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Holiday Recipes

How to Cook a Spiral Ham

Recipe Disclaimer: Nutritional information is provided as a general estimate only. Actual values may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and cooking methods. Always check ingredient labels for allergen information.

Sunny Anderson's foolproof method of cooking a spiral ham will elevate your holiday meal without a lot of legwork. A quick brown sugar glaze soaks into the ham as it cooks leaving you with a perfectly moist, flavorful main dish.

How to Cook a Spiral Ham

Sunny's Simple Holiday Spiral Ham

Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 8 to 10 servings | Total Time: 3 hr

Preparation: 10 min | Resting Time: 20 min | Cooking Time: 2 hr 30 min

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Serving Size: 1 of 10 servings

  • Calories: 1880
  • Total Fat: 137 g
  • Saturated Fat: 50 g
  • Carbohydrates: 19 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2 g
  • Sugars: 56 g
  • Protein: 135 g
  • Cholesterol: 481 mg
  • Sodium: 9707 mg

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • Zest and juice from 1 orange
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 6 to 8 gratings of fresh nutmeg
  • One 6- to 7-pound bone-in half spiral ham
  • 10 to 12 fresh thyme sprigs
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a mixing bowl, blend together the brown sugar, honey, orange zest, 1/4 cup orange juice, pumpkin pie spice, and freshly grated nutmeg. Add salt to taste.
  3. Tear off enough aluminum foil to envelop the ham, then put the ham in the foil's center. Gently peel back the spiral slices of the ham and tuck a sprig of thyme between every other slice. Drizzle half of the glaze over the ham, letting it seep into the cuts. Wrap the ham securely with the foil and position it on a rack inside a roasting pan. Pour about an inch of water into the roasting pan. Roast until the ham's internal temperature registers 140 degrees F, roughly 20 minutes per pound.
  4. Pour the remaining glaze into a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a simmer and whisk until small bubbles form throughout. Remove from heat; the glaze will thicken as it cools.
  5. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  6. Carefully take the ham out of the oven. Using tongs for safety, peel back the top layer of foil, leaving foil around the sides and underneath to catch any glaze and juices. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham's surface, then return it uncovered to the oven for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest before slicing.

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RecipeIsEasy Editorial Team

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