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Perfect Honey Baked Ham Recipe with Easy Brown Sugar Glaze

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A quick and easy honey baked ham recipe featuring a sweet and tangy brown sugar glaze that caramelizes to a perfect golden crust. Ideal for holidays or casual dinners, this recipe delivers juicy, tender ham with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Bone-in fully cooked ham (6 to 8 pounds), preferably spiral-cut
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 6–8 whole cloves or 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. Remove any packaging from the ham and place it cut side down on a roasting rack inside a roasting pan. Score the surface in a diamond pattern about 1/8 inch deep.
  3. In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
  4. Using a basting brush, coat the entire surface of the ham with the glaze.
  5. Roast the ham uncovered in the preheated oven for about 1 hour 15 minutes (approximately 10 minutes per pound). Halfway through cooking (around 35 minutes), baste the ham again with more glaze.
  6. Check that the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C) using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part, avoiding the bone.
  7. For the last 10 minutes, increase oven temperature to 425°F (218°C) to caramelize the glaze. Watch closely to prevent burning.
  8. Remove the ham from the oven and tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest for 15 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
  9. Carve along the score marks and serve warm.

Notes

If glaze starts to burn during the high-heat step, lower oven temperature to 375°F and extend cooking time. Always let the ham rest after roasting to keep it juicy. If you don’t have a basting brush, a spoon can be used. For a dairy-free glaze, all ingredients are naturally free of dairy. Variations include swapping honey for maple syrup, adding cayenne pepper for heat, or using orange juice instead of apple cider vinegar for a citrus twist.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey baked ham, brown sugar glaze, holiday ham, easy ham recipe, baked ham, spiral-cut ham, holiday main dish

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/perfect-honey-baked-ham-recipe-with-easy-brown-sugar-glaze-tutorial/