This brown sugar glaze can be used for any type of holiday ham, pairs the sweetness of brown sugar, honey, and fruit juice with the tangy flavors of mustard and vinegar for the ultimate sweet-and-savory glaze.
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What Is a Brown Sugar Ham Glaze?
Brown sugar ham glaze is a semi-sweet glaze coated over baked ham to create a shiny, flavorful surface. The classic honey-baked ham or spiral cut ham will typically come with a brown sugar glaze. This traditional glaze is made out of brown sugar, honey, fruit juice, Dijon mustard, and vinegar. You can prep it in advance or immediately brush it onto your fresh ham towards the end of baking.
How to Glaze a Ham
Coat your ham with this thick, flavorful glaze about a half-hour before it is done cooking. You want to glaze your ham while it is still warm, so you should prepare the glaze while the ham is cooking. About 30 minutes before your ham is done, remove it from the oven and brush or baste on the glaze with a pastry brush or baster. Applying the glaze to the ham any earlier in the cooking process can result in a bitter, burnt glaze. When your ham is done, the glaze should be thick, golden brown, and slightly crispy with a rich, caramelized flavor.
This recipe can be easily adapted to incorporate different types of sweeteners, spices, and fruit juices depending on your flavor preferences and access to ingredients. Swap maple syrup or agave nectar for the honey, and play around with the addition of different fruit juices, like orange juice or cherry juice. Add warm spices like ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg to the recipe to create a spiced glaze that is perfect for fall or winter.
Brown Sugar Ham Glaze Recipe
makes
Glaze for 1 hamprep time
5 mintotal time
50 mincook time
45 minIngredients
- 1
While the ham is baking, make the glaze. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the sugar, honey, juice, mustard, butter, and vinegar, and stir to combine.
- 2
Stirring frequently, bring the ingredients to a simmer and cook the glaze until it has thickened and taken on a dark brown hue, about 15–20 minutes.
- 3
Remove the pan from the heat and allow the glaze to cool for 10 minutes.
- 4
With a half-hour left on the overall bake time for your ham, remove it from the oven and brush the glaze over the whole ham using a pastry brush or baster.
- 5
Leaving the roasting pan uncovered, return the brown sugar glazed ham to the oven and bake for the remaining 25–30 minutes, until the ham is golden and glistening and the internal temperature has reached 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 6
Remove the ham from the oven and allow the meat to sit for 10–15 minutes before carving.
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