Tuesday, December 9, 2025

The Greatest Brown Sugar Ham Glaze


Make any ham, holiday-worthy with this fast and straightforward ham glaze recipe. Candy and savory, this ham glaze recipe makes use of elements you possible have on and takes just some minutes to arrange.

ham with The Best Ham Glaze on a cutting board
  • Taste: This candy and tangy glaze for ham with hints of spice provides a caramelized glaze to the completed ham.
  • Ability Stage: Only a few easy elements and straightforward steps, and your ham will appear to be you labored all day. Simply measure, combine, and brush.
  • Approach: Add this straightforward ham glaze on the good second. Just a little brush close to the top of the cooking time prevents the ham from burning and provides it the most effective caramelized, shiny prime.
  • Time Saver: Make the Dijon ham glaze as much as 4 days prematurely. Hold it within the fridge and provides it a stir earlier than brushing it over the ham. I attempt to at all times maintain these elements readily available for final minute vacation prep.
  • Serving Strategies: Glazed ham pairs so nicely with scalloped potatoes, roasted carrots, and roasted asparagus.  
Ingredients for ham glaze

Ingredient Notes

  • Brown sugar: Brown sugar caramelizes to create a scrumptious, sticky exterior. It may be changed with honey, maple syrup, melted apricot jam, or apple jelly.
  • Juice: Orange or pineapple juice provides taste and makes the glaze straightforward to brush onto the ham. It may be changed with virtually any juice, together with apple juice.
  • Mustard: I add Dijon mustard for taste, together with a pinch of clove or ginger. Any number of Dijon or grainy mustard can be utilized.

When to Glaze the Ham

Ham glaze incorporates sugar, which permits it to brown to make a sticky, candy coating. If the glaze is added too early, it is going to burn.

Glaze the ham about 20-Half-hour earlier than it’s performed baking—roughly when the ham reaches 115 to 120°F with a meat thermometer.

To glaze the ham, use a brush to use the glaze on the surface. I like to recommend scoring the ham to permit the glaze to seep in for those who’re not utilizing a spiral ham.

Glazing a ham with a brush

Ham Glaze Success Secrets and techniques

  • Rating the ham: For the most effective outcomes, rating the ham or skinny pores and skin on prime to permit the glaze to get into the meat, particularly for those who aren’t utilizing a spiral ham. Spiral-cut hams don’t want scoring because the glaze seeps between the slices naturally.
  • Take away the rind if wanted: Most store-bought hams come with out the rind. In case your ham has a tricky, thick, leathery rind, take away it, because it gained’t soften throughout cooking. Search for a fats layer beneath, and if it’s current, you possibly can rating it for higher outcomes.
  • Brush on the Proper Time: Brush the glaze on when the ham reaches 115 to 120°F to forestall burning.
  • Broiling: Broil simply till bubbly for a shiny, caramelized crust.

Storage and Leftovers

Retailer unused glaze in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Stir earlier than utilizing once more. This brown sugar ham glaze doesn’t freeze nicely.

Vacation Ham Helpers

Did you get pleasure from this do-it-yourself Ham Glaze? Depart us a ranking and remark beneath!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 5 minutes

Whole Time 5 minutes

  • In a small bowl, whisk all elements collectively.

  • Brush over a spiral minimize or scored ham (see notes) about 20-Half-hour earlier than the ham is completed or when the ham reaches 115 to 120°F. Proceed baking in response to your recipe or till the ham reaches 138°F.

  • If desired, brush a second glaze overtop as soon as the ham is completed cooking and broil for 3 to 4 minutes to caramelize the glaze.

  • Take away from the oven and let the ham relaxation for no less than quarter-hour earlier than serving.

In case your ham will not be spiral minimize, I like to recommend scoring the ham to permit the glaze to seep in. Earlier than baking, use a pointy knife to chop diagonal strains in a diamond sample about 1/8-inch deep. 
Vitamin info is predicated on 1 tablespoon of ham glaze.
Unused glaze may be saved within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. Stir earlier than utilizing once more.
 

Energy: 38 | Carbohydrates: 9g | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 22mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 1.9mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Vitamin info supplied is an estimate and can differ based mostly on cooking strategies and types of elements used.

Course Dressing, Sauce
Delicacies American
cutting board with ham and Ham Glaze with a title
5 ingredient Ham Glaze with writing
easy to make Ham Glaze on ham with a title
brushing Ham Glaze on ham and finished ham with a title

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