Classic Glazed Ham Recipe

• Level: Easy
• Yield: 12 servings
• Nutritional Information Per Serving Serving Size: 1 of 12 servings Calories: 344 Total Fat: 3 g Saturated Fat: 1 g Carbohydrates: 80 g Dietary Fiber: 3 g Sugar: 58 g Protein: 3 g Cholesterol: 1 mg Sodium: 752 mg
• Total Time: 3 hr 55 min
• Active Time: 40 min

Transform your holiday table into a showstopper with this effortless baked ham that dazzles guests while keeping things simple and budget-friendly. Unlock the ham's rich, natural flavors with just aromatic cloves, then elevate it with one of four irresistible homemade glazes: luscious apple-maple, zesty mustard-orange, exotic hoisin-spice, or tropical pineapple-apricot. The result? A glistening, crowd-pleasing centerpiece that's as easy to make as it is unforgettableperfect for Easter feasts, family gatherings, or any celebration craving a touch of wow.

Ingredients

For the Ham:

• 1 bone-in, fully cooked smoked ham, 9 to 10 pounds (butt or shank half)
• 2 tablespoons whole cloves (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups glaze of your choice (recipes below)

Apple-Maple Glaze:

• 2 cups apple cider
• 1/2 cup apple jelly
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Mustard-Orange Glaze:

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup Dijon mustard
• Zest and juice of 1 orange

Hoisin-Spice Glaze:

• 2 teaspoons five-spice powder
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 1 cup hoisin sauce
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Pineapple-Apricot Glaze:

• Zest and juice of 2 limes
• 8 thin slices of ginger
• 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
• 1 cup apricot preserves
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard

Instructions

1. Take the ham out of the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature, about 30 minutes.
2. Prepare your chosen glaze following the respective directions below.
3. Apple-Maple Glaze: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, boil the apple cider until it reduces to about 1/2 cup, roughly 8-10 minutes. Lower the heat to low and stir in the apple jelly, maple syrup, mustard, allspice, and nutmeg.
4. Mustard-Orange Glaze: In a bowl, combine brown sugar, Dijon mustard, orange zest, and juice.
5. Hoisin-Spice Glaze: In a small saucepan, toast the five-spice powder in peanut oil over medium heat for about 1 minute. Add hoisin sauce, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the mixture reduces to 1 1/2 cups, approximately 5 minutes.
6. Pineapple-Apricot Glaze: Place lime juice, ginger slices, and pineapple juice in a saucepan. Boil until reduced by half to about 1/2 cup, around 8-10 minutes. Strain the mixture. Then stir in lime zest, apricot preserves, and Dijon mustard.
7. Preheat oven to 325F. Trim off any skin on the ham. Score the fat in a diagonal diamond pattern without cutting into the meat. If using cloves, press them into the intersections of the scoring.
8. Set the ham flat-side down on a rack inside a roasting pan. Pour about 1/4 inch of water into the bottom of the pan. Roast the ham in the preheated oven until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 130F, about 2 hours 30 minutes (roughly 15 minutes per pound).
9. Raise the oven temperature to 425F. Pour half of the glaze over the ham, brushing it evenly. If the water in the pan has evaporated, add a little more.
10. Return the ham to the oven and continue roasting, basting with the remaining glaze every 10 minutes until it becomes shiny and richly browned, about 45 minutes more.

Photograph by Tina Rupp