By leah jones
Make the perfect honey-baked ham this holiday season with this recipe topped with a sweet and sticky glaze. It’s perfect to make for a group meal and is incredibly flavorful.
1 cup honey 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted) 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or orange juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Remove the ham from any packaging and place it on a rack in a roasting pan, flat side down. Trim excess fat, leaving about a 1/4-inch layer for flavor.
Score the surface of the ham with shallow cuts in a diamond pattern. This helps the glaze penetrate and makes for great presentation once roasted.
In a small saucepan, combine the honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar (or orange juice), Worcestershire sauce, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and melted butter.
Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and the glaze becomes smooth and slightly thickened (about 5-7 minutes). Set aside about 1/4 cup of the glaze for basting at the end.
Brush the ham with some of the glaze, making sure it gets into the scored cuts.
Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil and bake for about 15-18 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C). This usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours for a 10-pound ham.
About 30 minutes before the ham is done, remove the foil and brush the ham with more glaze.
Once the ham reaches the desired temperature and has a lovely golden-brown finish, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. Transfer the ham to a cutting board, slice and serve.
For extra presentation, you can stud the scored sections with cloves or pineapple rings. Serve with the juices from the pan for extra flavor.