During the holidays, I love serving this ham glazed with brown sugar. It’s a real spectacle! It’s beautiful, and the best thing is that it’s actually very easy to make… Believe it or not!
The best thing about this brown sugar glazed ham is that it doesn’t require much effort to make. That’s right! The key here is to use a fully cooked smoked ham. So, really, all you have to do is bake the ham to reheat it and brush it with a delicious brown sugar glaze.
Today I share all my tips and tricks to help you make the best glazed ham for the holidays. You’ll love how easy and simple it is!
I always get excited every time it’s time to bake a ham. That means it’s a special event or holiday, which means lots of food and fun! This Easter, I will be serving this super easy and delicious brown sugar glazed ham.
The ham comes out so moist and tender, with a very nice brown sugar caramelization everywhere. It is the perfect combination of salty and sweet.
There are 3 reasons why this recipe for brown sugar glazed ham is so easy to make:
- I use a fully cooked smoked ham. In this way, there is no need to worry too much about strictly reaching a specific temperature for the ham.
- You just have to let the ham bake for about 1.5 hours, no need to check it often, and then glaze it after that. So, it’s a low-maintenance ham recipe!
- Brown sugar glaze is very easy to make. It takes only 10 minutes to make the frosting, and you can adjust it to taste.
It’s a stunning Christmas main course that everyone will love! I love serving it with my roasted asparagus with parmesan and my easy spring salad.
Let’s do it!
What type of
ham to use
First of all, be sure to use a fully cooked smoked ham. Basically, you’ll bake it to reheat it, so it needs to be fully cooked.
I would recommend getting a half ham, which weighs around 8-10 pounds. It will feed about 16 to 20 people. If you need to duplicate it, get two half hams instead of a whole ham. Two half hams will take less time to bake and reheat than a whole ham.
Even better if it is with bone because this will keep the extra ham moist!
To make it even tastier, I used a smoked smoked ham made of apple wood. I love smoked apple hams because they come with an amazing taste. I usually get my ham at Costco and it already comes in spiral slices, so it’s much easier to serve.
Method to bake a
ham
The method to make this ham glazed with brown sugar is very simple. And remember, it all starts with the use of a fully cooked smoked ham!
Basically, there are three parts to making this brown sugar glazed
ham:
- Baking the ham: Because the smoked ham is already fully cooked, you’re essentially “heating” it. For an 8-10 pound ham, this will take about 1.5 hours or so. The important part here is keeping the ham moist, so you’ll need a pan with a grill rack. Add water to the roasting tray (about 3/4 to 1 inch of water) and then place the grilling rack on top. Place the ham on the rack for roasting, with the flat side facing down. Then, wrap the pan with aluminum foil firmly and bake at 325 degrees F for about 1.5 hours. This will allow the water trapped inside to keep the ham moist and tender.
- Make the brown sugar glaze: About 20 minutes before the cooking time ends, make the frosting by simmering all the ingredients in a small saucepan.
- : Increase the temperature to 400 degrees F. Brush the ham with the glaze and return to the oven (uncovered). Repeat about 2-3 times every 8 minutes until caramelized.
Ham glaze
The ham will be ready once it reaches 140 degrees F.
Necessary equipment
Having the right tools is very useful to make this ham glazed with brown sugar. Here’s what I would recommend
: Roasting pan with a grilling rack
- : Make sure you have a roasting pan with a grilling rack. This will allow you to add water to the bottom of the pan to keep the ham moist while baking.
- Aluminum foil: To wrap the roasting tray tightly and ensure that steam does not escape. You want to keep moisture trapped inside the ham.
- A silicone brush or pastry: To brush the ham with the brown sugar glaze.
- A saucepan: to make the frosting.
Keep the ham moist
Here’s how the ham stays moist while it’s baking:
- add water to the roasting tray to create steam while baking. Use a grilling rack to place the ham so that it does not touch the water.
- everything is set up in the pan, cover it tightly with aluminum foil to make sure moisture from the water doesn’t escape.
- Bake at low temperature (325 degrees F). Slow and steady.
After
Very easy!
I
would recommend baking (or “reheating”) the ham until it reaches about 140 degrees F. Bake for about 10-12
minutes per pound. My ham
weighed 9 pounds, so it took about 1.5 hours in the oven, and then another 20-30 minutes for the frosting part
.
A fully cooked ham can be eaten cold, but reheating it in the oven makes it more delicious. 140 degrees F is what most people recommend for the internal temperature of reheated ham, But if it’s a little lower than that, it should be fine too.
Brown sugar glaze
Brown sugar glaze
for them is very simple, with only a few ingredients needed
: Packaged light brown sugar: For sweetness and body.
- Maple syrup
- : For sweetness and body.
- Maple syrup will also help the enamel thicken better.
- Apple cider vinegar: For a little acidity to balance the sweetness.
- Dijon mustard: For taste and acidity.
- Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground cinnamon
- A sprig of rosemary: Totally optional, but highly recommended for the taste
- Salt
.
: just a pinch
Making the frosting is also super simple: just combine all the ingredients in a saucepan. Stir the combine as it simmers, and then simmer constantly for 6 to 8 minutes, or until thickened.
You can also adjust the flavor profile of the frosting to taste. For example, if you want it to be sweeter, just add more sugar. If you want more acidity, add a little more apple cider vinegar. For more flavor, add more spices.
I usually make the enamel about 20 minutes before it’s time to glaze it because it will harden a bit as it cools. If this happens, simply reheat it until it loosens.
Glazed ham with brown sugar is always a great choice for entertainment or for holidays. A half ham usually weighs between 8 and 10 pounds, so it’s a great choice if you’re feeding about 16 to 20 people.
Happy cooking!
Here are some of my favorite side dishes to serve this brown sugar glazed ham:
- Parmesan Spring Salad
- Roasted asparagus with Panko
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Fluffy mashed potatoes White
- Cheddar Mac and cheese
- Smoked salmon Devilish eggs
cream
cream
cheese
