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Elevate your Easter ham with this super easy homemade glaze! Made with simple spices, brown sugar, honey, and butter, itโ€™s the best way to add extra flavor and texture. A must-make!

If youโ€™re looking for some last-minute recipes to add to your Easter lineup, Iโ€™ve got you covered: roasted brown butter honey garlic carrots, garlic herb mashed potatoes, and the BEST deviled eggs!

The glaze dripping off a metal spoon.

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 โ€“ 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.
All of the glaze ingredients separated into glass bowls.

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!

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan, add the butter, brown sugar, honey, ground mustard, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg if using.
  2. Whisk: Over medium-high heat, whisk until the butter melts, the sugar dissolves, and the ingredients are smooth and combined.
  3. Warm Through: Continue to heat for 1-2 minutes or until the glaze is warmed through.
  4. 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!

Basting the glaze over a spiral cut ham.

And if You Need a Good Ham Recipeโ€ฆ

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Ham Glaze

5 from 1 vote
By: Alyssa Rivers
Elevate your Easter ham with this super easy homemade glaze! Made with simple spices, brown sugar, honey, and butter, itโ€™s the best way to add extra flavor and texture. A must-make!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 10-pound ham

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a small saucepan, add the butter, brown sugar, honey, ground mustard, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg if using.
  • Over medium-high heat, whisk until the butter melts, the sugar dissolves, and the ingredients are smooth and combined.
  • Continue to heat for 1-2 minutes or until the glaze is warmed through.
  • 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 1586kcalCarbohydrates: 304gProtein: 3gFat: 49gSaturated Fat: 29gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 377mgFiber: 1gSugar: 300gVitamin A: 1421IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 183mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This ham glaze is out of this world. Would not think of making a ham without using it. Thank you. . Looking forrward to using a lot more of your recipes.