Description
This Easy Brown Sugar Ham features a fully cooked, bone-in ham glazed with a sweet and savory mixture of brown sugar, pineapple juice, honey, mustard, and spices. It’s a simple yet impressive centerpiece for any holiday meal or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8-pound) bone-in, fully cooked, smoked ham, at room temperature
For the Brown Sugar Glaze:
- 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard (or Dijon mustard)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Equipment:
- Baking Sheet
- Saucepan
- Instant Read Thermometer
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare Ham: Remove the ham from its packaging and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Score Ham: Using a sharp knife, score the top side of the ham in a diamond pattern. Make shallow cuts, about 1/4-inch deep, spaced about 1 inch apart. This helps the glaze penetrate the ham and creates a beautiful presentation.
- Make Glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, pineapple juice, honey, whole grain mustard (or Dijon), chopped thyme, chopped rosemary, cinnamon, cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
- Simmer Glaze: Bring the glaze mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the glaze is slightly reduced and thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Place Ham on Baking Sheet: Place the ham, cut-side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
- First Glaze: Brush the ham evenly with 1/2 cup of the prepared brown sugar glaze.
- Bake and Glaze: Place the ham in the preheated oven. Bake, brushing with the remaining glaze every 30 minutes, until the ham is heated through and reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C), about 2 hours and 30 minutes total baking time. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest, loosely tented with foil, for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful ham.
Notes
- Ham: This recipe is designed for a fully cooked, bone-in, smoked ham. A spiral-cut ham also works well.
- Room Temperature Ham: Bringing the ham to room temperature before baking helps it cook more evenly.
- Scoring: Scoring the ham allows the glaze to penetrate and flavor the meat.
- Glaze: The glaze will thicken slightly as it cools.
- Internal Temperature: The USDA recommends heating fully cooked ham to 140°F (60°C).
- Serving Suggestions: Serve this brown sugar ham with your favorite holiday side dishes, such as mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, roasted vegetables, or sweet potato casserole.