Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham

My family’s absolute best recipe is this maple bourbon glazed ham with the most delicious brown sugar glaze for the topping. We make this for every single holiday, party or family get together. I am telling you, there is no better recipe out there than this. You will be craving it all year round!

There are a few holiday meals I can get behind and this maple bourbon glazed ham is one of them! My dad's family has it at every single holiday, event or family gathering. It is one of the easiest recipes to prepare that will really wow the crowd. I am not kidding when I say I crave this ham all year.

The maple bourbon glaze for the ham gives the meal such a sweet taste to it. But the actual ham provides such a sweet bite. Finally, the brown sugar on top of the bourbon glaze gives that extra sweet and crispy finish. You really cannot find a better and easier recipe.

Glazed Ham

The perfect glazing for a ham is something sweet, since ham is salt. You will want to use something like honey, sugar, maple syrup, or in my case, a delicious maple bourbon glaze with brown sugar. Plus, I add some mustard for a little tang and binding power.

I like to put the glazing on the ham first, without thickening it. With our first glaze, I want the bourbon maple mixture to be as liquid as possible, to really penetrate into the ham. Then, I will thicken the glaze and make it more into, well, a glaze. This will really caramelize the top of the ham while keeping the insides nice and juice, but still flavorful.

Ingredients for a brown sugar ham

Of course, you will need a ham. You will need about an 8-9 pound bone-in spiral ham. This should be pre-cooked. However, if there is another ham that you like, you can use that and follow somewhat of the same steps.

• Maple Syrup
• Brown Sugar
• Bourbon
• Mustard

I used yellow mustard; however, this is where you can add different flavors to your dish. Try using spicy mustard if you want a little kick.

What Ham Should I Buy?

Ideally you want a spiral cut, bone-in ham. I prefer cut hams as they are easier to work with. With a cut ham, you really get the glazing down into all the crevices of the ham. However, if you cannot find a cut ham, you can make some slices into it to do the same thing.

How to Make the Best Glazed Ham

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Start by combing all the ingredients for the glazing together in a small bowl.

Loosen up the pre-cut ham by sliding a spoon into the cuts. This will allow the glaze to really penetrate into the ham. Do not go too far, just about a half inch.

Spoon about a third of the glazing onto the ham and into all of the slices. I like to do this before simmering the glazing as the more liquid it is, the more it penetrates into the ham.

Cooking the Ham

Place the ham on a roaster with a rack. Pour one cup of water into the bottom. Loosely cover the ham and cook for an hour.

While the ham starts to heat up, thicken the glaze on the stovetop. Heat a small pan over medium heat. Add the remaining glazing and bring to a slight simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 3-5 minutes, until slightly thickened. Do not over thicken the mixture.

After the ham has been in the oven for that hour, brush with half of the reduced glazing. Loosely cover the ham again and bake for another hour.

After that, brush with the remaining glazing and cover again. Cook for another 30 minutes to one hour. All together, the cooking time should be about 2.5 to 3 hours.

Adding the Brown Sugar Topping

The ham should almost be at temperature (140 degrees) at this time, if not, leave it in the oven a little longer. Then, remove the ham from the oven and pack the remaining brown sugar onto the top of the ham. Place back in the oven, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, until brown sugar is crispy but not burnt. You can also do this on the broiler, just keep a close eye on the ham as the sugar may burn easily.

You can skip the added brown sugar if you do not want too much sweetness or caramelization on the top.

Let the ham rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

How Long Should I Cook the Ham

At 325 degrees, the bone-in ham should take about 20 minutes per pound, as long as it was fully cooked beforehand. You want the internal temperature to reach 140 degrees.

What Do I Cook the Ham On

Cook the ham on a roast pan with rack. You can also make a similar type of tray using a foil disposable tray with rolled up aluminum foil on the bottom.

Storing and Heating Up Leftovers

You can store the leftovers, in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to five days. Use them for sandwiches or another dinner by heating it back up in the oven or microwave.

You can also freeze the ham, in an airtight container or bag, in the freezer for up to three months.

Best Sides for a Bourbon Glazed Ham

Maple bourbon glazed ham is a classic! But, you are going to need some good sides. I recommend my sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes or honey roasted carrots.

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Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham

My family’s absolute best recipe is this maple bourbon glazed ham with the most delicious brown sugar glaze for the topping. We make this for every single holiday, party or family get together. I am telling you, there is no better recipe out there than this. You will be craving it all year round!