This stunning spiral Brown Sugar Glazed Ham is always the star of the show! It’s beautifully caramelized and glossy thanks to an easy brown sugar ham glaze, which comes together really quickly.
Because we use a fully cooked spiral ham, this is a low-maintenance holiday ham recipe. Most of it is oven time. With just 15 minutes of active prep time, all you need to do is heat up the ham in the oven and glaze it.
Quick Look at the Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins, Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes, Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Method: Stovetop, oven baked
- Main Ingredients: Spiral smoked ham, brown sugar, maple syrup
- Flavor Profile: Caramelized and glazed, savory, sweet
- Ideal for: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, holidays
Jump to:
- Quick Look at the Recipe
- This Brown Sugar Ham Steals The Show
- What Type of Smoked Ham to Use
- Ingredient Notes
- The Brown Sugar Glaze
- How to Make Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
- Recommended Cooking Times
- Tips for Success
- Recommended Equipment
- Recipe FAQs
- What To Serve with Glazed Ham
- More Holiday Mains
- Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
What Type of Smoked Ham to Use
Get a fully-cooked bone-in smoked ham, preferably spiral-sliced to make it easier to serve. Most holiday hams sold at grocery stores come fully cooked, but double check the packaging to be sure. I’d recommend one that is 8-10 pounds, which will feed about 16 to 20 people.
Bone-in vs boneless? Definitely go for bone-in! It will keep it extra moist and flavorful.
I always look for a hickory or applewood smoked spiral sliced ham because it is really delicious. It has a smoked, subtly sweet and fruity finish. I get it at Costco every year!
Ingredient Notes
- Smoked spiral-sliced ham: Make sure it says “fully cooked” in the packaging, most smoked hams always are but just to be sure. An 8-10 pound ham will feed a crowd and you may even have leftovers.
- Brown sugar: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness and consistency, and caramelizes the ham really well.
- Maple syrup: For that syrupy and glossy finish that will make your ham shine even better!
- Apple cider vinegar and dijon mustard: Balances the sweetness of the sugar by adding a little acidity and flavor.
- Fresh rosemary: Just 1 fresh sprig to infuse the brown sugar ham glaze with aromatic flavors as it simmers.
- Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground cinnamon, salt, ground black pepper make the brown sugar glaze extra good!
As always, ingredient quantities for this recipe can be found in the recipe card down below.
The Brown Sugar Glaze
The glaze for ham I use in this recipe is very simple. It’s got the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity. Brown sugar (you can use light or dark) adds the perfect amount of sweetness and molasses-y texture. I also use maple syrup for that thick, syrupy and glossy finish, but feel free to substitute the maple syrup with honey.
How to Make Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
- Before you start, remove the ham from its packaging and let it sit at room temperature for about 1 hour. That way, it’s not so cold from sitting in the fridge and will cook faster.
- Bake them ham: Grab a large roasting pan with a rack. Place the ham on top of the roasting rack, flat side down. You can place a sheet of foil underneath the ham if you want and poke a few holes. Add water to the bottom of the pan, about ½ inch. Wrap the pan tightly with foil. Bake at 325°F for 1½ hours.
- Make the brown sugar glaze: About 20 minutes before the ham is ready, make the brown sugar ham glaze. In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer, and simmer over low heat for about 8 minutes, whisking, until thickened and slightly reduced.
- Glaze the ham: Remove from the oven and remove the foil. Increase the oven temperature to 400°F. Brush the ham with the glaze and return to the oven, uncovered. Repeat about 2 times every 6 minutes until caramelized. It will be ready once it reaches 140°F in the thickest part. Let it rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Recommended Cooking Times
To make this brown sugar glazed ham, cook in the oven for about 10-12 minutes per pound, or until it reaches 140°F in the center. My ham was 9 pounds, and it took about 1½ hours in the oven, and then another 20-25 minutes for the glazing process.
Tips for Success
- Glaze consistency: The brown sugar glaze will thicken as it cools. If needed, reheat it over the stovetop to loosen it up and make it easy to brush.
- Adjust the flavor: For example, add more vinegar for extra acidity, or more brown sugar for extra sweetness.
- Internal temperature: Although smoked hams are fully cooked, they should be baked (essentially “reheated”) until it reaches at least 140 degrees F in the center for best flavor and texture.
- Use a roasting pan with a rack. This will help elevate the ham so that the water at the bottom of the pan, which creates steam and moisture, does not touch it.
- If you don’t have a pan with a rack, use crumpled up aluminum foil to elevate the ham and add a layer of water underneath.
Recommended Equipment
- Small saucepan to simmer the brown sugar glaze for the ham
- Roasting pan with a roasting rack, which will allow you to add water at the bottom of the pan to keep the ham moist as it cooks.
- Silicone brush for applying the glaze
- Aluminum foil to cover the roasting pan
Recipe FAQs
Ideally yes. A rack elevates the ham and creates room for the water in the bottom to steam and keep the ham moist as it cooks. If you don’t have one, use a large baking pan and crumpled aluminum foil on the bottom of the pan to elevate the ham and create room for the water.
Yes. Wrap the pan tightly with foil during the first 1 and 1/2 hours. This will help trap the steam and moisture from the water inside and keep the ham moist and tender.
Yes! Make it 1-2 days ahead, and reheat it before using, adding a splash of water as needed to loosen it up.
What To Serve with Glazed Ham
We really only make this brown sugar glazed ham for the holidays, so here are a few of my BEST holiday side dishes that pair really well with this stunning ham.
Mashed Potatoes: Fluffy Mashed Potatoes!
Sweet Potatoes: Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Salad with Asparagus
Roasted vegetables: Roasted Rainbow Carrots and Roasted Parmesan Asparagus! Both are perfect for Easter.
Green Bean Sides: Lemon Green Beans and this amazing Fresh Green Bean Casserole.
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Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 8 to 10 pound fully-cooked bone-in ham - spiral sliced, thawed if previously frozen
- Water for the pan
Brown sugar glaze for the ham
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary - or other fresh herbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Let the ham sit: Remove the ham from its packaging. Let it rest for 1 hour at room temperature so it's not so cold, which helps it cook more evenly.
- The set-up: Grab a big roasting pan with a rack. Place the ham on top of the rack, flat side down. You can put a sheet of foil under the ham if you'd like (poke a few holes on the foil so the juices flow down). Add water to the bottom of the pan, about ½ inch. Wrap the pan tightly in aluminum foil.
- Bake: Cook the ham the oven for about 1½ hours. Tip: The trapped steam inside will keep the ham tender and moist.
- Make the glaze: About 20 minutes before the ham is done, make the glaze. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine all the glaze ingredients and stir to combine. Adjust the flavors to taste as needed. Reduce to low heat, and simmer for about 8 minutes until it’s a bit thickened, stirring often to make sure it doesn't burn. Set aside.
- Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Remove the ham from the oven and remove the foil.
- Brush with the glaze: If needed, reheat the glaze to loosen it up so that it's easier to brush. Brush the ham with glaze, including in between the slices. Then return to the oven for about 6 minutes, uncovered. Repeat this step about 2 more times until caramelized and slightly charred around the edges.
- Let it rest: Remove them ham from the oven and let sit for 15-20 minutes before serving. Slice and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Ham: Get a fully-cooked bone-in smoked ham, preferably spiral-sliced to make it easier to serve. I used an applewood smoked fully-cooked bone-in ham, and it was spiral sliced already.
- An 8-10 pound ham should be enough for about 16 servings.
- Internal temperature: Although fully cooked, they should be baked until it reaches at least 140 degrees F for best flavor and texture.
- If you don’t have a pan with a rack, use crumpled up aluminum foil to elevate the ham and add a layer of water underneath.
- Prep ahead: The glaze can be prepared the day before and reheated on the stovetop to loosen it. It will harden when stored.
- Freezing: Divide it up into smaller portions and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating, or use it to make soup!
- Maple syrup: Honey.
- Apple cider vinegar: White vinegar.
- Light brown sugar: Dark brown sugar will work as a substitute. Do not use granulated sugar, as this will affect the consistency of the glaze (it will harden).
- Add-ins for the glaze: Ground nutmeg, ground cloves, orange zest, fresh herbs.
Gail says
Can I use the slow cooker to cook the ham with this glaze?
Tania says
Yes you can! Use my slow cooker ham recipe with this brown sugar glaze.
D says
Can I substitute orange juice for the pineapple juice?
Tania says
Yup!
Jen B says
Thank you for having this up; in a pinch, I needed to make ham instead of turkey. Good basic ingredients and appreciated all the instructions.
I like it!
Terry Saddler says
I’ve never cooked a ham before, myself but now I feel I’m a cook.
Thank you
SumBunny says
This was the best ham glaze I’ve ever had. It’s the only glaze I will ever make again. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!
Karla Johnson says
Wow this was just outstanding. I made this for Easter and everyone loved it! I had a smaller ham so cut the sauce into but left the baking times the same!!! Winner Winner a must make again!
Denise Germroth says
Looks delicious! Can you use an electric roaster ?
thanks!
Denise Germroth