Recipe For The Perfect Sugar-Glazed Ham

With the holidays just around the corner, it is time to think about your show-stopping main course! There are so many options to choose from and one of our favorites, holiday ham, is a classic that is easy to cook and will leave mouths watering for more. It is the perfect balance of sweet and savory, while beautiful at the same time! Here is one of DineMarkets’ favorite holiday ham recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (5 to 7 pounds)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar (or light brown sugar for a sweeter glaze)
• 2 teaspoons prepared mustard-like dijon, honey, or yellow. (for tangy flavor)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• A few whole cloves
• 1 Tbsp of minced garlic

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Place ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham with 1/4-in.-deep cuts in a diamond pattern. Score along the side of the ham in one direction, then score the lines into the ham in the opposite direction and cover and bake until a thermometer reads 130° (approx 1-1/2 to 2 hours).
2. In a saucepan, combine and bring the brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, cloves, and garlic to a simmer while constantly stirring 1-2 min or until the mixture thickens.
3. When the temp reaches 130° remove the ham from the oven. Generously spread the sugar mixture over ham. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered for the ham to caramelize and until a thermometer reads 140°, 15-30 minutes longer.

Tips & Tricks To Make Your Sugar Glazed Ham Extra Moist

What kind of ham do I use?

You should use a fully cooked, bone-in, spiral cut ham. Hams that are cooked with the bone in tend to be more flavorful and moist, plus you can use the bones for stock later on!

Should I wrap a spiral-cut ham before cooking?

Most bone-in hams come spiral cut which means they are pre-sliced in a continuous spiral all the way around the bone.It’s recommended to wrap tightly in foil to prevent it from drying out.

Should I let the ham rest before cooking?

Yes, you’ll need to let the ham rest until it reaches room temperature, otherwise once cooked, the inside will still be cold when the outside is hot.

What temperature should I bake the ham at?

Remember that you’re already starting with a fully cooked ham, and you’re simply just reheating. For that reason, a lower temperature of 325° degrees F is the ideal temperature and won’t dry out your ham.

Should I glaze the ham before or after cooking?

It’s best to glaze ham during the last 15 to 30 minutes of cooking. If you glaze ham too early, the sugar in the glaze could scorch, leaving a sticky mess.

How long do I need to cook the precooked ham?

You should cook to an internal temperature of 140° degrees F, just enough to warm it through. It’s approximately about 10-15 minutes per pound.

How do I moisten dry ham?

Glazing can help moisten a dry ham. You can also pour some water or broth over the ham, cover it tightly and bring to a simmer.