Honey Glazed Ham Recipe

I'll never forget the first time I made a honey glazed ham for our family's Easter dinner. Amy was just four years old, and she kept asking if we were making "the sparkly meat" because of how the glaze catches the light when it's fresh out of the oven. That name stuck, and now every time I pull out my honey and butter, Bradley rolls his eyes but secretly gets excited about "sparkly meat" night.

There's something really special about a beautifully glazed ham sitting in the center of your holiday table. It looks impressive, smells amazing, and honestly? It's way easier than most people think. I learned in culinary school that the secret to a perfect glazed ham isn't fancy techniques – it's just patience and a really good sweet glaze that caramelizes while it bakes.

This recipe has become my go-to for every major holiday. Whether it's Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, this ham shows up on our table. John always says it's the one dish that makes the house smell like a real celebration. Plus, if you're looking for more classic comfort food recipes, you might want to check out my southern cinnamon fried apples – they're the perfect sweet side dish to serve alongside this ham.

Jump to:

• Why You Will Like This Honey Glazed Ham
• Ingredients For Your Perfect Honey Glazed Ham
• How To Make The Best Honey Glazed Ham
• Storage & Reheating Your Honey Glazed Ham
• Tips And Variations For Honey Glazed Ham
• Honey Glazed Ham FAQs
• Recipes You May Like
• Wrapping Up This Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
• Jambon Glacé au Miel

Why You Will Like This Honey Glazed Ham

• Super simple to make – If you can brush glaze on ham and stick it in the oven, you've got this recipe mastered
• Ready in under 2 hours – Perfect for those busy holiday mornings when you've got a million things going on
• Feeds a crowd easily – One 5-pound ham serves about 15 people, so it's great for family gatherings
• Sweet and savory perfection – The honey and butter create this sticky, caramelized coating that's just incredible
• Makes your kitchen smell like the holidays – Bradley says this is what happiness smells like
• Works for any holiday – I've served this at Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving with equal success

Ingredients For Your Perfect Honey Glazed Ham

• 1 (5 pound) ready-to-eat ham – I usually pick up a spiral-cut ham because it's easier to serve
• ¼ cup whole cloves – These add a warm, spicy aroma that's classic for holiday ham
• ¼ cup dark corn syrup – Helps create that gorgeous shiny glaze
• 2 cups honey – The star of the show! I prefer a mild honey so it doesn't overpower the ham
• ⅔ cup butter – Makes the glaze rich and helps it stick to the ham

How To Make The Best Honey Glazed Ham

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Get this going first so your oven is ready when you need it.

2. Score the ham in a diamond pattern by making shallow cuts about 1 inch apart across the surface. Don't cut too deep – just enough to create a nice pattern. This helps the glaze seep into the meat.

3. Stud the ham with whole cloves by pressing them into the intersections of your diamond cuts. I usually space them evenly, but don't stress about making it perfect. Amy loves helping with this step because it's like decorating the ham.

4. Place your ham in a roasting pan. I line mine with foil first for easier cleanup later. Trust me on this one.

5. Make the honey glaze by combining the honey, butter, and dark corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts completely and everything blends together smoothly.

6. Brush about half of the glaze all over the surface of the ham. Make sure you get it into those scored areas. Save the rest of the glaze for later.

7. Bake the ham for about 15-18 minutes per pound (so roughly 75-90 minutes for a 5-pound ham). You're aiming for an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) since this is a fully cooked ham – you're just heating it through and getting that glaze to caramelize.

8. Baste the ham every 20-25 minutes with the remaining glaze. This is where the magic happens. Each time you brush on more glaze, you're building up those beautiful caramelized layers. Set a timer so you don't forget!

9. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham (avoiding the bone). When it hits 140°F, you're good to go.

10. Let the ham rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This gives the juices time to redistribute, and honestly, it gives me time to finish setting the table and getting everything else ready.

11. Remove the cloves before serving unless you want your guests playing a game of "find the clove" during dinner. I learned this the hard way at my first holiday dinner!

12. Slice and serve your gorgeous honey glazed ham while it's still warm. The glaze should be sticky and shiny, and the ham should be tender and juicy.

Getting That Perfect Caramelized Glaze

The secret I learned from my culinary training is that the sugar in the honey needs time to caramelize properly. Don't rush the baking process by turning up the heat. Low and slow is the way to go here. If you notice the glaze starting to get too dark, just tent some foil over the top.

Why Multiple Bastings Matter

Every time you brush on more glaze, you're creating another layer of flavor. It's like painting – one coat looks okay, but multiple coats create depth and richness. Plus, it gives you an excuse to open the oven and smell that incredible aroma several times!

Storage & Reheating Your Honey Glazed Ham

Store any leftover ham in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. It'll keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. John always jokes that leftover ham is even better than the original because we get to make ham sandwiches for days.

For longer storage, you can freeze the ham for up to 2 months. Slice it first before freezing so you can pull out just what you need. I like to freeze individual portions in freezer bags – makes it super easy to grab some for a quick breakfast scramble.

To reheat, place slices in a covered dish with a splash of water or broth to keep them moist. Heat in a 325°F oven for about 10 minutes, or microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes. The glaze will get a bit softer when reheated, but it's still delicious.

Bradley discovered that cold ham makes amazing sandwiches. He loves making his favorite lunch with honey glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and honey mustard on sourdough bread.

Tips And Variations For Honey Glazed Ham

Want to add brown sugar? Mix ½ cup of packed brown sugar into your honey glaze for an even richer, more molasses-like flavor. This creates extra caramelization that's just gorgeous.

Prefer a spicier glaze? Add a teaspoon of ground ginger or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the honey mixture. It adds a subtle kick that John really loves.

Don't have dark corn syrup? You can swap it for maple syrup, light corn syrup, or just use extra honey. I've tried all these variations, and they all turn out great.

Want to skip the cloves? Honestly, some people aren't fans of the clove flavor. Just leave them out! The ham will still taste incredible with just the honey glaze. Amy went through a phase where she didn't like the clove taste, so I made it without them for a couple years.

Try a pineapple honey glaze by adding crushed pineapple to the honey mixture. This is a classic combination that creates a sweet and tangy flavor. I sometimes add pineapple rings around the ham for an extra festive look.

Make it citrusy by adding the zest of one orange to your glaze. The bright citrus notes balance out the sweetness really nicely.

For a boozy twist, add ¼ cup of bourbon to the glaze. It adds depth and a subtle warmth to the flavor. This version is John's absolute favorite.

One thing I've learned after making this dozens of times – don't skip the scoring step. It really does help the glaze penetrate the meat and creates those beautiful caramelized lines on the surface.

Honey Glazed Ham FAQs

Recipes You May Like

• Southern Cinnamon Fried Apples – These sweet and tender apples are the perfect side dish for honey glazed ham. The cinnamon and sugar complement the ham's sweetness beautifully.
• Perfect Homemade Pancake Recipe – Use your leftover ham to make the most amazing ham and cheese pancake sandwiches for breakfast. Bradley requests these every time we have leftover ham.
• Pumpkin Roll Cake – If you're serving this ham for Thanksgiving or a fall holiday, this pumpkin roll cake makes an incredible dessert to finish the meal.

Wrapping Up This Honey Glazed Ham Recipe

Making a honey glazed ham might seem intimidating, but I promise it's one of the easiest holiday dishes you'll ever make. The hardest part is remembering to baste it every 20 minutes, and honestly, that's the fun part because you get to see the glaze building up into that gorgeous, sticky coating.

This recipe has been a lifesaver for me during busy holiday seasons. While the ham is in the oven basically taking care of itself, I can focus on getting the rest of the meal ready, setting the table, or just spending time with my family. That's what I love most about it – it looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but really, it's pretty hands-off.

Give this recipe a try for your next holiday gathering. Your family will think you're some kind of culinary genius, and you don't have to tell them how easy it actually was. This is definitely one of those recipes that gets requested year after year in our house.

Don't forget to save this recipe to your Pinterest board so you can find it easily when the holidays roll around!

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