Brown Sugar and Spice Crusted Ham
Elevate your holiday table with this showstopping Brown Sugar and Spice Crusted Ham—a perfectly baked bone-in ham featuring a deeply flavorful glaze that's equal parts sweet, tangy, and spiced. Infused with a luxurious blend of brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, and aromatic spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, this recipe promises a caramelized crust that’s both visually stunning and irresistibly delicious. A touch of orange juice adds brightness, while whole cloves can be optionally studded for a festive, classic touch. With just 15 minutes of prep time and a simple basting technique, this ham roasts to perfection, serving up to 12 guests with tender, juicy slices bursting with flavor. Whether for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, this easy yet elegant ham is sure to become a family tradition!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 piece Bone-in fully-cooked ham (8-10 lbs)
- 1 cup Brown sugar
- 0.5 cup Honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground ginger
- 0.5 cup Orange juice
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper
- 20 pieces Whole cloves (optional, for studding)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and position a rack in the lower part of the oven.
Unwrap the ham and pat it dry with paper towels. Place it cut-side down in a large roasting pan.
If desired, score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern and stud it with whole cloves for decorative flair and extra flavor.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, ginger, orange juice, butter, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat.
Brush about half of the glaze evenly over the surface of the ham, making sure to get it into the scored cuts if applicable. Reserve the remaining glaze for basting later.
Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours (90 minutes), basting every 30 minutes with additional glaze.
After 90 minutes, remove the aluminum foil, increase the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C), and brush the ham with the remaining glaze.
Continue baking the ham uncovered for an additional 30 minutes, basting it every 10 minutes for a beautifully caramelized crust.
Remove the ham from the oven and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. Transfer to a cutting board and slice to serve.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
627 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 31.8 g | 41% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.9 g | 54% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 151 mg | 50% | |
| Sodium | 3027 mg | 132% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 35.3 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.4 g | 1% | |
| Total Sugars | 34.5 g | ||
| Protein | 46.2 g | 92% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 54 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 697 mg | 15% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
