Elevate your Easter ham with this super easy homemade glaze! Made with simple spices, brown sugar, honey, and butter, it’s the best way to add extra flavor and texture. A must-make!
If you’re looking for some last-minute recipes to add to your Easter lineup, I’ve got you covered: roasted brown butter honey garlic carrots, garlic herb mashed potatoes, and the BEST deviled eggs!
Brown Sugar and Honey Ham Glaze
Want to impress everyone with a delicious ham for Easter or Christmas that looks and tastes amazing? This glaze recipe is super easy and will make your ham the star of the show! It’s packed with warm and inviting flavors like cinnamon, cloves, and a hint of nutmeg. The brown sugar and honey add sweetness, and the secret ingredient, ground mustard, gives it an extra pop of flavor that everyone will love.
Brushing this glaze on your ham before (and during) the cooking process will make it super juicy and flavorful. And that caramelized crust? Crispy, sticky-sweet, and oh-so-satisfying. Seriously, a holiday must-make! It will take your ham to the next level.
Glaze Ingredients
Let’s get into the ingredients for this amazing brown sugar ham glaze and what each of them do! If you’re looking for exact measurements, they can all be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Butter: This adds richness and helps create that beautiful caramelized crust.
- Light Brown Sugar: The main sweetener of the glaze! Light brown sugar will also contribute to that caramelized outer layer. If you only have dark brown sugar, that works too – it will just add a slightly deeper molasses flavor.
- Honey: Another sweetener, honey adds some extra flavor but also gives the ham glaze the perfect texture. Nice and sticky! You can also substitute maple syrup for a similar flavor, but reduce the amount by a tablespoon since maple syrup is sweeter.
- Ground Mustard: Don’t worry, this won’t make your glaze taste too mustard-y! It adds a subtle tang that cuts through the sweetness and brings out all the other flavors.
- Spices: A sprinkle of cinnamon, cloves, and a hint of nutmeg take the flavor of this glaze to the next level.
Recipe for Homemade Ham Glaze
I know preparing a holiday dinner can get hectic. But look- this ham glaze only takes 5 minutes to mix up. It really is a necessity! Add it to that tasty ham and thank me later!
- Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan, add the butter, brown sugar, honey, ground mustard, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg if using.
- Whisk: Over medium-high heat, whisk until the butter melts, the sugar dissolves, and the ingredients are smooth and combined.
- Warm Through: Continue to heat for 1-2 minutes or until the glaze is warmed through.
- Add to Ham Before and During Cooking: Baste the glaze on top of your ham before it goes in the oven to cook. Save some glaze to baste on the ham throughout the cooking process and right before serving.
Do You Put Glaze on Ham Before or After Cooking?
Both! Before so the glaze has time to caramelize, and after to add more moisture. I also like to baste some glaze on during cooking. I know it seems tedious, but trust me, it will make your ham taste soooo good.
How Much Glaze Do I Need?
This recipe will glaze a 10-12 pound ham! I like to slather my hams in it so the glaze gets into every nook and cranny. The more moisture and flavor the better!
And if You Need a Good Ham Recipe…
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Apricot Glazed Ham (The Best Ham I Have EVER Had!)
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Dinner
Classic Honey Glazed Ham
2 hrs 20 mins
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Instant Pot Ham
30 mins
Dinner
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Mustard Glazed Ham
4 hrs 10 mins
Ham Glaze
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- dash ground nutmeg, optional
Instructions
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In a small saucepan, add the butter, brown sugar, honey, ground mustard, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg if using.
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Over medium-high heat, whisk until the butter melts, the sugar dissolves, and the ingredients are smooth and combined.
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Continue to heat for 1-2 minutes or until the glaze is warmed through.
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Baste the glaze on top of your ham before it goes in the oven to cook. Save some glaze to baste on the ham throughout the cooking process and right before serving.
