Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (2024)

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Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Hamis theperfect juicy centrepiece for your Christmas dinner table! You will love this GLAZE!

The most perfect sticky glaze is slathered all over this juicy, tender, baked Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham, with crisp edges and an incredible flavour.

Don’t even be intimidated by a ham this season with all of the tips and tricks you need right here!

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (1)

BAKED HAM

More often than not, most times we as a people try baking a ham for Christmas, they end up dried out on the inside without any flavour and a cause for major anxiety before guests arrive. This would have to be the WORST kind of ham.

Take out all the guess work out and find out how to bake a juicy ham with charred crispy edges and a beautiful sticky glaze… right here!

HAM GLAZE

The best glaze for a baked ham contain either honey, brown sugar or maple syrup. The saltiness from the ham and the sweetness for the glaze complement each other so well, that either of those ingredients make for a pretty special glaze.

The glaze I went for is a combination of butter, brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard (adding a nice tang to the ham) and crushed garlic cloves.

From here you can add in spices like the traditional ground cinnamon and ground cloves, or leave them out. Most recipes call for decorating the ham with whole cloves between each cut. Personally, I didn’t appreciate chewing on the cloves that were wedged in and hidden from sight. However, you can add them if you wish!

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (2)

HOW TO COOK A HAM

You only need 3 steps to make the perfect, heavenly ham recipe!

  • Remove rind –- so easy, you can peel it off!
  • Baste ham with a super easy Brown Sugar Ham Glaze
  • Bake, basting every 15 minutes!

WHAT IS THE BEST HAM TO BUY?

For ultimate flavour and a juicy result, aim for a fully cooked bone-in ham. The best ham we baked during testing is the half leg pictured (shank end of the leg).

The other type of ‘half leg’ which is the butt end (shaped like a dome) contains part of the hip bone and is harder to carve. It has less meat, although it’s verytender and flavourful.

If you want value for your money, go for the type I have pictured here.

Spiral cut hams seem to be gaining in popularity over in the United States, but unfortunately I can’t comment on them since we don’t have them.

TAKE THE RIND ON OR OFF?

For some reason, this is the most controversial step — taking the rind off. In testing with the rind still on, I found the rind became chewy and gummy as the ham cooled and tough to eat.

Also, the flavours of the glaze stopped at the rind with no flavours seeping into the fleshy part of the ham.

For this reason, I suggest trimming the rind off. Fully cooked ham rind DOES NOT crisp. We tried broiling, baking at high heat and deep frying.

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (3)

HOW TO REMOVE HAM RIND

When you buy your ham, you’ll notice right underneath the rind there is a gorgeous layer off fat. DON’T trim this away. This fat turns into a beautiful crispy and sticky coating for your glaze and is DIVINE.

To show you, I’ve put together the following EASY steps OR CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW:

  1. Cut a line through the skin all around the shank end.
  2. Insert a sharp knife between the rind and fat and run it along to detach both layers.
  3. Using your fingers, gently separate the rind from the fat. You can insert your hand deeper into the ham to keep detaching it so it’s easier to peel the rind off in Step 4.
  4. Peel off and discard the rind.
  5. Run knife cutting into the fat layer about 1/4-inch deep to lightly score diamond pattern all over the surface.

Once your ham is in the oven, get started on your glaze.

TIPS FOR THE BEST HAM GLAZE

My biggest piece of advice is not to simmer the glaze for too long, as you will end up with a hard caramel once it begins to cool, and it’s extremely difficult to slather onto the outside of the ham when glazing. You want to bring it to a gentle simmer and take it off the heat quickly.

I added the pan juices from the ham into the glaze once there were pan juices to use, and WOW! Amazing flavours! My ham wasn’t salty though, so make sure you do some taste testing before adding the juices and add the amount you need to alter the flavour even more.

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (4)

BASTE

Glaze and baste and baste and glaze and GO NUTS with it. The more the merrier, and ’tis the season, right?

I wish there was smell-ernet happening right about now, because juicy, tender Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham smells just as good as it looks.

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (5)

The BEST part is slicing through it like butter, and seeing the juices burst out and run down behind each slice. NO DRY HAM OVER HERE!

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (6)

Happy Holidays everyone!

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (7)

What side dishes go with ham?

Whether you’re making this for dinner yourself or bringing it to a Holiday gathering, these side dishes will make your crowd even happier!

Garlic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes
Honey Dijon Apple Bacon Cranberry Salad
Easy Soft Dinner Rolls

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe Video

Try our Honey Baked Ham or our Maple Glazed Ham!

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (8)

The most perfect sticky glaze is slathered all over this juicy, tender Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham, with crisp edges and an incredible flavour. Don't even be intimidated by a ham this season, with all the tips and tricks you need right here!

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Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Serves: 25 - 30 people

Ingredients

  • 8-10 pound (4-5 kg) bone-in fully cooked ham,
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, reduce fat or full fat
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300°F | 150°C and arrange a rack in the lower third. Remove any plastic packaging or netting from the ham. Trim away the rind and discard. Set the ham aside to rest at room temperature for 1-2 hours.

  • Line a baking tray or dish with several sheets of aluminium foil or parchment paper if you prefer (it will make cleanup a lot easier).

  • Remove the rind or skin of the ham (refer to steps in post), ensuring you leave the fat on. Using a sharp knife score a 1-inch-wide diamond pattern (don’t cut more than 1/4 inch deep) over the entire ham. Place the ham in the baking tray; pour 1/3 cup of water into the base of the pan and cover the ham with two pieces of foil or parchment paper and bake for 30 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, heat the butter in a small pot or saucepan over medium heat until golden browned. Add in the brown sugar, honey, mustard, cinnamon and cloves, stirring to mix together well until the brown sugar has completely dissolved, (about 2 minutes).

  • Reduce heat to low and add in the garlic. Allow it to become fragrant, cooking for a further minute or two until the glaze just begins to simmer, then set it aside and let cool to lukewarm (the glaze should be the consistency of room-temperature honey).

  • After 30 minutes baking time, carefully remove the ham from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 425°F | 220°C. Discard the foil or parchment paper and pour 1/3 of the glaze all over the ham, brushing in between the cuts to evenly cover. Return to the oven andbake uncovered for 15 minutes.

  • Remove from the oven, brush with another third of the glaze and some of the pan juices, and repeat again after 15 minutes more minutes of baking until a dark golden-brown crust has formed, (about 30 minutes total). For added depth of flavour, mix some of the ham pan juices together with the glaze in the pot which will help keep it runny enough for brushing. If your crust is still pink after there suggested baking time, turn on your broiler (or oven grill), and allow it to broil for 2-5 minutes, while keeping an eye on it so it doesn't burn from the sugar.

  • Let the ham rest 10-20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

If your glaze has been over simmered and begins to thicken between each baste, add some of the pan juices to it and heat it up over low heat until it warms through and is the consistency of warmed honey.

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 1740mg | Potassium: 433mg | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you put glaze on ham before or after cooking? ›

The glaze should not be applied until the final hour to 30 minutes, in order to avoid burning the sugars. What you're going to do with the glaze ingredients is just combine most of them into a paste, and then apply it to the ham. After that, the heat in your oven will take care of everything.

Why is mustard used on ham? ›

Mustard: Mustard adds a sharp, tangy flavor to the glaze that balances the sweetness of the brown sugar. It can be dijon, yellow, or whole grain mustard, depending on personal preference. The mustard helps to cut through the richness of the brown sugar and adds a bold flavor to the glaze.

What is brown sugar glaze made of? ›

directions. Combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoons dry or prepared mustard, 1/8 tsp cinnamon and 3 tablespoons dry sherry (optional), 3 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons water.

What is in the glaze packet that comes with ham? ›

Because most hams come with a glaze packet that typically contains added sugars and preservatives, all you have to do is add water and let it cook until thickened (per MyRecipes). However, sometimes the easy route does not yield the most delicious results.

Should I cover a glazed ham in the oven? ›

Not Covering Your Ham

If you don't cover your ham while cooking it will quickly dry out. Instead: Put some aluminum foil over your ham while it's cooking. It is recommended that the ham is covered for at least half of the cooking process and only removed during the last half when you glaze it.

How do you get glaze to stick to ham? ›

Top Tip: Just remove the rind and leave as much of the fat on as you can. Fat = sticky glaze! This part is easy – the skin WANTS to come off! Your ham will come with a thick, rubbery skin which is called the rind.

Why pour co*ke on ham? ›

Most ham recipes use a sugary glaze, because pork takes on sweetness (like brown sugar or honey) insanely well. For the longest time I used to boil ham in water before roasting. But as of recently I've switched to cola and haven't looked back. By boiling ham in cola you lightly infuse it with a sweet flavour.

What makes ham taste better? ›

Peach preserves, hot pepper jelly, and maple syrup work as sweet bases for glazes that add sheen as well as distinct flavor. Tasty additions such as aromatics, herbs, and spices switch up a traditional ham and make it truly memorable.

What does yellow mustard do to meat? ›

However, mustard is a good sticky substance perfect for holding dry seasonings on meat. Hence, the method of mustard rubbing meat was invented. There are a couple of ways you can do this but the basic idea is the same. A thin layer of mustard on the surface of meats will hold dry rubs in place while the meat is smoked.

What are the three basic ingredients in glaze? ›

A BASE GLAZE is a mixture of these three basic groups: SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA.

Why is my brown sugar glaze not thickening? ›

If you allow your glaze to cool off too much, you'll have a much harder time getting your thickening agents fully incorporated. When thickening glazes after the fact, low, steady heat is the key to achieving a smooth, consistent texture and unobtrusive flavor.

How can I thicken my brown sugar glaze? ›

If your glaze is too thin mix together 1 tsp of water and 1 tsp of cornstarch and add it into the mixture to thicken it up. What if my Brown Sugar Glaze is too thick? Add in another Tablespoon of water or broth until you reach your desired consistency.

What is honeybaked ham glaze made of? ›

Heat the honey, corn syrup, and butter in a double boiler to make the glaze. Brush the glaze over the ham and bake in a foil-lined pan for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, brushing every 15 minutes or so with the glaze. Broil the ham for a few minutes before removing it from the oven.

How long do you leave glaze on ham? ›

4After about 2 hours of baking time, remove the foil and brush the glaze on the ham in 20 minutes intervals (put the ham back in the oven, uncovered, in between) until it's nice and glossy. Remove from the oven and allow to rest 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

What is in the glaze for Smithfield ham? ›

Glaze Packet Ingredients: Sugar, Dextrose, Brown Sugar, Water, Modified Food Starch, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (Preservatives), Spice, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum.

Do you glaze before or after cooking? ›

Pro Tips for Making a Glaze

When cooking with a glaze, your meat or vegetables need to be almost fully cooked through before applying the glaze. Apply it at the very end of cooking process, as prolonged cooking can cause the high sugar content to burn and become bitter.

How do you heat and glaze a precooked ham? ›

Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F. Unwrap the ham and apply the glaze; increase the heat to 400F and bake for 15-20 minutes longer until the glaze is burnished.

At what temp do you put the glaze on a smoked ham? ›

I use a disposable aluminum pan to smoke my ham to keep the mess to a minimum. Be sure to place the cut side of the ham face down in the pan as shown in the photos. Once the ham temperature registers around 135 degrees F, start preparing your glaze.

What happens if you glaze a ham too early? ›

The ham should be glazed towards the end of the cook. Whether you are baking the ham in the oven or doing a twice smoked ham on the smoker, the glaze should be added at the end. If you glaze your ham too early, the sugars could burn from the heat.

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