This honey glazed ham will be the sweet and savory star of your dining table for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and beyond!
It’s made with just five ingredients and 10 minutes hands on time, making it perfect for even a weeknight dinner.
Learn the secrets to the easiest honey glazed ham you can imagine!
I love serving a honey glazed ham at holidays for Christmas dinner, Easter, and Thanksgiving. It’s a timeless, traditional centerpiece for a festive meal.
This easy honey ham recipe produces a juicy, succulent ham. Bursting with flavor and fragrance, your holiday ham is sure to be the star of the show!
Since most of the hams we have available at our grocery stores are fully cooked, our job is simply to add to the flavor, fragrance and beauty of the ham. While the visual appeal and presentation is certainly part of the fun, the flavor is so important!
This honey ham is a forgiving recipe that can be adjusted a bit to suit your tastes. You can leave the glaze sticky or cook until it’s crunchy – it’s entirely up to you! Either way, the ham itself will be tender and juicy.
It’s so easy and simple to elevate a store bought ham and turn it into something wonderful! It takes just 10 minutes to prep the ham and glaze it and into the oven it goes, leaving you time to be able to prep the rest of the meal.
Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
This combination of ingredients creates a sweet, sticky glaze that you’re allowing to seep into the ham as it warms. It’s so delicious and flavorful, my family can’t get enough!
Why You’ll Love It
This honey baked ham recipe is so easy, and it makes the best leftovers! You’re going to crave it well beyond the holidays.
Ingredients and Substitutions
See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Ham – Choose your favorite variety and size – we like to use a spiral sliced ham.
- Dark Corn Syrup – You can substitute molasses.
- Honey – Use your favorite honey to create an amazing glaze.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted, your preference, but we tend to use salted because it’s what we have on hand.
- Brown Sugar – Gives it rich molasses flavor while sweetening the ham.
Variations
- Orange – Add a hint of orange juice. Add the juice of 1 fresh squeezed orange or 2 tablespoons orange juice or a tablespoon of orange zest for a hint of bright flavor.
- Mustard – Try adding a tablespoon of Dijon mustard for a tangy flavor.
- Spices – Add a pinch of your favorite spice. Try cinnamon and nutmeg together or pumpkin pie spice on its own.
How To Make
- Prep – Preheat oven as directed. Line a roasting pan with foil.
- Add Cloves – Stud the ham with cloves and place in pan.
- Make the Sauce – Create a double broiler using a pot of water and a small saucepan that rests on top. Bring water to a boil over medium high heat. Combine corn syrup, honey, butter and brown sugar. Stir until smooth. Reduce heat to medium low.
- Cover with Glaze and Bake – Brush glaze over the top of the ham (don’t worry about cloves moving). Bake uncovered as directed, brushing more glaze over the top every 15 minutes.
In a Slow Cooker
- Make the glaze as instructed.
- Set slow cooker on low and re-glaze frequently. Moisture is key, nobody likes dry ham!
Tips
- If you crave that crusty, caramelized finish to the edges of your ham, consider broiling the ham for a couple minutes at the end of your bake time. (Watch closely to avoid burning of course!) It creates a crust that is simply out of this world!
- When you pull your ham from the oven, cover it with a loose tent of foil. This holds the heat and juices into the meat, allowing the flavor to seep into every corner of your ham!
- Make this easy glazed ham even easier by buying a spiral cut ham. Having it pre-sliced will make serving so much easier, plus the ham will look so pretty!
- Also, don’t forget to line your pan with aluminum foil. The glaze can get deliciously sticky, and a foil liner makes clean up quick and easy later on.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re going to slow cook your ham, and warm it over a period of hours, you’ll want to wait until the last 1-2 hours to add your glaze.
That’s one of the best things about serving ham – it can be served hot, cold, or any temperature in between. It’s equally delicious no matter which way you serve it, although it’s perhaps most elegant when served warm.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many delicious sides to serve with your honey baked ham! I’m getting hungry just thinking about the options. All of these side dishes make perfect accompaniments.
- Green Beans with Shallot Butter
- Crispy Brussel Sprouts
- Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Italian Vegetables
- Gratin Dauphinois
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Smashed Red Potatoes
How to Store
- Room Temperature – This ham can sit out at room temperature for up to two hours while serving. That’s the joy of serving honey baked ham – it’s so good either warm, room temperature or even cold!
- Refrigerate – Store in airtight container or cover in foil or plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days.
- Freeze – Separate layers with freezer paper and place in freezer bags, or wrap with airtight heavy duty foil or plastic wrap. Store in freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator or using your microwave’s defrost setting.
Leftover Ideas
More Main Dish Inspiration
Honey Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 9 pound ham spiral cut
- ⅛ cup whole cloves
- ¼ cup dark corn syrup
- 2 cups honey
- ⅔ cup butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a pan with foil.
- Stud the ham with cloves and place on pan.
- Create a double broiler using a pot of water and a pot that rests on top. Bring water to a boil over medium high.
- Combine corn syrup, honey, butter and brown sugar. Stir until smooth. Reduce heat to medium low.
- Brush glaze over the top of the ham (don't worry about cloves moving). Bake 1 hour, brushing more glaze over the top every 15 minutes.
Julie’s Tips
Slow Cooker Instructions
Set on low and remember to deglaze it throughout the hours leading up to serving.Tips
- If you crave that crusty, caramelized finish to the edges of your ham, consider broiling the ham for a couple minutes at the end of your bake time! (Watch closely to avoid burning of course.) It creates a crust that is simply out of this world!
- When you pull your ham from the oven, cover it with a loose tent of foil. This holds the heat and juices into the meat, allowing the flavor to seep into every corner of your ham!
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
