Print

Easy Sweet Easter Ham Glaze Recipe Perfect for Big Batches

easy sweet Easter ham glaze - featured image
Print Recipe

A simple, sweet, and tangy ham glaze perfect for large hams and crowd-pleasing holiday dinners. This glaze combines brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, and a hint of spice for a sticky, flavorful crust.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (220 g) packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup (113 g) honey
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh orange juice (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water

Instructions

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, ground cloves, and optional ground cinnamon. If using, add fresh orange juice and water to thin the glaze slightly.
  2. Whisk the mixture until smooth and glossy without lumps, ensuring the brown sugar dissolves slightly. The glaze should be pourable but thick enough to stick to the ham.
  3. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) or according to your ham’s cooking instructions.
  4. Place the large ham in a roasting pan or baking dish, fat side up. Score the surface lightly in a diamond pattern about 1/8 inch deep.
  5. Using a brush, generously spread the glaze all over the ham, including into the scored lines. Reserve some glaze for basting.
  6. Roast the ham in the oven. Every 20-25 minutes, baste the ham with more glaze to build a sticky, flavorful crust. Tent with foil if edges brown too quickly.
  7. About 10 minutes before the ham is done, apply one last generous coat of glaze.
  8. Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing to allow juices to settle and glaze to set.
  9. If glaze thickens while resting, warm gently and whisk before basting again.

Notes

Score the ham surface about 1/8 inch deep to allow glaze to soak in without drying out the meat. Use a silicone brush for better glaze application. Keep oven temperature moderate (325°F) to avoid burning sugars. Apply multiple thin coats of glaze rather than one thick coat. Let the ham rest after roasting to lock in moisture and set the glaze. The glaze can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Warm and whisk before use if thickened.

Nutrition

Keywords: ham glaze, Easter ham, sweet ham glaze, holiday ham, brown sugar glaze, honey glaze, easy ham recipe, crowd-pleaser, big batch glaze

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/easy-sweet-easter-ham-glaze-recipe-perfect-for-big-batches/