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Perfect Honey Glazed Ham Recipe with Brown Sugar Crust for Holidays

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A sweet and savory honey glazed ham with a caramelized brown sugar crust, perfect for holiday celebrations. This easy recipe delivers juicy, flavorful ham with a sticky, golden glaze.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Pre-cooked bone-in ham (about 8-10 lbs), spiral-cut recommended
  • ½ cup honey (raw or local preferred)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar (dark brown sugar best)
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • Whole cloves (optional, for studding)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
  2. Remove ham from packaging and pat dry. Trim thick rind leaving about ¼ inch of fat.
  3. Score the ham surface with shallow diagonal cuts about ½-inch apart, then rotate and score the other way to create a diamond pattern.
  4. Optional: Press whole cloves into the intersections of the diamond cuts.
  5. In a bowl, whisk together honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, ground cloves, and black pepper until smooth and spreadable.
  6. Place ham on a roasting rack in a pan, flat side down. Brush a generous layer of glaze all over the ham.
  7. Cover loosely with foil and bake for about 1½ hours (approximately 15 minutes per pound).
  8. Every 20 minutes, uncover and brush more glaze on the ham to build a sticky, caramelized crust.
  9. Remove foil for the last 20 minutes to let the glaze crisp up without steaming.
  10. Check internal temperature aiming for 140°F (60°C) to ensure juiciness without overcooking.
  11. Remove ham from oven and tent with foil. Let rest for 15-20 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
  12. Slice and serve using pre-cut spiral slices or slice against the grain for tenderness.

Notes

Score the fat, not the meat, to keep ham juicy. Brush glaze multiple times for a sticky crust. Let ham rest before slicing to retain moisture. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking. If glaze burns, reduce oven temperature slightly next time. Leftover glaze can be warmed and drizzled over slices.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey glazed ham, holiday ham, brown sugar crust, Christmas ham, Easter ham, Thanksgiving ham, easy ham recipe, glazed ham, spiral-cut ham

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/perfect-honey-glazed-ham-recipe-with-brown-sugar-crust-for-holidays/