Glazed Holiday Ham Recipe - Only 5 Ingredients! (2024)

I have been making this Glazed Holiday Ham recipe for years and my family absolutely loves it! In fact, every year as we get close to Easter and Christmas they always ask if I will be making my ‘special’ ham for dinner.

When I was a child I can remember having Honey Baked Ham on our table for these two holidays. My parents would either order one from the local store or they were sometimes lucky enough to receive one as a gift by one of their employers.

But either way you could be sure that a delicious ham would be on our table once the family gathered around. However, once I had my own family and Easter dinner was made in my home, I wasn’t able to purchase an already prepared ham.

Instead, I had to come up with my own Honey Glazed Ham recipe. It turned out absolutely delicious and I was convinced that I would make this ham for every holiday for the rest of my life.

However, that all changed when I forgot to take my list to the grocery store when I was shopping for Easter dinner. I remembered to pick up everything that I needed, except for the pineapple juice.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have any in our pantry either. I was so disappointed because to me, pineapple juice is what makes the Honey Glazed Ham so good!

There wasn’t enough time to make a second trip to the store. So instead of panicking, I turned to Plan B. And that means it was time to look in the pantry to see what else I could use.

The New Holiday Ham Glaze

My first thought was to simply substitute the pineapple juice with orange juice. People have been making glaze for ham with a combination of honey and orange juice for years.

But as luck would have it, there were only a few tablespoons of honey left in the jar. Now I really had to scramble. I had guests coming over in just a few hours and I had to do something!

Yes, I could attempt to use the packet of glaze seasoning that came with the ham. But honestly, I didn’t trust it.

Who knew what ingredients were in that packet. So, I figured that I would take one last look around the kitchen to see what I had on hand to make the glaze.

I had enough brown sugar and Dijon mustard to start the base of the glaze. However, I needed a thinner substance to blend it all together.

The Secret Ingredient

That is when a jar of my homemade orange marmalade literally fell into my hands. And by literally, I mean that as I was looking in the back of my pantry, and I accidentally knocked a mason jar off the shelf.

Luckily, I was able to catch it before it hit the ground. Once I went to replace the jar on the shelf, I realized that it was orange marmalade. It definitely was a sign!

I could use the marmalade to make our Glazed Holiday Ham! I use orange zest anyway, so I thought it would be a great addition to the glaze recipe.

And I have to admit, with just one bite, I knew I had stumbled onto something magical. The sweet and tangy glaze complimented the salty ham perfectly.

And ever since I made this recipe, my family begs me to make it every time. I am just glad I wrote down the recipe and am able to share it with you!

Glazed Holiday Ham Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• Fully cooked bone-in ham, 6-8 pounds
• Packed brown sugar
• Dijon mustard
• Orange marmalade
• Whole cloves
• Lemon-lime soda

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making this ham is to score the surface of the ham. Using a sharp knife, make several slices, about ½ inch deep in one direction.

Then in the opposite direction, make additional slits to create diamond shapes. Next, insert a whole clove in the center of each diamond, pushing down to secure them.

In the bottom of a large roasting pan, add the lemon lime soda. Place a cooking rack in the pan and place ham cut side down on the rack.

Place the uncovered roasting pan in the oven and bake for 2 hours. While the ham is in the oven, pepare the glaze for your holiday ham.

In a small bowl add the brown sugar, mustard and orange marmalade. Whisk the mixture until well combined and then set aside.

After the ham has been in the oven for 2 hours, open the door and brush the glaze over the surface of the ham. Continue to bake for 45 minutes longer, brushing the glaze over the ham every 15 minutes.

A previously cooked ham is ready to eat when the internal temperature reads 145°F when tested with an Instant Read Digital Thermometer.

Remove the ham from the oven and slice. Serve with the remaining glaze for drizzling as desired.

The Keys To Making The Perfect Holiday Ham

1. Purchase a Fully Cooked Ham

There are so many options when it comes to buying a ham for your Easter or Christmas dinner. The first decision to make is whether or not to buy a fully cooked or raw ham.

I would highly suggest purchasing a full cooked ham. Not only do they taste incredible, they take less time to heat.

For example, a full cooked, bone-in, half ham requires 18 minutes per pound to heat through. However, a raw, bone-in, half ham takes approximately 35-45 minutes per pound to cook.

The majority of the ham that you find at the grocery store around the holidays will be full cooked. However, before making the purchase, be sure to read the label to verify that it has indeed been previously cooked.

2. Bone-In vs. Boneless Ham

I always get the question about what is best to buy, a bone-in or boneless ham. Although a ham without the bone is much easier to slice, I always purchase a bone-in ham.

The bone itself provides so much additional flavor to the meat during the cooking process. Just be sure to not hit the bone when you are checking the internal temperature for doneness.

3. When to Glaze the Ham

Now comes the big debate. There are differing opinions on when you should apply the glaze to the surface of the holiday ham.

Because most glaze mixtures contain a sugar substance, it is best to brush the glaze on the ham during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking time.

If you put the glaze on at the beginning of the cooking process, the glaze will likely burn. Instead, brush the glaze on 2-3 times during the last several minutes of the baking time.

Adding several layers of glaze at different times will allow the ham began to develop a light crust that looks and smells delicious!

In fact, everyone loves the taste of the glaze that this now has become our go-to Holiday Ham recipe. And it tastes even better when it is served with Baked Scalloped Potatoes and Corn Casserole!

However, if you don’t have the room or the time in your oven to make a ham, be sure to check out this Instant Pot Bone-In Ham recipe. It is a great way to enjoy a ham that is cooked on your counter in a multi-cooker.

And don’t forget to enjoy the leftovers by making Ham, Broccoli and Rice Casserole , Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup, Monte Cristo Sandwiches or !

Enjoy! Mary

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