Indulge in the Ultimate Honey Bourbon Glazed Ham: A Holiday Centerpiece
Prepare to elevate your holiday table with this exquisite Honey Bourbon Glazed Ham. A truly delicious and moist baked ham recipe, perfected for special occasions like Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any gathering that calls for a show-stopping main course. Its irresistible sticky-sweet and savory glaze will have everyone asking for your secret!
The Perfect Honey Bourbon Ham for Any Celebration
As the holiday season draws near, the thought of gathering with loved ones often brings visions of comforting aromas and delectable feasts. This year, allow us to introduce you to a recipe that promises to be the star of your festive spread: our Honey Bourbon Ham. Forget complicated culinary endeavors; this recipe is designed for ease without compromising on flavor, ensuring you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the company of family and friends.
There’s something truly special about a beautifully baked ham. It’s a classic centerpiece that exudes warmth and generosity. While many associate ham with slow cookers, baking it in the oven offers unparalleled control over the glazing process, leading to a caramelized, deeply flavorful crust that is simply divine. We’ve found that the oven method truly allows the rich, complex notes of the bourbon and the sweetness of the honey to meld and deepen into a perfectly sticky, golden glaze that coats every slice.
One of the many joys of preparing this Bourbon Glazed Ham is the incredible aroma that fills your home as it bakes. The tantalizing scent of sweet honey, aromatic bourbon, and savory ham creates an inviting atmosphere, signaling that a magnificent meal is on its way. It’s a comforting fragrance that evokes the spirit of the holidays, making this recipe a staple for generations to come. And rest assured, while bourbon is a key ingredient, its alcohol content cooks off, leaving behind only its unique smoky, caramel notes – making it family-friendly and utterly delicious.
Crafting the Irresistible Bourbon Glaze
The magic of this Honey Bourbon Glazed Ham truly lies in its exceptional glaze. This isn’t just any topping; it’s a carefully balanced blend of sweet, tangy, and robust flavors designed to enhance the natural richness of the ham. Let’s explore what makes this glaze so unforgettable:
- Honey: The primary sweetener, honey provides a beautiful golden hue and a natural, floral sweetness that caramelizes wonderfully, creating that desirable sticky texture. It’s a classic pairing with ham for a reason!
- Bourbon: More than just a spirit, bourbon introduces incredible depth and a subtly smoky, vanilla, and oak-aged complexity to the glaze. As it bakes, the alcohol evaporates, leaving behind a sophisticated flavor profile that elevates the entire dish. It’s the secret ingredient that transforms a good ham into a great one.
- Molasses: For a darker, richer sweetness and a hint of treacle, molasses is indispensable. It adds a deep, slightly bittersweet note that balances the brighter flavors and contributes to the glaze’s luxurious texture and dark, shiny finish.
- Orange Juice: A splash of fresh orange juice provides a burst of citrusy brightness. This acidity cuts through the sweetness and richness, preventing the glaze from being cloying and adding a refreshing tang that complements the savory ham beautifully.
- Dijon Mustard: Far from being just a condiment, Dijon mustard acts as a crucial emulsifier and flavor enhancer. Its pungent, slightly spicy notes provide a welcome counterpoint to the sweetness, adding a sophisticated kick and helping to bind all the flavors together for a well-rounded taste.
Together, these ingredients simmer down to create a thick, glossy, and utterly mouthwatering glaze that adheres perfectly to the ham, creating layers of flavor with every brushstroke. The result is a ham that is not just glazed, but truly infused with a symphony of sweet and savory notes.
Selecting the Perfect Ham
For this recipe, we recommend using a bone-in, fully cooked spiral-sliced ham. A bone-in ham generally offers more flavor and juiciness, while the spiral cut makes carving incredibly easy, as the ham is already sliced. Ensure your ham is fully cooked, as this recipe focuses on heating the ham through and caramelizing the glaze, not cooking it from raw. A ham weighing between 7-9 pounds is ideal for serving a crowd and will fit comfortably in most standard roasting pans.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Success
Having the right equipment makes all the difference when preparing a holiday meal. For this Honey Bourbon Glazed Ham, a few key items will ensure a smooth cooking process and a perfect result:
- Roasting Rack: Essential for lifting the ham off the bottom of the pan, allowing hot air to circulate evenly around it. This helps achieve uniform cooking and glazing, and prevents the bottom from becoming soggy.
- Pastry Brush: Your best friend for applying the glaze! A good pastry brush ensures even coverage, allowing you to build up those beautiful, sticky layers of flavor on the ham’s surface.
- Large Mixing Bowl: For whisking together the glaze ingredients. We highly recommend a glass batter bowl with a handle for ease of mixing and stability on the counter.
Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe
How to make a Bourbon Glazed Ham that is great for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any day of the year.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 598 kcal
Author: Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
- 7 pound Bone-in fully cooked spiral-sliced ham (7-9 pounds)
- 1 cup Honey
- ½ cup Bourbon
- ½ cup Molasses
- ¼ cup Orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
Instructions
- Prepare the Ham: Place your fully cooked, spiral-sliced ham into a roasting pan, preferably on a roasting rack. If your ham isn’t pre-sliced, score the top of the ham in a diamond pattern, about ½ inch deep. This not only creates a beautiful presentation but also allows the glaze to seep into the ham.
- Initial Bake: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Bake the ham for 2 hours. This initial baking period warms the ham thoroughly before the glazing process begins.
- Craft the Glaze: While the ham is baking, prepare your delectable glaze. In a small saucepan, combine the honey, bourbon, molasses, orange juice, and Dijon Mustard. Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it is smooth, well combined, and slightly thickened. Bring it just to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat.
- Glaze and Finish: After the initial 2 hours, remove the ham from the oven. Using a pastry brush, generously coat the ham with the prepared bourbon glaze. Return the ham to the oven and continue baking for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140°F (60°C) when measured with a meat thermometer. During this final baking stage, brush the ham occasionally with any remaining glaze to build up those irresistible layers of sticky, caramelized goodness.
Kitchen Tools
- Roasting Rack
- Pastry Brush
- Meat Thermometer
Nutrition
Amount Per Serving
Calories 598
Fat 33g (51% Daily Value*)
Saturated Fat 12g (75% Daily Value)
Cholesterol 123mg (41% Daily Value)
Sodium 2382mg (104% Daily Value)
Potassium 743mg (21% Daily Value)
Carbohydrates 26g (9% Daily Value)
Fiber 1g (4% Daily Value)
Sugar 26g (29% Daily Value)
Protein 43g (86% Daily Value)
Vitamin A 8IU (0% Daily Value)
Vitamin C 2mg (2% Daily Value)
Calcium 38mg (4% Daily Value)
Iron 2mg (11% Daily Value)
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Serving Your Magnificent Ham and Enjoying Leftovers
Once your Honey Bourbon Glazed Ham is perfectly cooked and glistening with that beautiful glaze, allow it to rest for about 10-15 minutes before carving. This resting period is crucial for the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is incredibly moist and tender. For a spiral-sliced ham, simply slice down to the bone between the existing cuts, then carve along the bone to release individual portions. Arrange the slices on a platter, perhaps with a garnish of orange slices or fresh herbs, for a truly inviting presentation.
Perfect Pairings and Sides
This Bourbon Glazed Ham pairs wonderfully with a variety of classic holiday sides. Consider serving it alongside:
- Creamy mashed potatoes or Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Roasted root vegetables like carrots and parsnips
- Green bean casserole or Crock Pot Creamed Corn
- Fluffy dinner rolls to soak up any extra glaze
- A fresh green salad to add a touch of lightness
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Ham
One of the best things about a large ham is the delicious leftovers! Don’t let a single slice go to waste. Here are some fantastic ideas for transforming your extra ham into new and exciting meals:
- Ham Sandwiches: Classic and comforting, perfect with a smear of mustard or cranberry sauce.
- Ham and Cheese Omelets: A quick and flavorful breakfast or brunch.
- Soups and Stews: Dice the ham and add it to split pea soup, potato soup, or a hearty lentil stew. The ham bone can also be used to make a rich broth.
- Quiches and Frittatas: Combine diced ham with your favorite vegetables and cheese for an easy quiche filling.
- Salads: Add chopped ham to a chef’s salad or a pasta salad for a protein boost.
- Casseroles: Ham makes a great addition to cheesy potato casseroles or breakfast bakes.
For more inspiration, check out our collection of Leftover Ham Recipes.
More Great Holiday and Everyday Recipes
If you loved this ham recipe, you might enjoy exploring other delicious dishes perfect for holidays or simple weeknight meals:
- Crock Pot Turkey
- Crock Pot Stuffing
- Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake
- Crock Pot Peach Crumble
- Crock Pot Bourbon Glazed Kielbasa Bites
Explore our wide array of recipes, including more copycat recipes, delightful dessert recipes, and convenient CrockPot Recipes.
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Recipe originally shared on November 19, 2013. Updated in September 2020.