Description
This Christmas Maple Glazed Ham is a festive and flavorful centerpiece perfect for holiday gatherings. The ham is baked with a rich and sweet glaze made from maple syrup, brown sugar, spices, and Dijon mustard, which creates a beautifully caramelized crust infused with warm notes of cinnamon, cloves, and garlic. Served warm, this dish combines the savory taste of ham with the holiday sweetness of maple and spices, making it a crowd-pleaser for any Christmas dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham
- 8–10 pound bone-in fully cooked ham
Glaze
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) to ensure even baking of the ham and glaze absorption.
- Prepare Ham: Place the bone-in fully cooked ham in a roasting pan, scored in a diamond pattern to allow the glaze to penetrate deeply.
- Make the Glaze: In a saucepan, combine pineapple juice, water, unsalted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and smashed garlic cloves. Heat over medium heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally to blend all ingredients into a smooth, fragrant glaze.
- Apply Glaze: Brush the glaze generously over the surface of the ham, ensuring it seeps into the scored cuts to maximize flavor infusion.
- Bake the Ham: Place the ham in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, basting every 20-30 minutes with the remaining glaze to build up a sticky, caramelized crust.
- Rest and Serve: Once the ham is heated through and the glaze is deeply caramelized, remove it from the oven. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring moist, tender meat.
Notes
- The ham is already fully cooked, so the baking step is primarily to heat through and caramelize the glaze.
- Adjust the sweetness by modifying the amount of maple syrup or brown sugar according to your preference.
- Make sure to baste frequently to prevent the glaze from burning and to promote a glossy finish.
- Score the ham in a shallow diamond pattern for better glaze absorption and an attractive presentation.
- Leftover ham pairs well with mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables.
Keywords: Christmas ham, maple glazed ham, holiday ham recipe, baked ham, festive ham, maple syrup glaze