Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

Name: Baked Ham with Brown Sugar
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 160 min
Ingredients: 8 lb bone in spiral cut ham; 1/2 cup butter; 1 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh squeezed); 1 teaspoon orange zest; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; pinch of nutmeg; cooking spray; fresh herbs and fruit for garnish (optional)

This baked ham is coated in a homemade brown sugar glaze, then cooked until golden brown and caramelized. A super easy holiday ham recipe that is a show stopping main course fit for any special occasion.

There’s nothing better than a baked ham smothered in sweet glaze to kick off the holidays. Pair your ham with a variety of delicious side dishes, such as mashed potato casserole and candied carrots, for the perfect meal.

Baked ham coated in glaze, served on a platter with herbs and fruit.

Baked ham is a must-have for a celebratory dinner, and this version is the best I’ve ever had. The ham is baked until tender and juicy, then coated in a brown sugar glaze with hints of orange and spice. Best of all, it’s simple to make with minimal prep time.

Baked Ham Ingredients

Ingredients including ham, orange juice, spices, brown sugar and butter.

This recipe consists of a spiral ham, butter, brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon and nutmeg.

How do you make baked ham?

This recipe starts with a homemade glaze that is a mixture of butter, brown sugar, orange juice and spices, all simmered together. Pour half the glaze over your ham, then cover the ham with foil. Bake the ham until it’s completely warmed through. Remove the foil, then brush the rest of the glaze over the ham. Increase the oven temperature, then bake the ham uncovered until it has caramelized. Slice and serve immediately.

Step by step shots showing how to make ham glaze and bake a ham.

Tips for the perfect ham

I prefer to make this recipe with a bone-in spiral cut ham. You can also use a bone-in half shank, and score the top with a sharp knife in a diamond pattern to let the glaze soak in. Another option is a boneless ham, but this cut is more likely to dry out which is why I typically choose bone-in varieties.
It is best to use freshly squeezed orange juice for the glaze, as it has a lot more flavor than commercial orange juice.
I recommend preparing the glaze just before you plan to use it. The glaze will harden in the fridge if you try to make it in advance. If your glaze thickens up more than you’d like, you can microwave it for about 30 seconds to loosen it back up again.
While this ham pairs well with traditional holiday side dishes, I also like to offer something a little lighter such as a fresh fennel salad.

Recipe FAQs

How long do you bake a ham?

A ham needs to cook for about 15 minutes per pound in the oven at 350 degrees F. This is for a standard bone-in half ham around 7-8 pounds in size. A boneless ham will typically cook at the rate of 10 minutes per pound.

How much ham do you need per person?

You can plan on serving about 3/4 pound of ham per person for a bone-in ham, or 1/2 pound of ham for a boneless ham. If you’d like a lot of leftovers at the end of your meal, you can increase this amount to 1 pound of ham per person you plan to serve.

How do you know when ham is cooked?

The majority of hams are pre-cooked, all you’re actually doing is warming your ham through to the proper temperature for food safety purposes. A ham is ready to eat when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham reads at least 145 degrees F. Be sure that the thermometer does not touch the bone, as this will lead to a less accurate reading.

Sliced baked ham coated in brown sugar glaze.

BAKED HAM VARIATIONS

I typically make this recipe as written, but sometimes I use other ingredients depending on what I have on hand.

Liquid: Instead of orange juice, try using 1/2 cup of apple cider, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, honey or maple syrup.
Spices: Skip the cinnamon and nutmeg, and try pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon with a pinch of ginger, or even a bit of ground cardamom.
Flavorings: Try adding other flavors to the mix such as cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard, fresh minced rosemary or a bit of garlic powder.

What to serve with ham

I recommend serving a variety of side dishes, including at least one starch and vegetable. Here are some of my favorite options.

This baked ham is the absolute best for feeding a large crowd, and the sweet and savory flavors just can’t be beat!

Baked Ham Video

5 from 14 votes