Brown Sugar and Bourbon Glazed Ham is a smoked spiral ham with a sweet-tangy glaze of brown sugar, bourbon, honey & spices.
This glazed ham recipe is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion with ease and flavor. Whether it's a holiday dinner or a simple family meal, this spiral-cut ham makes entertaining effortless-you'll spend less time carving and more time enjoying.
Since the ham is already fully cooked, all it needs is reheating and a generous coating of a sweet and tangy brown sugar bourbon glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven, creating a tender, juicy, and irresistibly glossy centerpiece.
🔍 Quick Look: Brown Sugar & Bourbon Glazed Ham
- Ready in: 1 Hour and 45 minutes
- Servings: 10
- Calories: ~531 kcal per serving
- Main Ingredients: Smoked spiral-cut ham, dark brown sugar, bourbon whisky, honey, allspice
- Elements of Taste: Sweet & Salty
- Cook Method: Bake
- Difficulty: Easy, and mostly hands off douring cooking.
- Why You'll Love It: A glaze of brown sugar and bourbon complements the saltiness of a smoked ham. The spiral-cut makes it easy to serve.
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Jump to:
- 🔍 Quick Look: Brown Sugar & Bourbon Glazed Ham
- Why This is The Best Brown Sugar and Bourbon Glazed Ham!
- Ingredient Notes
- Substitutions & Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions for Glazing a Spiral Sliced Baked Ham
- My Top Tip
- Side Dishes to Serve with Baked Ham
- Waiting for Guests to Arrive?
- Table of Roasting Times for Smoked Ham
- Make-Ahead & Storage
- More Delicious Baked and Roasted Meats You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why This is The Best Brown Sugar and Bourbon Glazed Ham!
Nothing says "Holiday" like a juicy ham covered with a sweet and tangy bourbon and brown sugar glaze. Plus, a smoked ham is an easy meat to prepare since it is already cooked and you are simply heating it.
But adding a homemade glaze makes it extra special. So skip the packet that comes with most spiral-cut hams and try this simple and delicious, sweet and tangy glaze.
Whether constructing a single dish or complex plate, good cooks balance and manipulate the main elements that affect flavor which are sweet, sour, bitter, salty, savory, fat, and heat. So there is a simple reason why sweet and tangy glazes go so well on ham... and it is salt.
Because ham is salty, it needs sweetness to balance the saltiness. This is the main reason why you see so many recipes for ham that include sweet sticky glazes.
There's the classic ham covered in brown sugar, pineapple rings, and maraschino cherries, and also glazes made with Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper. Good cooks add sweetness to balance the salt.
My ham recipe takes only minutes of prep. While it warms in the oven you make the sweet and tangy glaze that you spoon or brush on it from the top of the ham until the whole ham is covered in sweet, sticky goodness.
Because this recipe is super easy to make, you can focus on great side dishes to make your dinner even more special. Whether you are planning a Thanksgiving dinner, Easter Sunday brunch, or other special occasion dinners you can't go wrong with a home-glazed, smoked spiral-cut ham.
So, let's cook!
Ingredient Notes
Here's what you need to make this Brown Sugar and Bourbon Glazed Ham:
- Bone-In Smoked Spiral Cut Ham - A bone-in ham that is smoked is a fully cooked ham and only requires reheating. I prefer a spiral ham to make carving easy. The glaze will be plenty for any smoked ham from 10 pounds up to 14 pounds.
- Pineapple Juice - I like to use pineapple juice to heat the ham. It is helpful to have a liquid in the bottom of the pan to steam the ham. So, instead of pineapple juice, you can steam the ham with water or broth.
- Dark Brown Sugar - Dark brown sugar will give lovely caramel flavors to the glaze.
- Bourbon Whiskey - Choose a bourbon that you like. I used Makers Mark but any bourbon that has good flavor will work. I like whiskeys with notes of sweet baking spices or caramel. Maple bourbon is also delicious!
- Honey - You can use any honey you have on hand but not a "hot honey" or flavored honey. Sage, orange blossom, or local honey are great choices.
- Dijon Mustard - Dijon mustard gives a nice tangy flavor and is needed to make this glaze less sweet and to give it a "bite".
- Ground Allspice - This is the one spice that tastes like cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon all in one and says "Holiday!" These spice flavors are a classic combination with ham.
- Lemon Juice (Optional) - You might not need any lemon juice. I like to have some on hand to adjust the sweetness of the glaze. Fresh lemon juice is always best and all you need is just a squeeze from half a lemon.
Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
Put your spin on the glaze by making one or two of these substitutions.
- Substitute Orange Juice. Instead of bourbon, you can use orange juice. Orange goes very well with ham. Many people find orange zest cloying but juice is pleasantly harmonious with the other glaze ingredients.
- Substitute Karo Syrup. if you don't have honey on hand you can substitute Karo syrup.
- Substitute Yellow Mustard. You can substitute plain yellow mustard if you don't have Dijon mustard.
- Omit Ground Allspice. You can omit the ground allspice from the glaze and it will still be delicious!
- Add Butter. Some people love a buttery glaze. You can stir in up to 2 tablespoons of butter into the hot glaze after it has simmered.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Glazing a Spiral Sliced Baked Ham
- Preheat and Prepare. Preheat the oven to 275°F/135°C. Let the ham come to room temperature and remove it from its packaging. If the ham has a plastic disc remove and discard it. Place ham cut side down in a 13x9-inch baking pan. Pour pineapple juice into the pan around the ham.
- Heat in Oven. Cover ham with aluminum foil and crimp the edges around and under the pan. Put the ham in the oven and heat it for approximately 1½ hours. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham, which should be 135°F/57°C.
- Make Glaze. While the ham heats, make the glaze. In a small saucepan mix the dark brown sugar, bourbon whiskey, honey, Dijon mustard, and ground allspice. Bring to a boil and let simmer over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool. Taste and, if needed, add the lemon juice to make it less sweet and brighten the flavor.
- Glaze Ham. During the last 30 minutes of heating increase the oven temperature to 425°F/218°C. Remove the ham from the oven, uncover it, and spoon and brush the surface of the ham with the glaze. Return the ham to the oven to let the glaze set. Watch the glaze carefully, so that it does not burn. Plate the baked ham with some of the slices fanned out and with any unused remaining glaze on the side. Serve and Enjoy!
- Serve and Enjoy. Plate the baked ham with some of the slices fanned out and with any unused remaining glaze on the side. Serve and Enjoy!
My Top Tip
♡ The spiral ham you choose makes a big difference in the look and taste of your glazed ham. Most grocery stores have their own branded hams that are generally more economical than major brands.
Target's Market Pantry ham is very delicious and has been my favorite for a few years. I've also used Walmart's and Aldi's smoked ham, which are also delicious but they don't look as quite as pretty after it has been heated and glazed.
Side Dishes to Serve with Baked Ham
Waiting for Guests to Arrive?
Make sure the foil covering is sealed tight, turn the oven down to 300°F, and the unglazed ham can be in the oven for up to 3 hours.
Table of Roasting Times for Smoked Ham
| Ham Size | 10 min/lb | 11 min/lb | 12 min/lb | 13 min/lb | 14 min/lb | 15 min/lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lbs | 100 | 110 | 120 (2 hrs) | 130 | 140 | 150 |
| 11 lbs | 110 | 121 | 132 | 143 | 154 | 165 |
| 12 lbs | 120 | 132 | 144 | 156 | 168 | 180 (3 hrs) |
| 13 lbs | 130 | 143 | 156 | 169 | 182 | 195 |
| 14 lbs | 140 | 154 | 168 | 182 | 196 | 210 |
Make-Ahead & Storage
- Make-Ahead: A smoked baked ham is generally not made in advance, since it is already cooked and you are only heating and glazing the ham.
- Storage: You can keep leftovers in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week and frozen for up to a month.
- Using Leftovers: Leftover glazed ham is delicious and can be used in cold or hot sandwiches and casseroles. Don't discard the leftover bone or any of the small bits and pieces of ham! Those are perfect for making Lima Beans and Ham and also to flavor Bean Soup and Split Pea Soup.
More Delicious Baked and Roasted Meats You'll Love
♡ Did you love this Brown Sugar and Bourbon Glazed Ham? Please leave a star rating and a comment below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Brown Sugar and Bourbon Glazed Ham
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Equipment
- Baking Dish 13 x 9"
- Aluminum Foil
- Small Saucepan
- Spoon
- Pastry Brush or Sauce Brush
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 Bone-In Smoked Spiral Cut Ham, 10 Pounds
- ½ Cup Pineapple Juice
- 1 ¼ Cups Dark Brown Sugar, Packed
- ⅓ Cup Bourbon Whiskey
- ⅓ Cup Honey
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- ¼ Teaspoon Ground Allspice
- 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare. Preheat the oven to 275°F/135°C. Let the ham come to room temperature and remove it from its packaging. If the ham has a plastic disc remove and discard it. Place ham cut side down in a 13x9-inch baking pan. Pour pineapple juice into the pan around the ham.1 Bone-In Smoked Spiral Cut Ham, ½ Cup Pineapple Juice
- Heat in Oven. Cover ham with aluminum foil and crimp the edges around and under the pan. Put the ham in the oven and heat it for approximately 1½ hours. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham, which should be 135°F/57°C.
- Make Glaze. While the ham heats, make the glaze. In a small saucepan mix the dark brown sugar, bourbon whiskey, honey, Dijon mustard, and ground allspice. Bring to a boil and let simmer over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool. Taste and, if needed, add the lemon juice to make it less sweet and brighten the flavor.1 ¼ Cups Dark Brown Sugar, ⅓ Cup Bourbon Whiskey, ⅓ Cup Honey, 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard, ¼ Teaspoon Ground Allspice, 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
- Glaze Ham. During the last 30 minutes of heating increase the oven temperature to 425°F/218°C. Remove the ham from the oven, uncover it, and spoon and brush the surface of the ham with the glaze. Return the ham to the oven to let the glaze set.Watch the glaze carefully, so that it does not burn.
- Serve and Enjoy. Serve the baked ham with some of the slices fanned out and with any unused remaining glaze on the side.
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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katherine brooks says
I absolutely love recipes that have 15 minute prep times! That is about all the time I have for cooking! This is wonderful and my whole family enjoys it!
Jan Nunes says
Hi Katherine,
Thank you for your comment. I'm so glad that your family enjoys my quickly prepped Glazed Ham!
Have a wonderful day! ~Jan 😊