There’s something truly magical about the blend of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors in a Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe. This glaze doesn’t just dress up the ham—it transforms it into a centerpiece that’ll have everyone asking for seconds at your next gathering.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’m genuinely excited to share this recipe because it strikes the perfect balance between simple and impressive. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just looking to wow your family, this ham recipe is a total crowd-pleaser with minimal fuss.
- Perfect Flavor Harmony: The honey, mustard, and maple syrup create a glaze that’s simultaneously sweet, tangy, and rich—no one flavor overwhelms.
- Simple Yet Stunning: You don’t need a dozen ingredients or complicated prep to get a show-stopping dish on your table.
- Great for Any Occasion: Whether it’s holiday dinner, a Sunday lunch, or a potluck, this ham fits beautifully.
- Hands-Off Cooking: Once the glaze is on and the ham is in the oven, you can relax before the delicious aromas fill your kitchen.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe is chosen not just for flavor but for how it complements the others—making the glaze sticky, flavorful, and beautifully caramelized.
- Bone-in spiral-cut half ham: This cut is perfect for even heat penetration and offers an ideal surface area for the glaze to cling to.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness and helps create a nicely sticky glaze.
- Pure maple syrup: Deepens the sweetness with a warm, woodsy note that pairs beautifully with ham.
- Dijon mustard: Provides tang and a slight sharpness that balances the sugary ingredients.
- Brown sugar: Coats the ham and caramelizes under heat, giving a gorgeous golden crust.
Make It Your Way
I love how flexible this Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe is—feel free to tweak the glaze ratios depending on your flavor preferences. I often add a pinch of cinnamon or even a splash of apple cider vinegar for an extra zing.
- Variation: When I want a smoky kick, I brush on some smoked paprika into the glaze, and it adds this fantastic depth that folks rave about.
- Dietary tweak: For a less sweet version, reduce the maple syrup slightly and amp up the mustard — it still tastes amazing.
- Seasonal touch: Try stirring in a tablespoon of orange zest in spring for a citrus lift that feels fresh and bright.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Glaze
Start by preheating your oven to 275°F—low and slow is the secret to juicy ham. While it heats, mix honey, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Whisk these until smooth and set the glaze covered in the fridge. This lets flavors marry while you get everything else ready.
Step 2: Ready the Ham
Unwrap your spiral-cut ham and place it flat-side down on parchment-lined deep pan. Then, rub brown sugar evenly all over the top and sides—this helps create that mouthwatering caramelized crust. Don’t skip lining the pan; it keeps clean-up easier and catches all those tasty drippings.
Step 3: Low and Slow Baking
Cover the pan tightly with foil so the ham steams gently, locking in moisture. Bake for about 15 minutes per pound—if your ham is 8 pounds like mine often is, plan on around 2 hours. Check it at the end to see if it’s hot all the way through.
Step 4: Glaze and Broil for That Perfect Finish
Once baked, remove foil and set your oven to broil. Pour the chilled glaze liberally over the ham and pop it back in, uncovered, for 5 to 8 minutes. Watch it like a hawk—this is the final caramelization stage that turns the ham golden and sticky without burning it. You’ll know it’s done when the glaze bubbles and smells irresistible.
Step 5: Rest, Slice, and Serve
Give your ham a few minutes to rest before slicing. This lets the juices redistribute so every bite is juicy and tender. Then, serve up your masterpiece and enjoy those well-deserved compliments!
Top Tip
From my experience with the Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe, the glaze consistency and timing on the broil are game-changers. Here’s what I’ve learned to get that perfect balance every time.
- Chill Your Glaze: Letting your glaze rest in the fridge helps the flavors meld and thickens it up, so it sticks nicely to the ham.
- Broil With Full Attention: The broil step is quick and can burn fast; stay close and watch for bubbling caramel, not just color.
- Don’t Skip the Brown Sugar Rub: It forms a sweet crust that contrasts beautifully with the tangy mustard glaze.
- Foil/Tight Seal is Essential: This traps moisture so the ham doesn’t dry out during the slow bake—trust me, I learned that the hard way!
How to Serve Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe
Garnishes
I usually garnish the ham with freshly chopped parsley or thyme—green herbs add a fresh pop of color and lightness that beautifully balances the glaze’s richness. Sometimes, I sprinkle pomegranate seeds for a festive touch that’s both pretty and bursting with tartness.
Side Dishes
My go-to sides include buttery mashed potatoes, green bean almondine, and a tangy cranberry relish. These help cut through the ham’s sweetness while keeping the meal homey and satisfying. Roasted Brussels sprouts with a drizzle of balsamic are also fantastic for a slightly bitter counterpoint.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve laid slices of this ham over a bed of crisp arugula with toasted pecans and thin apple slices drizzled with a light vinaigrette. It’s unexpectedly elegant and makes serving a bit more interactive for your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover ham wrapped tightly in foil or an airtight container in the fridge. This keeps it moist and flavorful for up to 5 days. Reheating gently is key to prevent drying out.
Freezing
This ham freezes beautifully! Just slice before freezing and wrap portions tightly in plastic wrap plus foil. It can stay good for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
I reheat ham slices slowly in a covered baking dish at 275°F, adding a splash of water or broth to keep things moist. Cover with foil and heat just until warmed through—this preserves tenderness without drying out the glaze.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Using a pre-glazed ham can sometimes work, but I recommend using a plain spiral-cut ham to fully control the sweetness and tang of the glaze. Pre-glazed hams might have competing flavors, and your glaze won’t caramelize as well.
The best way is to use a meat thermometer: the internal temperature should reach about 140°F for fully cooked ham that's heated safely. Since spiral-cut hams are sliced loosely, the heat penetrates quickly, but checking is always reassuring.
Absolutely! You can prepare the glaze and apply it to the ham, then cover and refrigerate a few hours before baking. Just bring the ham to room temperature before putting it in the oven to ensure even cooking.
Keep a very close eye on the ham during broiling. The sugars caramelize quickly and can burn if not monitored. I suggest setting a timer for 3-5 minutes increments and checking often until it reaches that beautiful golden glaze.
Final Thoughts
This Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe has become one of my absolute favorites for family get-togethers and holidays. It’s approachable enough to feel like everyday cooking but special enough to serve when you want to impress. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do—it truly adds that cozy, comforting touch to the table that everyone appreciates.
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Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham recipe delivers a tender, juicy spiral-cut ham coated with a sweet and tangy glaze made from honey, pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar. Perfect for holiday dinners or special occasions, this recipe uses a slow baking and broiling method to caramelize the glaze and create a luscious finish.
Ingredients
Ham
- 8 pound bone-in spiral-cut half ham smoked or uncured
Glaze
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 275°F to prepare for slow baking the ham.
- Prepare Glaze: In a small bowl, combine the honey, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard. Whisk thoroughly until well mixed, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Prepare Baking Pan and Ham: Line a deep pan with parchment paper. Unwrap the ham from its packaging and place it flat-side down in the pan.
- Apply Brown Sugar: Rub brown sugar all over the top and sides of the ham to add sweetness and help caramelization.
- Bake Ham: Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil to lock in moisture. Bake the ham at 275°F for about 15 minutes per pound, approximately 2 hours for an 8-pound ham.
- Glaze and Broil: Remove the ham from the oven and carefully uncover it. Increase the oven setting to broil. Pour the prepared glaze evenly over the ham, then return the ham to the oven uncovered. Broil for 5 to 8 minutes while watching closely to avoid burning. This step carmelizes and heats the glaze fully.
- Serve: Remove the ham from the oven, slice it, and serve warm.
Notes
- Make sure to watch the ham carefully during broiling to prevent the glaze from burning.
- If you prefer a less sweet glaze, reduce the amount of brown sugar or honey slightly.
- Using a bone-in spiral-cut ham ensures even cooking and easier slicing.
- Letting the ham rest for a few minutes after broiling can help juices redistribute for better tenderness.
- If you don’t have parchment paper, you can use aluminum foil to line the pan, but parchment helps prevent sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg

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