforward steps, it’s a fantastic recipe to add to your holiday or special occasion repertoire. I can’t wait for you to try it and share the smiles it brings to your table!
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Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Honey Glazed Ham recipe offers a succulent and flavorful twist on a classic holiday favorite. A bone-in ham is scored and studded with cloves, then coated with a warm honey glaze infused with brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and orange zest. Slow-baked to perfection at a low temperature and basted regularly, the ham develops a beautifully caramelized, sticky crust while remaining juicy inside. Perfect for festive occasions or special dinners, this recipe yields 12 generous servings.
Ingredients
Ham
- 7 pound bone-in fully cooked ham
Honey Glaze
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- Whole cloves (quantity depending on scoring, approx. 20-30 cloves)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius) to prepare for slow baking the ham.
- Prepare Ham Surface: Score the surface of the fully cooked ham by making diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep one way, then repeat in the opposite direction to form a diamond pattern. Insert whole cloves into each intersection to infuse aromatic flavor during baking.
- Make Glaze: In a mixing bowl, combine honey, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and orange zest until evenly mixed.
- Warm Glaze: Microwave the honey glaze mixture for 15-30 seconds until it becomes less viscous and easier to brush over the ham.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Place the ham cut side down in a baking dish. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan to keep the ham moist during cooking.
- Initial Baking and Glazing: Brush the warm honey glaze all over the prepared ham. Cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven to bake.
- Baste and Finish Baking: During the last 45 minutes of baking, remove the foil. Continue cooking the ham uncovered, basting it with additional warmed honey glaze every 15 minutes to build a caramelized, sticky crust.
- Check Doneness and Remove Cloves: Ensure the ham is thoroughly warmed through. Before serving, remove all whole cloves from the ham.
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice the ham and serve warm, enjoying the sweet and spiced honey glaze with every bite.
Notes
- Use a fully cooked, bone-in ham for best flavor and texture.
- Be cautious when handling hot glaze to avoid burns.
- If glaze thickens too much while awaiting basting, reheat briefly.
- Remove all cloves before slicing to avoid biting into them.
- You can prepare the glaze mixture ahead of time and store it refrigerated.
- Adjust baking time slightly if your ham is larger or smaller than 7 pounds.
