Tasty Brown Sugar Glazed Spiral Ham

There’s something special about a brown sugar glazed ham that just makes a holiday dinner feel complete. I’ve been making this recipe for our family gatherings for years, and it never fails to bring smiles to the table. The sweet, sticky glaze creates such a nice coating on the ham, and the leftovers make the best sandwiches the next day.

The best part? This recipe is actually much easier than you might think. I remember being nervous the first time I made a glazed ham, but now it’s one of those dishes I can prepare without breaking a sweat. Since spiral hams come pre-sliced, most of the work is already done for you – all that’s left is creating that wonderful brown sugar coating that makes everyone come back for seconds.

When my kids smell this ham cooking in the oven, they always wander into the kitchen asking when dinner will be ready. And honestly, I can’t blame them – the aroma of brown sugar and ham filling the house is enough to make anyone hungry!

What Kind of Ham Should I Use?

For this glazed ham recipe, you’ll want to start with a spiral-sliced ham, which comes pre-cut in a continuous spiral pattern around the bone. Most grocery stores offer two main types: fully cooked or partially cooked spiral hams, and either one will work great here. City hams (wet-cured) are the most common type you’ll find at the supermarket, and they’re perfect for this recipe. When shopping, look for a ham labeled “with natural juices” rather than “water added” – this will give you the best flavor and texture. If you’re feeding a smaller group, you can definitely scale down to a half ham (usually around 4-5 pounds), and the glaze recipe can be adjusted accordingly.

Options for Substitutions

This classic ham recipe can be tweaked with several easy substitutions if needed:

• Butter: You can swap butter with margarine or even coconut oil, though butter gives the best flavor. If using coconut oil, make sure it’s not the refined type to avoid any coconut taste.
• Brown sugar: Out of brown sugar? Mix regular white sugar with a tablespoon of molasses. Or use maple syrup (reduce other liquid ingredients by 2 tablespoons to compensate).
• Pineapple juice: Orange juice works great as a substitute, or you can use apple juice for a different but equally good flavor. Even apple cider makes a nice replacement.
• Honey: Maple syrup, agave nectar, or corn syrup can replace honey in equal amounts. Each will give slightly different sweetness levels but work just fine.
• Cooking spray: Any neutral oil brushed on the pan works instead of cooking spray. You can also line the pan with foil.
• Spiral-sliced ham: While spiral-sliced is ideal for this recipe, you can use regular bone-in ham – just score the surface in a diamond pattern to help the glaze penetrate.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when cooking a spiral ham is drying it out – since it’s already fully cooked, you’re really just warming it through while adding flavor. To keep your ham moist, avoid cooking it at temperatures higher than 325°F, and always cover it tightly with foil for most of the cooking time. Another common error is not basting frequently enough – the glaze can burn quickly due to its high sugar content, so apply it in layers during the last 30 minutes of cooking, basting every 10 minutes. If you’re worried about the glaze becoming too dark, tent the ham with foil while still allowing some space for the glaze to caramelize. For the juiciest results, let your ham rest for 15-20 minutes after cooking, which allows the meat to reabsorb its juices and makes carving much easier.

What to Serve With Glazed Ham?

A sweet and savory glazed ham calls for some classic side dishes that’ll make your meal feel complete. Creamy mashed potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser, and they’re perfect for soaking up all that delicious glaze that runs off the ham. For some green vegetables, roasted asparagus or green beans add a nice fresh element to balance out the rich meat. Since this ham has those warm brown sugar and honey notes, sides like sweet potato casserole or roasted carrots with a touch of butter work really well with the flavors. And don’t forget some warm dinner rolls or biscuits – they’re great for making little ham sandwiches with the leftovers!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: After your holiday feast, place leftover ham in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Pop it in the fridge where it’ll stay good for 4-5 days. The glaze will keep the meat nice and moist, making it perfect for sandwiches and other leftover creations!

Freeze: Got more ham than you can handle? Cut it into smaller portions, wrap them well in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. This way, you can thaw just what you need for future meals. Pro tip: label your packages with the date so you know when you froze them.

Reheat: To bring your ham back to its glory, place it in a baking dish with a splash of water or pineapple juice, cover with foil, and warm it in a 325°F oven until it reaches 140°F inside. This usually takes about 10 minutes per pound. You can also microwave individual portions, just cover them to keep the moisture in.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	130-145 minutes
Total Time	145-165 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 4500-5000
• Protein: 300-350 g
• Fat: 300-350 g
• Carbohydrates: 350-400 g

Ingredients

• 8 pounds spiral-sliced ham with bone
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup juice from pineapple
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Cooking spray
• Optional: fresh herbs and fruits for decoration

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Dish

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.

While the oven warms up, coat a large baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and to make cleanup easier later.

Step 2: Make the Glaze

In a medium-sized pan, combine the butter, brown sugar, pineapple juice, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Place the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer.

Allow it to cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the glaze becomes thick and syrupy.

Remove the pan from heat.

Step 3: Prepare and Bake the Ham

Place the ham in the prepared baking dish.

Pour half of the prepared glaze over the top of the ham, ensuring it is well-coated.

Cover the ham tightly with foil to keep it moist while baking.

Reserve the other half of the glaze for later use.

Bake the ham in the oven for 2 hours.

Step 4: Add Remaining Glaze and Continue Baking

After the initial 2 hours of baking, remove the ham from the oven and uncover it.

Brush the remaining glaze generously over the ham.

If the glaze has thickened too much, simply microwave it for 30 seconds to liquefy it again.

Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.

Step 5: Caramelize the Glaze

Return the uncovered ham to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the glaze is caramelized and browned to your liking.

Keep an eye on the ham to prevent burning.

Step 6: Serve the Ham

Once the ham is beautifully glazed and caramelized, transfer it to a serving platter.

Garnish with fresh herbs and fruit for a decorative touch.

Spoon any pan drippings over the ham to add extra flavor.

Finally, slice the ham and serve to your guests.

Enjoy your deliciously glazed ham!