Easy Baked Ham with Maple and Brown Sugar Glaze

Perfect for serving a crowd, this baked ham recipe features a delicious and easy glaze made from brown sugar, maple syrup and just a few more simple ingredients. The sweet and savory flavors compliment the natural flavor of the ham, turning a traditional, store-bought ham from ordinary into extraordinary.

Ham is a staple for many holiday gatherings, and it can often seem daunting to get it just right. We’ll take a very common 8-10lb ham and show you how to make it up just right with this delicious glaze. You don’t have to be an expert to make and serve this classic favorite.

What is a baked ham with glaze recipe?

Most of the hams we buy for the various holidays are already precooked, so essentially, we’re just heating and glazing them. While there are hams that are not cooked, we’ll be working with the precooked hams. Then, we’ll take them to the next level with a handful of simple ingredients to really bring out the flavor and create a presentation we’re proud to serve on the table for a family gathering.

Ingredients

We start with a precooked baked ham of around 8-10lbs that is not spiral cut. While you can indeed use this recipe for a ham that’s already spiral cut, the optimal results come from a ham that is not already sliced.

With this recipe, we’ll make a delicious glaze with a foundation of maple syrup, dijon mustard, brown sugar, and pineapple juice. Wow! All of these ingredients perfectly combine to create a heavenly glaze for our baked ham. We’ll punch up the flavors a little with some apple cider vinegar and ground ginger. The ginger is such a treat because it really adds a subtle, extra dimension to the glaze that makes you say “wow.” Then we’ll make things extra pretty with some pineapple slices.

Preparation and Cooking

Make sure you have plenty of room to work with on your countertop. I always try to unwrap the ham as close to the sink as possible to help keep any mess or drippings at bay from the packaging. Once you’ve unwrapped the ham, cut away the string if it has any, then place the ham in a large baking dish with the flat side down. Pat the ham dry with paper towels.

Score the Ham

Now we want to score the ham using a knife. Scoring a baked ham before cooking is a simple process that not only enhances its appearance but also allows for better absorption of glazes or seasonings. We’ll make a few cuts to basically form a diamond shaped pattern on the ham. Please don’t worry about whether this is perfect or exact.

1. Make the First Set of Cuts: Using a sharp knife, start making diagonal cuts across the surface of the ham. These cuts should be about ¼-inch deep. Aim for parallel lines spaced about 1 inch apart. Be careful not to cut too deeply; you just want to slice through the skin and fat, not into the meat itself.
2. Make the Second Set of Cuts: Now, make another set of diagonal cuts in the opposite direction, creating a diamond pattern across the ham’s surface. Again, these cuts should be about ¼-inch deep and spaced about 1 inch apart.

Make the Glaze

With the ham scored and the oven preheating, now is the time we’ll make our delicious glaze. Add the maple syrup, pineapple juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar and ground ginger to a medium saucepan and stir well over medium heat. The sugar will slowly dissolve and the mixture will thicken. This will take about 15 minutes.

Apply the Glaze and Pineapple Slices

Now it’s time to get the ham all pretty and ready for the oven! Brush the glaze all over the ham. Be sure to cover everything very well, including brushing along those scored lines. You’ll have plenty of glaze leftover, which we’ll be using for basting during the baking process.

Then we can attach the pineapple slices with toothpicks.

Bake the Ham

The big dance has arrived… time for our ham to go into the oven and get all nice and golden and pretty. Cover it loosely with foil and place in preheated oven at 325°F. The cooking time is likely to be around 2-3 hours for an 8-10lb ham. Generally, for a fully cooked ham, it will be 10-15 minutes per pound or until an internal temperature of 140°F. Slather on some more glaze every 20 minutes or so. It doesn’t have to be super pretty or a big deal – especially since you have the pineapples attached. Just lift the foil off and brush the glaze on wherever you can.

Remove the foil in the final 30 minutes to caramelize the glaze.

Finish and Serve

Once the internal temperature reaches 140°F (for a fully cooked ham), it’s ready to be removed from the oven. Let it rest for 10 minutes before doing anything. After 10 minutes, we can transfer it to a cutting board and prepare it for slicing.

Use a good sharp knife and carve slices to desired thickness. We don’t need uniform slices that go all the way through the ham. Just do the best you can and cut off some good slices of meat. I usually carve half the ham, then transfer it back to the baking dish for serving. You can carve more as needed.

Leave any remaining glaze out so that it can be drizzled directly on the individual servings if desired.

Leftovers: Storage and Reheating

After enjoying your baked ham with that mouth-watering maple and brown sugar glaze, you might find yourself with some leftovers. No worries! Storing and reheating your ham is easy, and it means you can enjoy your delicious meal for days to come.

Storing Your Ham

Let the ham cool to room temperature, then transfer it into airtight containers. If you’re planning to eat it within the next 3-4 days, place it in the refrigerator. For longer storage, the freezer is your friend, where the ham can stay good for up to 2 months. Just make sure to label it with the date so you remember when you stored it. This way, your ham stays delicious and ready for your next meal.

Reheating

Reheating your carved ham slices is straightforward, ensuring they stay moist and flavorful. If your slices are from the freezer, thaw them in the refrigerator for about 24 hours first. To reheat, preheat your oven to 275°F. Place the ham slices in a baking dish, slightly overlapping if necessary. Add a small amount of water to the bottom of the dish to help keep the ham moist. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil to keep the steam in and preserve the ham’s moisture. Warm the slices in the oven until they are heated through, which should take less than 10 minutes since they are already carved.

Enjoy Cold!

One of the great things about leftover baked him is, of course, the sandwiches! Those carved slices are excellent on some nice bread for a delicious sandwich.

Here are a few simple and delicious sandwich ideas for enjoying your leftover ham cold:

1. Classic Ham and Cheese Sandwich: Layer slices of cold ham with your favorite cheese (cheddar, Swiss, or provolone work great) on a slice of bread. Add lettuce and a thin spread of mayonnaise or mustard for extra flavor. Top with another slice of bread. For a little crunch, you can also include slices of cucumber or tomato. This also works great as a panini if you have a sandwich press.
2. Ham, Apple, and Brie Sandwich: Place slices of cold ham on a piece of crusty bread or a croissant. Add thin slices of apple for sweetness and brie cheese for creaminess. The combination of ham, apple, and brie offers a delightful mix of savory, sweet, and creamy.
3. Ham Salad Sandwich: Chop up some ham in a food processor and mix it with a little mayonnaise, diced celery, and a bit of mustard to create a simple ham salad. Spread this mixture on soft sandwich bread or stuff it into a pita with some lettuce leaves for a crunchy, creamy sandwich.
4. Ham and Avocado Wrap: Spread some mashed avocado on a tortilla. Add slices of cold ham, a sprinkle of shredded cheese, and some lettuce. Roll the tortilla up for an easy-to-eat wrap with the creamy richness of avocado balancing the savory ham.
5. Ham and Cream Cheese Bagel: These are my favorite. Spread some cream cheese on a sliced bagel. Add slices of cold ham and top with sliced cucumber for a refreshing crunch. This sandwich is a nice blend of creamy and crisp textures.

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