Honey glazed spiral ham is the centerpiece that makes a big family dinner feel special without much work. Sweet honey, brown sugar, and tangy mustard bake into a sticky lacquer that seeps between every slice.
The ham is already cooked, so your job is simply to warm it gently and build layers of glaze. Plan on roughly two hours in the oven and ten minutes of rest before carving.
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Why This Honey Glazed Spiral Ham Recipe Works
Cutting the glaze with mustard and cider vinegar keeps the sweetness from tasting flat. The result is balanced, with a gentle tang behind the honey. Every bite tastes sweet, salty, and slightly sharp at once.
Covering the ham with foil traps steam so the meat warms through without drying. Removing the foil at the end lets the glaze caramelize. That final blast of heat creates the sticky, lacquered surface everyone loves.
Basting every twenty minutes works the glaze between the spiral slices, so the flavor reaches inside rather than staying on the surface.
Ingredients for Honey Glazed Spiral Ham
- 8 pounds fully cooked bone in spiral cut ham
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Dijon or yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice, optional
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Spiral cut ham. A fully cooked, bone in ham only needs reheating, and the pre cut slices let the glaze soak deep.
Honey. Real honey gives the glaze a glossy shine and floral sweetness that syrup cannot match. A mild clover honey works well here.
Brown sugar. Light or dark both work, and the molasses adds a deeper caramel flavor.
Mustard. Dijon or yellow mustard brings a little zing that cuts through the sugar.
Apple cider vinegar. A quarter cup balances the sweetness, so the glaze tastes bright instead of cloying.
How to Make Honey Glazed Spiral Ham
1. Heat the oven Heat the oven to 325 degrees F and set a rack low enough to fit the whole ham in the roasting pan.
2. Place the ham Unwrap the ham, set it cut side down in a roasting pan, and let it stand while you make the glaze.
3. Simmer the glaze Stir the honey, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, melted butter, cloves, and pepper in a saucepan over medium heat for about five minutes until syrupy.
4. Glaze and cover Brush about half the glaze over the ham, working it between the slices, then cover the pan tightly with foil.
5. Bake and baste Bake for about eighty minutes, brushing on more glaze every twenty minutes, until the ham reaches 140 degrees F in the center.
6. Brown the top Remove the foil, pour the remaining glaze over the top, and raise the oven to 400 degrees F for about twenty minutes until deep golden.
7. Rest and carve Rest the ham for at least ten minutes, then carve along the slices and spoon the pan glaze over each serving.
How to Serve Honey Glazed Spiral Ham
Carve the ham at the table and serve it with stovetop bacon green beans and homemade baked beans. Macaroni salad with sour cream and soft buttery rolls make it a full spread.
How to Store and Reheat Honey Glazed Spiral Ham
Refrigerate leftover ham within two hours in airtight containers for up to four days. Freeze smaller portions for longer storage, and reheat until it reaches 165 degrees F.
Tips and Variations for Honey Glazed Spiral Ham
Check the label. Heat a fully cooked ham to 140 degrees F, but follow the package if the ham is not fully cooked.
Use a roasting pan. A deep pan catches the glaze, which you can spoon over the slices at serving time.
Baste often. Brushing the glaze every twenty minutes builds a thick, glossy coating. Warm the glaze briefly if it thickens in the pan.
Watch the browning. Sugar burns quickly at high heat, so stay nearby during the final browning. Pull the pan early if the edges darken too fast.
Add spice. Cloves or allspice add warm depth, and a pinch of cayenne gives the glaze a little heat.
Flag the allergens. Mustard and butter are common allergens, so tell guests what is in the glaze.
Plan for leftovers. Choose a larger ham if you want plenty for sandwiches and soups. Save the bone for split pea soup or a pot of beans.
Check trusted guidance. The University of Wisconsin Extension leftovers guidance explains how long cooked ham stays safe and how to reheat it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Glazed Spiral Ham
How long do you bake honey glazed spiral ham?
Plan on roughly two hours, until the center reaches 140 degrees F.
Can I make honey glazed spiral ham ahead?
Yes, make the glaze a day ahead and keep it in the refrigerator, then warm it before brushing.
Do I cover honey glazed spiral ham while baking?
Yes, cover it with foil for most of the bake and uncover it at the end to caramelize the glaze.
What can I use instead of Dijon?
Yellow mustard works well and gives a milder tang.
How do I keep ham from drying out?
Keep it covered, baste regularly, and avoid heating past 140 degrees F. Slicing only what you need also keeps the rest moist.
Honey Glazed Spiral Ham
Equipment
- Roasting pan
- Aluminum foil
- Saucepan
- Basting brush
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 fully cooked bone in spiral cut ham about 8 pounds
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 3 tbsp Dijon mustard or yellow mustard
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 tsp ground cloves or allspice, optional
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Cooking
- Make the glaze. Simmer the honey, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, butter, spices, and pepper for 5 minutes until syrupy.
- Glaze and cover. Set the ham cut side down, brush on half the glaze, and cover tightly with foil.
- Bake. Bake at 325 degrees F for about 80 minutes, basting every 20 minutes, until the center reaches 140 degrees F.
- Brown. Uncover, add the remaining glaze, and bake at 400 degrees F for about 20 minutes until golden.
- Rest. Rest for 10 minutes before carving.
