Sticky Glazed Spiral Ham
Ingredients
1 fully cooked spiral-cut ham (7–9 pounds)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the Ham
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
Remove the ham from its packaging and place it cut-side down in a large roasting pan. Add a few tablespoons of water to the bottom of the pan to help keep the ham moist while baking.
Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil.
Step 2: Make the Sticky Glaze
In a medium saucepan, combine:
brown sugar
honey
orange juice
Dijon mustard
melted butter
cinnamon
cloves
vanilla extract
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir continuously until the sugar dissolves and the glaze becomes smooth and glossy. Let it simmer gently for 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 3: Bake the Ham
Place the covered ham in the oven and bake for about 10–12 minutes per pound.
For a large ham, this usually takes around 1½ to 2 hours.
Every 20–25 minutes, remove the ham from the oven and brush a generous amount of glaze over the entire surface, making sure some glaze gets between the slices.
After glazing, return the foil loosely over the ham and continue baking.
Step 4: Caramelize the Outside
During the final 20–30 minutes of baking, remove the foil completely. Brush the ham with one last thick layer of glaze.
Return it to the oven uncovered so the glaze can bubble, caramelize, and turn beautifully shiny and sticky.
If you want extra caramelization, broil the ham for 2–3 minutes at the end, watching carefully so it does not burn.
Step 5: Rest and Serve
Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10–15 minutes before serving. This helps the juices stay inside the meat.
Spoon the warm glaze from the pan over the slices before serving.
Serve warm with potatoes, roasted vegetables, or dinner rolls.
