Honey Glazed Ham (Easy Holiday Spiral Ham)

Why you’ll love it

• Almost hands-off: the ham is already cooked.
• Five-minute glaze: sweet, tangy and glossy.
• Feeds 12 to 16: with leftovers to spare.

Quick facts

Ingredients

• 1 fully cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham, 8 to 10 lb (3.6 to 4.5 kg)
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) water or orange juice, for the pan
• 1/2 cup (170 g) honey
• 1/2 cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
• 4 tbsp (55 g) unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• Zest and juice of 1 orange
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• Orange slices and fresh rosemary, to garnish

Step-by-step method

1. Prepare the ham. Heat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Place the ham cut side down in a roasting pan, add the water or juice and cover tightly with foil.

2. Warm it through. Bake about 12 to 15 minutes per pound, around 1 1/2 hours, until the center reaches 120°F (50°C).

3. Make the glaze. Simmer the honey, brown sugar, butter, mustard, orange zest and juice, cinnamon and cloves for 3 to 4 minutes, until slightly thick.

4. Glaze. Raise the oven to 400°F (200°C). Uncover the ham and brush generously with glaze, letting it run between the slices.

5. Caramelize. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes, brushing again every 5 minutes, until glossy and caramelized and the center reaches 140°F (60°C).

6. Rest and serve. Rest 15 minutes, garnish with orange slices and rosemary and serve with the pan juices.

Tips for the best result

• Keep it covered until glazing so it does not dry out.
• Watch the last minutes: the sugar can burn quickly.
• Save the bone for bean or split pea soup.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers up to 5 days, or freeze sliced ham up to 2 months.