Maple-Glazed Ham

Maple-glazed ham is one of the easiest roasts for a holiday dinner. Simply pick up a city ham, the type that’s wet-cured in brine and fully cooked. Then reheat it in the oven. It’s seriously that easy!

You don’t have to add a caramelized, sticky glaze, but we think it makes spiral ham taste much better. This maple glaze requires just a few simple ingredients: maple syrup, brown sugar, prepared mustard, ground cinnamon and nutmeg. The glaze elevates any old ham into one with a gorgeous sheen and bold flavor.

Spiral-cut ham is the way to go with this recipe. You get all the benefits of cooking a bone-in ham, without any of the trouble when it comes time to carve. There’s no need to remove the ham rind, either. The only downside is that pre-sliced hams can dry out more quickly than other types of ham. To keep the glazed ham moist, pay attention to the temperature to avoid overcooking. We also recommend that you cover the ham during the initial baking step to keep all the moisture inside.

Ingredients for Maple-Glazed Ham

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• Spiral-sliced fully cooked bone-in ham: Spiral ham is a pre-cooked, pre-sliced ham that’s easy to carve. Some spiral hams are already glazed, so check the ingredients label to ensure you’re getting an unglazed ham.
• Maple glaze: The glaze in this recipe contains mustard, which balances out the sweetness of the sugary ingredients. You can use any type of prepared mustard you like: mild, yellow, Dijon or spicy brown. These are the best mustard picks according to our Test Kitchen pros.

Directions

Step 1: Bake the ham

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Place the ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Cover and bake until a thermometer reads 130°, 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Editor’s Tip: For the best results, let the ham sit on the counter, covered, for at least 30 minutes (or as long as two hours). Bringing the ham to room temperature helps it cook more evenly, ensuring it cooks up juicy and moist.

Step 2: Prepare the maple glaze

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Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, stir together the brown sugar, maple syrup, prepared mustard, ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring the mixture to a boil.

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Cook and stir until slightly thickened, two to three minutes.

Editor’s Tip: This recipe makes enough to cover a 7- to 9-pound ham. For a larger ham, you can double the glaze. (Use up any leftover glaze on our best-ever pancakes!)

Step 3: Glaze the ham

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Remove the ham from the oven. Pour the glaze over the ham. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 140°, 15 to 30 minutes longer.

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Editor’s Tip: Before you carve the ham, let the ham rest for 10 to 20 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut around the bone. Then slice through the natural breaks (look for the seams or fat lines in the ham). Transfer the slices to a serving platter.

Recipe Variations

• Customize the ham glaze: There are many ways to prepare a glaze for ham. Try our bourbon-glazed ham, pineapple-glazed ham, or honey-baked ham.
• Make it in the slow cooker: To make slow-cooker spiral ham, cook the ham, covered, on low until a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the meat registers 140°, four to five hours. Add the glaze, cover and cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.

Can you make maple-glazed ham ahead of time?

We don’t recommend cooking your spiral-glazed ham ahead of time. These hams are already cooked, so you risk overcooking the meat every time you reheat it. It’s best to serve your ham fresh when you bake it.

How to Store Maple-Glazed Ham

Store leftover maple-glazed ham in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. For longer storage, you can freeze ham in a freezer-safe container for up to two months.

Maple-Glazed Ham Tips

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What is the best ham for maple-glazed ham?

We recommend using a spiral-sliced fully cooked bone-in ham for maple-glazed ham. The bone gives the meat a better flavor, and you can use the leftover bone to make soups or stews (like split pea soup). Spiral-cut hams are an excellent choice for holiday dinners because they’re pre-sliced, so they’re them very easy to carve. Read more on how to choose the best ham.

How much ham do you need per person?

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend about 1/2 pound per person when serving a bone-in ham. If you substitute a boneless ham, plan for 1/3 pound per person.

What do you serve with maple-glazed ham?

Serve maple-glazed ham with your favorite Christmas side dishes or Easter dinner sides. Hearty dishes like scalloped potatoes, mac and cheese, or mashed potatoes are always a hit. Complement the meal with light vegetable sides such as sauteed green beans, roasted carrots or squash casserole.

What do you do with leftover ham?

You can use leftover maple-glazed ham in most recipes that call for cooked ham. Turn it into side dishes like au gratin potatoes and ham, mac and cheese with ham or ham croquettes. Leftover ham is also delicious for breakfast in a ham and cheese omelet or farmers casserole. Soup is always a good option, too. Whip up a batch of ham and bean soup or ham chowder.