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Easy Brown Sugar Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe

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This Easy Brown Sugar Bourbon Glazed Ham features a glossy, caramelized shell with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Made with a foolproof glaze and simple ingredients, it’s an impressive yet stress-free centerpiece for any holiday gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 fully cooked bone-in spiral ham (8–10 pounds)
  • Whole cloves (optional, about 20-30)
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Take the ham out of the refrigerator about 1 hour before cooking. Remove all packaging, rinse quickly under cool water, and pat dry. Place flat-side down in a roasting pan on a rack. If using whole cloves, press them into the diamond-shaped spaces between spiral cuts, spacing about an inch apart.
  2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine dark brown sugar, bourbon, honey, Dijon mustard, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until butter melts and sugar dissolves, about 3-4 minutes. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 minutes, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Preheat oven to 325°F. Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil and bake for about 10 minutes per pound (1 hour 20 minutes for 8-pound ham, 1 hour 40 minutes for 10-pound ham), until internal temperature reaches about 120°F.
  4. Remove ham from oven, carefully take off foil. Brush a generous layer of glaze all over the exposed surface, getting into spiral cuts. Reserve about half the glaze for later. Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Return ham to oven, uncovered, and bake for 15 minutes.
  5. After 15 minutes, brush another layer of glaze over the ham. Return to oven for another 10-15 minutes until glaze is dark, sticky, and caramelized. For extra color, broil for the last 2-3 minutes, watching closely. Ham is ready when internal temperature reaches 140°F.
  6. Remove ham from oven and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 15-20 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, spoon pan juices over the top, slice along spiral cuts, and serve.

Notes

Don’t overcook the ham; internal temp of 140°F is perfect. Use the two-temperature method: 325°F to warm gently, then 400°F to caramelize glaze. Apply glaze in multiple thin layers for best results. Watch sugar closely when broiling to prevent burning. Use pan drippings as a sauce over sliced ham.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown sugar bourbon glazed ham, holiday ham recipe, Easter ham, Christmas ham, spiral ham, bourbon glaze, easy ham recipe

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/easy-brown-sugar-bourbon-glazed-ham-recipe/