Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham Recipe (2024)

By: Christi On: |Updated: |Jump to Recipe

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Spiral Ham is a must-have holiday dish. Skip the long lines at the honey baked ham store and make a delicious Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral ham at home in your own oven. Your family will love this deliciously caramelized ham, especially when you pair it with tasty side dishes. This ham is fantastic with Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole, Homemade Scalloped Potatoes, Easy Glazed Carrots, Green Beans Almondine, Sweet Potato Casserole and Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls.

Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham Recipe (1)

With Easter around the corner, it’s time to start planning the holiday dinner menu. Our family loves the classic holiday dishes such as spiral ham. While I used to buy Honey Baked Hams, once I realized how easy it is to make a delicious ham glaze and a juicy baked ham at home, there was no turning back. No more long lines in the parking lot to get a ham!

Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham Recipe (2)

Spiral Ham Recipe

Cooking a spiral ham is actually very easy. It’s just a matter of mixing up a brown sugar glaze for ham, pouring it on, then cooking the ham in your oven.

Spiral Ham Glaze

In addition to your ham, you only need three ingredients for this homemade ham glaze – brown sugar, maple syrup and apple juice. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham Recipe (3)

How To Glaze A Ham

To glaze a ham, the ingredients are combined in a saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes. After the glaze has reduced and thickened, then half of the glaze is poured over the spiral ham, and into the oven it goes.

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The remaining half is added at the end of cooking, allowing you to get those deliciously caramelized edges that make your ham both look and taste fantastic.

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How Long To Cook A Spiral Ham?

Wondering how long to cook ham in the oven? Since most hams are precooked, you want to cook them until they reach an internal ham temperature of 140 degrees, when measured at the thickest part of the ham.

For the average 7-10 pound ham, this will take around 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Approximately 12 minutes of cook time per pound for this brown sugar ham is a good guideline to work with, but make sure to always double check the internal temperature.

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Storing Leftover Ham

Store leftovers, tightly covered, in refrigerator for 2-3 days or in freezer for 1-2 months. I recommend wrapping in plastic wrap, then placing in a freezer style bag. Try to get as much air out as possible.

Sides Dishes For Ham

While we love easy Maple Glazed Ham, it just wouldn’t be complete without sides to go with ham. Because this ham bakes in the oven, I am a big fan of side dishes that can be made in the crockpot. I even have a few extra inexpensive crockpots that I purchased for holidays and potlucks.

Crockpot Side Dishes

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  • Crockpot Mashed Potatoes – we simply cannot have a holiday without mashed potatoes.
  • Sweet Potato Casserole – sweet potatoes are my all time favorite side for hams.
  • Crockpot Creamed Corn – this is the recipe that made me fall in love with creamed corn.

Side Dishes That Don’t Need The Oven

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While these sides aren’t made in the crockpot, they aren’t made in the oven either.

  • Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole – the perfect combination of cheese and potatoes.
  • – a classic that the kids can’t get enough of.
  • Sweet Tooth Salad – the perfect salad for those of us with a sweet tooth.

Make Ahead Side Dishes

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Making a few of your sides the day before is always a great plan.

  • Ambrosia Fruit Salad – this is a great dish to whip up the night before.
  • Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad – this classic creamy macaroni salad is perfect with ham.
  • KFC Coleslaw – I still can’t believe how much this tastes like the restaurant version!
  • Rotini Pasta Salad – packed full of veggies, I love adding pieces of leftover ham to this the next day!

Bake Ahead Side Dishes

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While these dishes need the oven, they can be made ahead of time.

  • Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls – perfectly fluffy rolls, they make great sliders with leftovers.
  • Jiffy Cornbread – this doctored cornbread recipe is hands down the best I’ve ever had.
  • Cheddar Bay Biscuits – if you have cheese lovers like I do, they will want seconds.
  • Corn Casserole – you can bake this ahead of time, then heat up in the microwave.

Oven Baked Side Dishes

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These dishes are made in the oven. If you have a double oven, or if you want to have them ready to pop in the minute you pull out your ham (my method) they are great compliments to your holiday meal.

  • Easy Glazed Carrots – my kids ask for these all the time, they are fantastic.
  • Homemade Green Bean Casserole – a creamy green bean dish with no “can of” soups.
  • Cheesy Garlic Rolls – imagine a savory cinnamon roll filled with cheese and garlic. These are amazing.

Holiday & Easter Dessert Recipes

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We never forget dessert! Here are some decadent desserts to serve after your spiral ham dinner.

  • Carrot Cake Recipe – this is hands down one of my all time favorite desserts. The texture, flavor and cream cheese frosting are all incredible.
  • Chocolate Malt Ball Cake – if you love those chocolate malt ball eggs, this cake is for you.
  • Coconut Cream Cupcakes – can’t decide between cake or pie? Have them both with these easy cupcakes.
  • Macaroons – dreamy, creamy and packed with coconut flavor.
  • Lemon Bundt Cake – this quick cake makes a fantastic spring dessert.
  • Easter Cupcakes – delicious homemade vanilla cupcakes, dressed up for Easter.
  • Flower Pot Pudding Dirt Cups – these are a huge hit with the kids.
  • Carrot Cake Cupcakes – based off my amazing carrot cake, but in cupcake form.
  • Birds Nest Cookies – such a fun way to dress up cookies for Easter.

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Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham Recipe (14)

Glazed Spiral Ham Recipe

5 from 74 votes

Author Christi Johnstone

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Skip the long lines at the honey baked ham store and make a delicious Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral ham at home in your own oven.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs

Servings 12 servings (depending on size of ham)

Equipment

  • Meat thermometer

Ingredients

  • 7-10 pound spiral sliced ham
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • 1 cup brown sugar light or dark will work
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat combine the apple juice, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Bring to a low boil then reduce heat to medium low and simmer for approximately 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If needed continue cooking a few extra minutes. Glaze is ready when it's thickened and shiny.

  • Place ham in a baking greased baking dish and coat with half of the glaze mixture. Cover pan with foil, tenting so foil does not touch the ham, and bake for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until a thermometer inserted at the thickest part of the ham reads 140 degrees F.

  • Pour remaining glaze over the top of ham, and return to oven, uncovered. Turn temperature to 450 degrees and bake for another 5-7 minutes, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning. When glaze is turning dark and caramelizing (but not burning!) remove from oven. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Since maple syrup and apple juice can vary in it's ingredients, glaze may take longer for some to cook than others.

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 457mg | Potassium: 214mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this Recipe? Pin it!Mention @LoveFromTheOven or tag #LFTORecipes!

Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is brown sugar glaze made of? ›

directions. Combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoons dry or prepared mustard, 1/8 tsp cinnamon and 3 tablespoons dry sherry (optional), 3 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons water.

Do you put the glaze on a ham before you cook it or after you cook it? ›

The glaze should not be applied until the final hour to 30 minutes, in order to avoid burning the sugars. What you're going to do with the glaze ingredients is just combine most of them into a paste, and then apply it to the ham. After that, the heat in your oven will take care of everything.

How to cook a brown sugar Smithfield spiral ham? ›

Remove all packaging materials and place ham on wire rack in shallow roasting pan, FLAT SIDE DOWN. Add 1/2 inch of water to the bottom of the pan. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for approximately 14-16 minutes per pound or until it reaches an internal temperature of 120°F.

How do you get glaze to stick to ham? ›

After the ham has cooked for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, brush the surface with some of the glaze. Then pop it back into the oven, uncovered, for another 20 minutes or so. Pull it out and brush on more glaze, then pop it back in the oven. Then pull it out and brush on more glaze!

What are the three basic ingredients in glaze? ›

A BASE GLAZE is a mixture of these three basic groups: SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA.

What is a substitute for pineapple juice in ham glaze? ›

Juice: Try using apple cider, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice or orange juice instead of pineapple juice. Spices: Mix up the spices by using ground ginger, allspice or cardamom. You can also stick some whole cloves into the ham if you like.

How do you heat and glaze a precooked ham? ›

Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F. Unwrap the ham and apply the glaze; increase the heat to 400F and bake for 15-20 minutes longer until the glaze is burnished.

Do you cook ham face up or down? ›

Place ham, flat side down, on rack in shallow roasting pan; cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake approximately 13 to 18 minutes per pound until heated through. Remove ham from oven. Glaze as directed below or let stand, covered, 10 minutes before serving.

How long to cook a 10lb spiral ham? ›

Since spiral hams are already cooked, you're really just warming it through, infusing it with flavor and crisping the edges. You're going to want to bake until it's 140° in the center (this should take 10 to 12 minutes per pound).

How do you use the glaze packet that comes with the ham? ›

Whether you heat your spiral ham in the slow cooker or oven, all you have to do is open the glaze packet and apply it 30 minutes before your ham is finished cooking. By the time it's ready to serve, you'll have a satiny-glazed ham without any of the time or effort it takes to make a ham glaze.

What is the best way to cook a spiral ham so it doesn't dry out? ›

How do you bake a ham without drying it out? Spiral cut hams should be covered with aluminum foil to help retain moisture when re heating. You could also place a foil pan with water underneath the ham to create some steam inside the oven to keep everything moist.

How do you heat a fully cooked Smithfield spiral ham? ›

To reheat a spiral-sliced ham in a conventional oven, cover the entire ham or portion with heavy aluminum foil and heat at 325 °F for about 10 minutes per pound. Individual slices may also be warmed in a skillet or microwave.

When should I put my glaze on my ham? ›

About 20 minutes prior to the end of cooking time, begin glazing the ham but applying it with a silicon brush. Continue to glaze every 5 minutes until the ham is done. The ham is ready when a thermometer reads an internal temperature of 135-140f.

Should I glaze a fully cooked ham? ›

Because most hams sold at grocery stores are smoked and fully cooked, they only require heating before eating. However, glazing a ham adds that special final touch if you want to wow your crowd with extra flavor and texture.

Do you cover ham with foil when glazing? ›

Not Covering Your Ham

If you don't cover your ham while cooking it will quickly dry out. Instead: Put some aluminum foil over your ham while it's cooking. It is recommended that the ham is covered for at least half of the cooking process and only removed during the last half when you glaze it.

What is brown sugar coated with? ›

Unlike other sugars, brown sugars need extra care because it is coated in molasses. Brown sugar is simply white sugar-coated with molasses. When you open a bag of brown sugar, natural moisture is instantly released, and the air dries sugar crystals and molasses in the sugar.

What are the ingredients of brown sugar? ›

You'll never run out of brown sugar if you keep two simple ingredients on hand: white granulated sugar and molasses. The recipe ingredients are for light brown sugar. For dark brown sugar, double the amount of molasses. To keep brown sugar moist, store it with a slice of bread.

What does brown sugar have sprayed on it? ›

Most often, sugar is presented in its white, granulated form. You can also find brown sugar, which has been sprayed with the molasses that was removed during processing. Raw sugar leaves some of that molasses intact.

What is sweet glaze made of? ›

It's delicious and easy to make, calling for just confectioners' (or powdered) sugar, melted butter, and milk. The glaze hardens when it sets, creating a beautiful, sweet decoration that you'll use often in your baking adventures.

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