Here’s a classic guide to a perfect Baked Ham — sweet, savory, and tender, with a caramelized glaze. This works for holiday dinners or any special meal.
Baked Ham with Glaze
Ingredients (serves 8–10)
- 1 fully cooked bone-in or boneless ham (6–8 lbs)
- Whole cloves (optional, for studding)
Glaze options
Sweet glaze:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1–2 tbsp apple cider vinegar or orange juice
Alternative glaze ideas:
- Pineapple juice + brown sugar + mustard
- Maple syrup + mustard + cinnamon
Instructions
1. Prep the ham
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Remove packaging and any netting; score the surface in a diamond pattern about ¼-inch deep.
- Optionally, stud with whole cloves at the intersections of the diamonds.
2. Bake
- Place ham in a roasting pan cut-side down.
- Cover loosely with foil.
- Bake about 15–18 minutes per pound (for a 6-lb ham, ~1.5–2 hours) until heated through (internal temp ~140°F / 60°C for pre-cooked ham).
3. Glaze
- Mix glaze ingredients in a small bowl.
- About 20–30 minutes before ham is done, brush glaze over the surface.
- Remove foil and continue baking uncovered so glaze caramelizes.
- Brush again halfway through if desired.
4. Rest & serve
- Let ham rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
- Slice and serve with pan juices or extra glaze on the side.
Tips
- Bone-in vs. boneless: Bone-in adds flavor; boneless is easier to slice.
- Sweet & savory combo: Add a little mustard or spices to balance sugar.
- Leftovers: Ham freezes well or makes great soups, sandwiches, and casseroles.
- Optional extras: Pineapple slices, brown sugar, or maraschino cherries can decorate the top for a festive touch.
If you want, I can give you a honey-glazed baked ham, brown sugar & mustard ham, or slow-cooker baked ham version.
