Fantastic Holiday Ham
Elevate your holiday feast with this Fantastic Holiday Ham, a show-stopping centerpiece that’s as delicious as it is beautiful. This recipe features a tender, bone-in spiral-cut ham smothered in an irresistible glaze made with dark brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and warming spices like cinnamon and cloves. The addition of pineapple juice creates a tangy-sweet flavor profile that perfectly complements the savory ham. Baked to perfection and basted repeatedly for a caramelized, glossy finish, this ham is ideal for Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving celebrations. Serve it with the extra glaze on the side for a burst of flavor in every bite! With its easy preparation and spectacular results, this holiday favorite is sure to become a beloved tradition.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 pounds bone-in spiral-cut ham
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 0.5 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 15 whole cloves (optional for decoration)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
Place the ham, flat side down, on a large roasting pan. If desired, stud the ham with whole cloves by pressing them into the surface, spaced evenly apart.
Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out, and place it in the oven to bake for approximately 10 minutes per pound (around 80 minutes for an 8-pound ham).
While the ham is baking, prepare the glaze. In a medium saucepan, combine the dark brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and pineapple juice.
Heat the glaze mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it comes to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove it from the heat and set aside.
After the ham has baked for the initial cooking period, remove it from the oven and carefully discard the aluminum foil.
Using a brush, generously coat the ham with the prepared glaze, ensuring that it is evenly distributed over the surface.
Return the ham to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 30-40 minutes, basting it with more glaze every 10-15 minutes to build a rich, caramelized crust.
Once the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C), remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
Slice and serve your Fantastic Holiday Ham with the remaining glaze on the side for extra flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
6820 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 209.7 g | 269% | |
| Saturated Fat | 73.6 g | 368% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1814 mg | 605% | |
| Sodium | 44385 mg | 1930% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 441.3 g | 160% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 11.4 g | 41% | |
| Total Sugars | 416.2 g | ||
| Protein | 764.6 g | 1529% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 805 mg | 62% | |
| Iron | 38.5 mg | 214% | |
| Potassium | 10704 mg | 228% | |
*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.
