Honey Baked Ham is easy to make with our perfect ham glaze recipe. You will be shocked by how easy this show stopping holiday recipe is.
There is something so special about a honey baked ham for a holiday meal. But, this is a recipe that you should have in your back pocket for the whole year. This is an easy and flavorful recipe that is sure to impress.
The glaze is sweet, with the hint of spice. It makes this ham recipe truly special, and it is a recipe your guests will ask for on the way out the door.
Ham Glaze Ingredients
As I said, the ham glaze recipe is what really makes this recipe special. What is even better, I bet you already have all the ingredients for it in your pantry. For the full list of measurements, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Brown Sugar: I keep light brown sugar on hand, but dark brown sugar would work as well.
- Honey: A key ingredient in this recipe, it brings sweetness and is a big part of what creates the glazed affect.
- Ground Mustard: If you are unfamiliar with this, you can find it in the spice aisle.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: When cooking with Apple Cider Vinegar, I prefer to use non-organic. I find that the organic brand has an overpowering flavor.
- Black Pepper: A small amount of pepper adds a great subtle kick to this recipe.
- Ground Cloves: This adds such a great and subtle flavor to the recipe.
How to Cook a Honey Baked Ham
This is a brief overview of how easy this recipe is to make. For the full recipe with detailed instructions and all the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Prep the ham: Remove any wrappings that the ham came in, discard any glaze packets, and take out the plastic disc on the wide end of the ham.
- Bake the ham: Place the ham in a 9 by 13 inch baking dish, large side facing down, and bake for 20 minutes in a 325 degree oven.
- Make the glaze: While the ham is initially baking, whisk together honey, brown sugar, ground mustard, apple cider vinegar, pepper, and cloves.
- Glaze the ham: Add a layer of glaze to the ham every twenty minutes, brushing it on gently.
- Bake until 110 degrees: The ham is fully cooked, but you will want to bake it until it reaches an internal temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, a little less than 2 hours for a 10 pound spiral cut ham.
How Long to Cook Ham
As mentioned, your spiral cut ham is fully cooked. You don’t have to worry about under cooking it when it comes to food safety. We are looking to season it well with the glaze, and heat it through.
A 10 pound ham will need about 2 hours in a 325 degree oven or until it reaches 110 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
Cooking Temperature for Ham
As I’ve been mentioning, the ham is fully cooked when you buy it. You simply want to bring it to a temperature suitable for serving. And in this recipe, we want time for the glaze to cook and flavor the ham. The ham should come to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. I love using an instant read thermometer that can be left in the meat while it cooks in the oven. My favorite brand is linked below; I use this all the time to ensure that I’m perfectly cooking my meat.
Instant Read Thermometer
FAQ
You should get between 3/4 of a pound and 1 pound per person. So if you are serving 10 people you would need 7 1/2 to 10 pounds. But if you have leftovers, that is only good news, make sure to check out the section on leftover ham recipes below.
Yes! Spiral cut hams come fully cooked. So unlike making a big turkey for your family, you don’t have to worry about undercooking the meat. You are just looking to season it well with the glaze and warm it through without drying it out.
Your leftovers will last in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Always use your best judgment when it comes to leftovers.
I suggest cutting the ham into small cubes and then freezing it in a single layer before transferring it to an air tight container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months and used in recipes after thawing in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Honey Baked Ham
If you are hosting and need sides to accompany this ham recipe, the following are perfect!
- Honey Glazed Carrots: Only four ingredients for these amazing carrots. Easy enough for a weeknight, but delicious enough for a holiday meal.
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: I love how beautiful these look. They are great for a holiday table!
- Roasted Baby Potatoes: These are one of our family’s favorite side dishes! So easy, but so delicious.
Leftover Ham Recipes
If you are like us, you over buy when it comes to ham so that you can have leftovers. There are so many great ways to use your leftover ham, but here are our favorites:
If you make this baked ham recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Honey Baked Ham
Ingredients
- 10 pound bone in spiral cut ham (4535.92 grams) packaging and any seasoning/glazes discarded
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (213 grams)
- 1/3 cup honey (111.3 grams)
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Unwrap the spiral cut ham and discard and seasonings or glaze that came with it. Remove the plastic disc in the wide end of the ham. Place the ham wide side down in a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.10 pound bone in spiral cut ham
- While the ham is baking, whisk the sugar, honey, mustard, vinegar, pepper, and cloves together.1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup honey, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- After the first 20 minutes, gently brush the glaze all over the ham and return to the oven. Brush every 20 minutes until the ham is heated through, about 2 or until the ham registers 110 degrees Fahrenheit. (You may not use all of the glaze.) Serve and enjoy!
Nadejda Clark says
I always buy Spiral Ham, but some can be too salty. Which one would you recommend?
I’ve always had good luck with the brand sold at Costco.
Pat McGlothlin says
I love a spiral ham as well and I agree about them being too salty. It may sound strange, but I always rinse my ham before I do anything to it. Anything to reduce the sodium.
I’ve also used this recipe and it was well received by all.
I’m so glad this recipe was a hit with your crew, Pat!
Pat says
Hi again Lisa,
I was just reviewing the recipe and noticed, under “Ham Glaze Ingredients” where you list Honey – you talk about Dijon and yellow mustard, not honey. But the actual recipe doesn’t call for Dijon or yellow mustard. Wouldn’t either have more flavor than dry mustard?
Thanks again for a great recipe.
Thanks for catching that, Pat! I must have been operating on no sleep when I wrote that section of the post. It is fixed now.