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Perfect Brown Sugar Bourbon Glazed Ham: Easy Holiday Recipe

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This brown sugar bourbon glazed ham is sweet, sticky, and smoky with a caramelized crust. It’s an easy holiday recipe that looks impressive but requires minimal effort, perfect for Easter, Christmas, or any celebration.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 spiral-cut ham (8–10 pounds), fully cooked, bone-in
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
  • 1/2 cup bourbon (e.g., Buffalo Trace or Maker’s Mark)
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Take the ham out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours before cooking to let it come to room temperature.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Place a rack in the lower third of the oven.
  3. Remove the ham from its packaging, rinse briefly under cold water, and pat dry with paper towels. Trim excess fat to about 1/4 inch thick. Place the ham cut-side down on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan.
  4. If the ham is not spiral-cut, score a diamond pattern on the surface about 1/4 inch deep.
  5. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, bourbon, Dijon mustard, melted butter, apple cider vinegar, ground cloves, and cinnamon. Whisk until smooth and sugar dissolves, about 2-3 minutes. Do not let it boil.
  6. Brush about half of the glaze all over the ham, getting into the spiral cuts. Reserve the remaining glaze.
  7. Tent the ham loosely with aluminum foil and roast at 325°F for 12-15 minutes per pound (about 1.5-2 hours for an 8-pound ham). Start checking internal temperature at the 1.5-hour mark.
  8. About 30 minutes before the ham is done, remove the foil. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham. Increase oven temperature to 400°F (204°C) and roast for 15-20 minutes until the glaze is caramelized.
  9. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the ham, avoiding the bone. The ham is ready at 140°F (60°C).
  10. Remove the ham from the oven, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 15-20 minutes.
  11. Slice and serve warm, drizzling pan juices over the top.

Notes

Use a bourbon you’d actually drink for best flavor. Apply glaze in two stages for a thick, caramelized crust. Keep the ham covered with foil for most of the cooking time to prevent the glaze from burning. Let the ham rest before slicing for juicier results. The ham tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown sugar bourbon glazed ham, holiday ham recipe, Easter ham, Christmas ham, bourbon ham, glazed ham, spiral ham

Find it online: https://zoeplate.com/perfect-brown-sugar-bourbon-glazed-ham-easy-holiday-recipe/