Here’s a classic recipe for Honey-Glazed Ham—sweet, savory, and perfect for holiday meals or special occasions.
🍯 Honey-Glazed Ham
Ingredients (serves 6–8)
- 1 fully cooked ham (bone-in or boneless, 5–6 lbs / 2.3–2.7 kg)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (optional, adds tang)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or 4–6 whole cloves
- 1/4 cup water or apple juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven
- Set oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Place a rack in a roasting pan.
- Prepare the ham
- Score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern, about 1/4 inch deep.
- Insert whole cloves at the intersections if desired.
- Make the glaze
- In a small saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, mustard, and water/apple juice.
- Heat gently until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally.
- Bake the ham
- Place ham on the rack in the roasting pan.
- Brush half the glaze over the ham.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake 1.5–2 hours, basting every 20–30 minutes with remaining glaze.
- Caramelize the glaze
- Remove foil in the last 20–30 minutes to allow the glaze to caramelize.
- Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and serve
- Let ham rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
- Serve with extra glaze on the side.
💡 Tips
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure fully cooked ham reaches 140°F (60°C) when reheating.
- For extra flavor, add a splash of pineapple or orange juice to the glaze.
- Leftover ham is perfect for sandwiches, soups, or casseroles.
I can also give you a quick 1-hour honey-glazed ham version that still has a caramelized top without long baking if you want.
