Christmas Cherry Ham Glaze
Transform your holiday ham into the star of the table with this show-stopping Christmas Cherry Ham Glaze! Bursting with the rich, fruity flavor of dark sweet cherries and the warm, festive spices of cinnamon and cloves, this glaze brings a perfect balance of sweetness and tang, thanks to honey, dark brown sugar, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. The smooth, glossy finish is effortlessly achieved with a simple cornstarch slurry, ensuring a velvety texture that clings beautifully to your ham. Ideal for Christmas dinner or any holiday gathering, this quick and easy glaze is ready in just 30 minutes and can be brushed onto your ham during the final stages of baking for a caramelly, golden glaze. Store any leftovers to drizzle over roasted vegetables or use as a sweet and savory sauce. Elegant, flavorful, and simple to prepare, this cherry glaze is the secret to elevating your holiday meal to gourmet perfection.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups dark sweet cherries (pitted, fresh, or frozen)
- 0.5 cup honey
- 0.5 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoons ground cloves
- 0.25 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, combine the cherries, honey, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves completely.
Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cherries break down and the mixture becomes slightly thickened.
Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth, or carefully blend in a countertop blender and return to the pan.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry.
Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
Continue to cook the glaze for 2-3 minutes, or until it thickens to your desired consistency.
Remove from heat and let the glaze cool slightly before using. The glaze can be brushed directly onto a ham during the final 30-45 minutes of baking.
Any leftover glaze can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1067 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 6.9 g | 9% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1322 mg | 57% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 260.2 g | 95% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.4 g | 19% | |
| Total Sugars | 243.7 g | ||
| Protein | 3.2 g | 6% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 144 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 13% | |
| Potassium | 762 mg | 16% | |
*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.
