Description
This Honey-Glazed Baked Spiral Ham recipe features a tender, fully-cooked spiral cut ham glazed with a sweet and spiced honey mixture. The ham is roasted to perfection with a delicious caramelized finish, making it a perfect centerpiece for holiday dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham
- 1 fully-cooked, bone-in spiral cut ham (approximately 8-10 pounds)
Honey Glaze
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 cup orange juice
Optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening glaze)
- Whole cloves for studding
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) to prepare for baking the ham evenly.
- Prepare Ham: Remove all packaging and the plastic disk from the bottom of the ham to ensure it’s ready for cooking.
- Place Ham in Pan: Position the ham cut side down in a large roasting pan. If desired, score the ham’s surface in a diamond pattern and stud with whole cloves for added aroma and presentation.
- Make Glaze: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Stir frequently until the sugar dissolves and the glaze thickens slightly.
- Glaze Ham: Pour the warm glaze over the ham, making sure to let it seep into the spiral cuts for maximum flavor penetration.
- Bake Covered: Tent the ham loosely with aluminum foil and bake for about 10-12 minutes per pound, allowing the flavors to meld and the ham to heat through.
- Caramelize Glaze: Approximately 15 minutes before the ham is done, remove the foil to allow the glaze to caramelize and develop a glossy, sticky finish.
- Optional Glaze Thickening: If you prefer a thicker glaze, remove some pan juices, mix with cornstarch dissolved in water, and heat on the stove until thickened. Then, brush over the ham as needed.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes to redistribute juices before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use a roasting pan large enough to hold the ham comfortably and catch dripping glaze for basting or thickening.
- Scoring and studding with cloves is optional but adds flavor and festive appearance.
- Adjust baking time based on the actual weight of the ham; estimate 10-12 minutes per pound.
- Resting the ham after baking helps keep it moist and tender.
- Leftover ham can be used in sandwiches, soups, or salads.
