Brown sugar-glazed spiral ham is a delicious and easy main course that’s perfect for holidays and gatherings. This recipe uses a precooked spiral ham that’s topped with a simple homemade glaze of honey, brown sugar, coarse Dijon, orange, and cloves.
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Spiral ham is one of the easiest main courses you can make for a holiday.
It’s already cooked and often comes with its own prepackaged glaze making it almost foolproof.
We think our brown sugar glazed spiral ham recipe is better though, since you make the glaze yourself, and homemade is always better!
This honey spiral ham is perfect for holidays and gatherings alongside other roasts, such as Prime Rib, and your favorite sides, like roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots, maple-glazed carrots, and scalloped potatoes.
How to make it
Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.
- Preheat the oven to 325f and set the rack to the middle level. Prepare a 7-10 pound precooked spiral ham by removing the plastic button or disc from the bottom and placing it flat-side down in a large baking dish or roasting pan. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the ham taking care to not place it touching the bone.
- Cover the spiral ham tightly with foil and bake for 12-15 minutes per pound, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 140f (about 90 minutes).
- While the ham is baking, prepare the glaze. To a saucepan add 3 tablespoons of coarse-grain Dijon mustard, 3/4 cup of orange juice, 1 cup of packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup of honey, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves and bring the mixture to a boi. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer. If the glaze is too thin, combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry and add to the glaze, stirring until thickened.
- Turn off the heat and allow the glaze to cool. Pictured above is the thickened glaze. It will coat a spoon well and have a pretty thick consistency if you used cornstarch.
- Once the ham reaches 140f remove it from the oven and raise the oven temperature to 425f. Remove the foil and use a brush to baste the ham with half of the glaze making sure you get the glaze between all the layers of ham.
- Return the glazed ham back to the oven and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes longer or until the ham has browned and the glaze has caramelized. Slice the ham and serve on a platter with more of the remaining glaze. Enjoy!
Top tips
- Spiral ham. Precooked spiral hams usually include a plastic button or dish at the bottom of the ham. Be sure to remove this before baking.
- The glaze. The brown sugar honey glaze is easy to make and tastes fantastic. Be sure to serve some extra on the side for folks to add more once served.
- Hambone. Don’t throw away the bone! The spiral ham bone can be used for soups and stews. We always use our hambone to make split pea soup the next day.
More holiday roasts
Holidays are a great time for roasted meat. Here are a few of our favorites!
If you’ve enjoyed this Brown Sugar Glazed Spiral Ham Recipe or any recipe on this site, give it a 5-star rating and tell us about it in the comments below.
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Brown Sugar Glazed Spiral Ham
Ingredients
- 1 7-10 pound precooked spiral ham see notes below
For the glaze
- 3 tablespoons coarse grain Dijon mustard
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
For corn starch slurry (optional)
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 tablespoons water
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325f and set the oven rack to the middle level.
- Remove the plastic button/disc from the bottom of the ham and place the ham flat side down in a large baking dish or roasting pan. Cover very tightly with foil and bake for 12-15 minutes per pound. Most spiral hams shouldn't take longer than about 90 minutes to reach a 140f internal temp. For accurate temperature, use an oven-safe thermometer.
- Meanwhile, make the glaze. Place all of the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling lower to a simmer. If a thicker glaze is desired, add a slurry of cornstarch and stir until thickened (about 1 minute). Turn off the heat and let the glaze cool.
- Remove the ham once it has reached an internal temperature of 140f. Turn the oven temp to 425f and baste the ham with half of the glaze. Take your time to get the glaze between all of the layers of ham. Return the ham back to the oven and bake uncovered for 15-20 more minutes or until the ham has browned and the glaze has caramelized.
- Slice the ham and serve on a platter with more of the remaining glaze on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe is for a precooked spiral ham. Make sure to remove and discard the included plastic button/disc at the bottom of the ham before baking.
- The cooking time is approximate. A precooked ham should take approximately 12-15 minutes per pound at 325f to get hot and reach an internal temp of 140f.
- Save any extra glaze for serving.
- Leftovers can be saved for up 3 days in the fridge and can be reheated in the microwave or oven.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What’s the serving size on this ham. Is that the calories for the whole ham made this way. It’s delicious but I count so I need to know for sure what the serving cal are. Thanks
Hi Dustin, there are approximately 12 servings here. The nutrition information is per serving and is automatically calculated so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is fantastic! Followed exactly for an 11lb Spiral cut ham. The glaze is delicious and so nice to have extra to spread on the ham slices. Easy recipe to follow and foolproof. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hi James & Tara
Well wishes and Blessings to your family into the New Year! Thank you for what you do and more importantly cooking with LOVE and sharing your family tradition recipes with us!
I am a master at Sicilian pizza because of you, and I’ll never pay for it again. It’s wayyyy better that most restaurants or pizza shops. I follow all your recipes and the ones I do make, turn out absolutely delicious! My 13yo made your Brown Sugar Glaze for our Christmas ham (we used a regular whole semi boneless ham) and hands down, the best we’ve ever had . My daughter does not eat leftovers ever, and she had no problem eating the ham with the glaze after Christmas 🥰 Your recipes are extremely easy to follow (for kids too) and always turn out FANTASTIC in taste!!! I look forward to my Sip and Feast emails because I know it’s great stuff inside 😊 Thank you so very much. You and Tara make us look good to our family and friends (piggy back that from a previous review of yours) 1000% true! THANK YOU!!!!
We’re so happy you enjoyed, Lisa, and really appreciate the comment!
What’s the best orange juice to use? Fresh squeezed or from the bottle/carton?
You can use either, but fresh is better.
Hi y’all –
Thanks for posting all you amazing recipes. I made the Egg Nog – White Russian drink for thanksgiving — I couldn’t get enough of it . Lol
Can you use a regular whole semi boneless ham instead of spiral? I’d love to make this glaze but did not buy a spiral ham this year?
Hi Lisa, thanks for the comment! A spiral ham is precooked, so if you’re using a fresh ham you’d need to fully cook it. As far as the glaze, yes, the glaze would work.
Hi Can I use maple syrup instead of honey. Thanks
Yes, you definitely can.
This recipe was easy to follow and was a hit at Thanksgiving. There’s usually ham left over but it flew this time around.
So happy you enjoyed it, Lissa!
Awesome
Do you use boneless or bone-in spiral ham? Thanks!
Hi DJ, we used a bone-in ham.
Thanks for the reply. Sorry, I meant to ask if you could use boneless for this same recipe?
Yes, you can.
Delicious, family loved it.
We’re so happy you enjoyed, Violet!
Just finished making this glaze for the ham it smells and tastes delicious and our home smells great. Thank you for the recipe.
I buy the ham but the glaze always ends up in the garbage.
Love trying and looking at your recipes as they bring back memories of my family.
Have a great Easter with your family and loved ones
Gabriella 👍*****
Love your recipes. Tried your lentils and my husband, who is so picky,ate 3 bowls. I was amazed!
Hi Guys, I really want to thank you for all the recipes. I made the chicken cacciatore last night and it came out delicious. With all the recipes I have printed I could bind a book of James and Tara’s recipes. I am going to try the spiral ham for Christmas and will let you know how it goes. Merry Christmas,
Hi Faith, we’re so happy you’re enjoying the recipes! Thanks for the kind words and a Merry Christmas to you too! Hope you enjoy the ham!
Hi,
Can you suggest what are the best spiral cut hams on the market. I tried one 2 years ago for Christmas dinner and we all found that it was way too salty for our taste.
Merry Christmas
ps. Love Sip & Feast <3
Hi Elaine, they’re all pretty similar but Costco usually has a good one. You may want to search for a brand that makes a low-sodium ham if you feel they’re too salty. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and appreciate you following along with us!
We used a Cook’s Spiral ham and it was delicious with this recipe. These hams are not too salty.
Hey guys! I’m from NJ and now live in MO (pizza here sucks btw💯) and have to say you and your family remind me of my Italian roots back home.. We share multiple recipes and traditions from my Nan which is awesome!
Want to ask your opinion though if that’s okay? I hate mustard and even though if I’m honest, if I don’t know it’s in meatloaf or a glaze, etc. I still enjoy it 😆. If I don’t want to use mustard though, what do you suggest if anything?
I usually use everything except the mustard and Cinnamon that you do and it’s still great, but looking to get that extra bit, ya know!
Thanks again and hope you have happy and blessed holiday season!!
Hi Matthew, thanks for the comment! We haven’t tested the recipe by replacing the mustard with something else so can’t say for sure. I will say it doesn’t have a strong mustard flavor though. Perhaps try replacing the coarse mustard with smooth mustard for a more mellow flavor. Hope you enjoy and please let us know if you do omit the mustard how it turns out.
I have to agree with Annette. “ everything you make is top notch “. I think
Your videos are some of the best in explaining exactly how to make the recipes. Someone needs to offer you an advance for a cookbook !!! I haven’t had one recipe I’ve tried that people haven’t said is delicious!! Thanks for sharing your lovr of good good. You make many of us look good !!
Hi Meg, I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying the recipes and really appreciate the kind words! We may be going the route of self-publishing a cookbook as the advances we’ve been offered didn’t make sense for us financially. We will keep our followers posted!
Everything you make is top notch
Hi Annette, thanks for the comment and so happy you enjoyed!
Do you need to but water in pan while baking how much
Hi LucyAnn, there is no water in the pan.
Can I still use this on a whole ham? My family really don’t like spiral ham. Crazy lol
Hi Paula, yes, you can use the glaze for a whole ham. Hope you enjoy!