Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe

This Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe turns a store bought spiral ham into a showpiece with one simple glaze and a slow, gentle bake. Brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider, and a pinch of cloves simmer into a sticky syrup that caramelizes over the ham in the last stretch of cooking. The result is sweet, salty, and glossy, with crisped edges on every slice.

For more favourites, try our Herb Roasted Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter, our Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Tenderloin and our Crockpot Green Bean Casserole.

What Makes This Brown Sugar Glazed Ham So Good

A spiral sliced ham is already cooked, so the job is warming it gently and building flavor on the outside. The glaze does the heavy lifting: brown sugar caramelizes, honey adds shine, mustard cuts the sweetness, and cloves and cinnamon give it that unmistakable holiday perfume. Brushing the glaze on in layers during the last 30 minutes builds a lacquered coating instead of a glaze that slides off.

It is also one of the most forgiving holiday mains. Ham is hard to overcook at a low oven temperature, it feeds 12 or more, and the leftovers are arguably better than the first serving, turning into sandwiches, soups, and breakfast hash all week.

The Key Ingredients

A handful of pantry staples makes a glaze that tastes like it took all day.

The Ham

A bone in, spiral sliced, fully cooked ham weighing 8 to 10 pounds is ideal. The spiral cuts let the glaze seep between the slices, and the bone adds flavor and makes a wonderful soup base later. Avoid a ham labelled water added if you can, since it tends to be less flavorful.

The Glaze

Packed brown sugar is the base, with honey for shine, Dijon mustard for tang, apple cider for depth, and ground cloves, cinnamon, and a pinch of allspice for warmth. A splash of apple cider vinegar keeps the glaze from tasting one note sweet.

The Finishing Touches

A few whole cloves studded into the ham look classic and add aroma, while a scattering of pineapple rings or orange slices in the pan adds sweetness to the drippings. Neither is required, but both make the presentation beautiful.

How to Glaze a Ham

Low heat, a covered pan, and a patient hand with the brush are all it takes.

• Warm gently: tent the ham with foil and bake at 325 degrees for about 10 minutes per pound.
• Make the glaze: simmer brown sugar, honey, mustard, cider, vinegar, and spices until slightly thick.
• Brush in layers: uncover for the last 30 minutes and brush with glaze every 10 minutes.
• Caramelize: raise the heat to 400 degrees for the last 10 minutes so the glaze bubbles and darkens.
• Rest and slice: rest for 15 minutes, then cut along the spiral slices and spoon extra glaze over the platter.

Mistakes to Avoid

Glazing Too Early

Sugar burns if it spends two hours in the oven. Keep the ham covered until the last 30 minutes, then glaze in layers for a glossy, unburned finish.

Roasting Too Hot

High heat dries out a precooked ham. A gentle 325 degrees warms it through without turning the slices leathery.

Skipping the Rest

A short rest lets the glaze set and the juices settle, so slices stay moist instead of weeping onto the board.

What to Serve with Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

This ham loves classic holiday sides:

• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, creamy and rich
• Cheesy Corn Casserole, sweet and golden
• Crockpot Green Bean Casserole, savory and crunchy
• Buttered dinner rolls, for piling with ham slices

Make It Your Own

The glaze is easy to customize. Swap maple syrup for honey, add a spoonful of bourbon for depth, or stir in orange zest and juice for a citrus version. For heat, add a pinch of cayenne or a spoonful of hot honey. Leftover ham keeps for a week in the fridge and freezes beautifully, and the bone makes a superb split pea or bean soup.

Make This Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Today

Sticky, glossy, and nearly effortless, this ham is the holiday main that earns its place at the center of the table year after year. Warm it slowly, glaze it generously, and watch it disappear. Browse more of our Main Course recipes for more holiday centerpieces.