Hereβs a classic Honey Baked Ham recipe β sweet, sticky, and caramelized on the outside, tender and juicy inside. Perfect for holidays, Sunday dinner, or special occasions.
π― Honey Baked Ham
β Ingredients
- 1 fully-cooked spiral-sliced ham (about 8β10 lbs)
- Β½ cup honey
- Β½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ΒΌ cup Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- Optional: Β½ tsp cinnamon or nutmeg for extra warmth
π©βπ³ Instructions
1. Preheat oven
- Preheat oven to 325Β°F (165Β°C).
- Line a roasting pan with foil for easy cleanup.
2. Prepare the glaze
- In a small bowl, mix:
- Honey
- Brown sugar
- Dijon mustard
- Cloves (and optional cinnamon or nutmeg)
- Stir until smooth.
3. Glaze the ham
- Place the ham, cut side down, in the roasting pan.
- Brush β βΒ½ of the glaze over the ham, making sure to get between slices.
4. Bake
- Cover loosely with foil and bake 10β12 minutes per pound, brushing with remaining glaze every 20β30 minutes.
- For an 8β10 lb ham, this is about 1Β½β2 hours.
5. Caramelize
- For a sticky, caramelized finish, remove foil during the last 15β20 minutes of baking and brush on extra glaze.
- Optionally, broil 2β3 minutes at the very end for a darker crust β watch carefully to avoid burning.
6. Rest and serve
- Let the ham rest 10β15 minutes before slicing.
- Serve with leftover glaze drizzled over the top.
β Tips & Variations
- Maple twist: Replace half the honey with pure maple syrup.
- Brown sugar crust: Sprinkle extra brown sugar on top before final caramelization.
- Spicy glaze: Add Β½ tsp cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce to the glaze.
- Storage: Leftover ham keeps 3β5 days in the fridge; freeze slices for up to 3 months.
If you want, I can also give a slow-cooker Honey Baked Ham version, which keeps it extra moist and perfect for hands-off cooking.
Do you want me to do that?