This Easy Christmas Ham Recipe is the kind of centerpiece that makes the whole house smell like the holidays. It's simple to prepare, feeds a crowd, and the sweet-savory glaze turns a classic bone-in ham into something truly special for Christmas dinner.
Why This Recipe is the Best
This ham stays incredibly juicy thanks to gentle baking and a buttery brown sugar glaze that caramelizes beautifully without burning. The balance of honey, orange juice, and mustard gives it that nostalgic holiday flavor everyone expects, with just enough depth to keep it from being overly sweet.
Make dinner complete with our Christmas Punch, Christmas Deviled Eggs, Christmas Salad, and Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients
Made with quick and easy ingredients, you'll love this easy Christmas Ham Recipe.
- Ham- You can use bone-in ham or a boneless ham. Either works great!
- Brown Sugar - To give that tasty glaze that caramelized flavor.
- Cloves- This is our secret ingredient to make the ultimate Christmas flavor.
- Orange - Orange juice adds just a splash of zest to complement the mustard and honey.
How to make an Easy Christmas Ham Recipe
Learn how to make an Easy Christmas Ham Recipe with these easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.
- Prep your ham in a large baking pan. Make diagonal cuts into the ham. Make sure not to go all the way across.
- Cover the ham with aluminum foil to keep the ham tender and moist. Bake the ham for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cover the ham with half of the prepared sauce. Place back in the oven with the tin foil on top. Bake for another 30-45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and add the other half of the dressing. Broil for 5 minutes.
Common Mistakes
One of the biggest mistakes is baking the ham uncovered the entire time, which can dry it out before the glaze ever has a chance to shine. Another common issue is turning the oven temperature too high, causing the sugar in the glaze to burn before it properly caramelizes.
Top tip
If your ham starts browning too quickly once uncovered, loosely tent it with foil and continue glazing until the final few minutes of baking.
Recipe
Easy Christmas Ham
Ingredients
- 8-12 pound ham bone in
- ¼ cup water
Glaze:
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons mustard we like dijon, just use your favorite mustard
- ½ teaspoon, ¼ teaspoon cloves optional, for a spiced ham
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. If ham is scored or spiral cut, skip to step 2. If ham is not scored, score the ham by making diagonal cuts into it, about ¼ inch deep, as pictured.
- Place water at the bottom of the roasting pan and place ham cut side down on the pan. Tent with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- As soon as you put it in the oven, immediately make the glaze. Whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, honey and orange juice and mustard until well blended and smooth. Set it aside to cool and thicken a bit while the ham cooks.
- After 30 minutes, remove ham from oven and cover liberally with ½ of the ham glaze, making sure to get into all the cracks and crevices. Cover with the foil again and return to the oven for 30-45 more minutes, until ham reaches an internal temperature of 140° F.
- Remove from oven and apply another coat of glaze, using about ½ of the remaining glaze. Switch oven to broil and return to the oven without the foil. Broil the ham for about 5 minutes, but keep an eye on it. You want it to darken, but not burn. Remove from oven and drizzle on the remaining glaze. Cover loosely with the foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- If your ham is smaller, you will likely have a little extra glaze. You can use it for dipping or save it and place your leftover ham in it and have even more flavorful ham later!
- This recipe is for a bone-in pre-cooked ham.
- The sugar in the glaze will make it more prone to burning. It's super important to keep an eye on the ham while broiling so that it doesn't burn.
Nutrition
Try our 3 ingredient ham recipe in a pinch.
Variations and Substitutions
For more flavor fun, try these variations and substitutions.
- Extra Spiced Ham: Add both amounts of cloves listed, or include a pinch of cinnamon for a warmer holiday spice flavor.
- Maple Glaze: Swap the honey for pure maple syrup for a slightly deeper sweetness.
- No Orange Juice: Pineapple juice works well and gives the ham a more traditional sweet profile.
- Spicy Kick: Stir in a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes to balance the sweetness.
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the oven covered with foil, adding a splash of water or extra glaze to keep it moist. Leftover ham is also perfect for sandwiches, soups, and breakfast casseroles.
FAQs
Plan on about 15-18 minutes per pound at 325°F, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
Scoring is optional, but it does help the glaze seep into the surface and makes for a prettier presentation.
Yes, the glaze can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Warm it slightly before brushing onto the ham.
Absolutely. This ham reheats well and is perfect for sliders, soups, omelets, and holiday breakfast dishes.
Leave a Reply