Ham Glaze Recipe: The Perfect Addition to Your Holiday Meal
My Ham Glaze recipe will be the greatest you’ve ever had. This brown sugar glaze is simple to make and tastes great. A tasty and easy-to-make ham glaze is one of my favorite ways to spice up a holiday feast.
This glaze complements any ham, bone-in, boneless, or spiral-cut. Its sweet and tangy flavor will enhance your ham. Any holiday or dinner group will love it.
I’ll show you how to make the ideal ham glaze and answer your questions in this post. I’ll also share my secrets for making the finest ham glaze ever. Grab your aprons and let’s make the ideal glaze for your next holiday meal!
Easy Ham Glaze Recipe
Ham is a holiday staple. A classic, it might be dull and dry. Ham glaze solves that. It gives your ham more flavor and keeps it juicy.
Making your own ham glaze is straightforward and takes only a few pantry staples. Additionally, you can vary the glaze’s sweetness, tanginess, and spice.
Another benefit of producing your own glaze is knowing what’s in it. When you make your own glaze, you can control the ingredients and develop a healthier version. Store-bought glazes may contain preservatives and unnatural substances.
Additionally, a handmade ham glaze can make your dish appear and taste gourmet. It’s a simple way to make your Christmas meal unique. So, whether you’re having a big Christmas party or a small family dinner, try a homemade ham glaze.
Ham Glaze Recipe Ingredients
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1/4 cup of Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon of ground cloves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
How to Make Ham Glaze
Step 1: Mix the Ingredients Together
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, ground cloves, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together well until a thick, smooth glaze forms.
Step 2: Apply the Glaze to the Ham
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your ham in a roasting pan and brush the glaze evenly over the top and sides of the ham. Be sure to save some of the glazes to brush on the ham while it cooks.
Step 3: Cook the Ham
Place the ham in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes per pound of meat, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the ham with the remaining glaze every 15-20 minutes as it cooks.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy!
Once your ham is cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. The result will be a perfectly cooked ham with a delicious, sweet, and tangy glaze that is sure to impress your guests.
Easy Ham Glaze Tips
A few strategies can help you make the perfect simple ham glaze.
Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature before mixing them. They’ll blend smoothly and evenly, creating uniform glazing.
Use high-quality honey to enhance the glaze’s flavor. Try wildflower or clover honey to pick your favorite.
The glaze’s sweetness can be adjusted by adding or subtracting sugar. Try maple syrup or brown sugar for a distinct taste.
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice can also be added to the glaze for taste. These spices give depth to your glaze with only a pinch.
Apply the glaze evenly and use it all on the ham. As it bakes, the glaze will preserve the ham moist and tasty and give it a rich brown hue.
Finally, have fun and experiment to get the perfect glaze for you and your guests. Don’t be afraid to prepare additional glaze, it can be saved in the fridge for up to a week and used for other meals.
Simple Ham Glaze FAQs
What kind of ham should I use for this recipe?
You can use any kind of ham for this recipe, whether it’s a bone-in or boneless ham, or a spiral-cut ham.
Can I make this glaze ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the glaze ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before applying it to the ham.
Can I make substitutions for the ingredients?
You can make substitutions for the ingredients, such as using maple syrup instead of honey or using balsamic vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar. Just keep in mind that these substitutions may change the flavor of the glaze slightly.
When should glaze be put on ham?
After 20–30 minutes, glaze the ham. This allows the glaze to caramelize and develop a wonderful crust on the ham without burning.
Apply the glaze evenly and coat the entire ham. To give the ham a lovely gloss and color, brush it every 15-20 minutes during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Glaze a completely cooked ham. Before glazing, use a meat thermometer to make sure the ham’s internal temperature is 145°F. If not, cook it for a few more minutes.
After baking, let the ham rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to redistribute the liquids and make them more aromatic and moist. Then slice and glaze the ham.
Easy Glaze for Ham Variations
There are many ways to make an easy ham glaze for holiday feasts.
Changing the mustard is one option. Whole grain mustard adds a nutty, earthy taste to the glaze instead of Dijon mustard. Use spicy mustard to spice up the glaze.
Switching sweeteners is another option. Instead of brown sugar, use honey, maple syrup, or molasses. The glaze will taste different with each sweetener.
Apricot, raspberry, or cherry jam can be used as a sweetener to give the glaze a fresh, fruity taste and texture.
The glaze can also be acidified. Instead of apple cider vinegar, consider balsamic or red wine vinegar for a sweet and tart coating.
The glaze can also be flavored with herbs and spices like rosemary, thyme, or sage. To spice it up, add crushed black pepper, chili flakes, or ginger.
Finally, you can add depth and flavor to the glaze by adding beer, wine, or coffee.
Ham Glaze Recipe
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1/4 cup of Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon of ground cloves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix the Ingredients Together
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, ground cloves, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together well until a thick, smooth glaze forms.
- Apply the Glaze to the Ham
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your ham in a roasting pan and brush the glaze evenly over the top and sides of the ham. Be sure to save some of the glaze to brush on the ham while it cooks.
- Cook the Ham
- Place the ham in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes per pound of meat, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the ham with the remaining glaze every 15-20 minutes as it cooks.
- Serve and Enjoy!
- Once your ham is cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. The result will be a perfectly cooked ham with a delicious, sweet and tangy glaze that is sure to impress your guests.
