The Best Ham Glaze - Spend With Pennies

This Ham Glaze adds the most beautifully delicious, sweet, sticky exterior to any baked ham recipe!

Sweet and savory, this ham glaze recipe uses ingredients you likely have on and takes just a few minutes to prepare.

What You’ll Need To Make Ham Glaze

The ham glaze below needs just a handful of ingredients.

Brown sugar: Brown sugar caramelizes to create a delicious, sticky exterior. It can be replaced with honey, maple syrup, melted apricot jam, or apple jelly.
Juice: Orange or pineapple juice adds flavor and makes the glaze easy to brush onto the ham. It can be replaced with almost any juice, including apple juice.
Mustard: I add Dijon mustard for flavor, along with a pinch of clove or ginger. Any variety of Dijon or grainy mustard can be used.

When to Glaze the Ham

Ham glaze contains sugar, which allows it to brown to make a sticky, sweet coating. If the glaze is added too early, it will burn.

Glaze the ham about 20-30 minutes before it’s done baking—approximately when the ham reaches 115 to 120°F with a meat thermometer.

To glaze the ham, use a brush to apply the glaze on the outside. I recommend scoring the ham to allow the glaze to seep in if you’re not using a spiral ham.

Ham Glaze Tips

A ham glaze is easy to make and adds the most delicious flavor to an oven-roasted ham.

Score the ham: For the best results, score the ham or thin skin on top to allow the glaze to get into the meat, especially if you aren’t using a spiral ham. Spiral cut hams don’t need scoring as the glaze seeps between the slices naturally.
Remove the rind if needed: Most store-bought hams come without the rind. If your ham has a tough, thick, leathery rind, remove it, as it won’t soften during cooking. Look for a fat layer underneath, and if it’s present, you can score it for better results.

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The Best Ham Glaze (Easy)

Give your ham a flavor boost with this 5-ingredient ham glaze!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together.
Brush over a spiral cut or scored ham (see notes) about 20-30 minutes before the ham is done or when the ham reaches 115 to 120°F. Continue baking according to your recipe or until the ham reaches 138°F.
If desired, brush a second glaze overtop once the ham is done cooking and broil for 3 to 4 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
Remove from the oven and let the ham rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

If your ham is not spiral cut, I recommend scoring the ham to allow the glaze to seep in. Before baking, use a sharp knife to cut diagonal lines in a diamond pattern about 1/8-inch deep.
Nutrition information is based on 1 tablespoon of ham glaze.
Unused glaze can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Stir before using again.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dressing, Sauce

Cuisine American

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