Brown Sugar Ham Glaze Recipe

Name: Brown Sugar Ham Glaze Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed); 1/4 cup real maple syrup (or honey); 2 tbsp yellow mustard (or dijon or whole grain); 2 cloves garlic (minced)

5 from 5 votes

6 comments

March 29, 2024

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Whip up the perfect Easter dinner centerpiece with this simple Brown Sugar Ham Glaze recipe! Just a handful of ingredients, a few easy steps, and you’ll have a juicy, tender ham with a deliciously sticky glaze. Get ready to impress your guests!

Why You’ll Love this Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

With the next holiday dinner always around the corner, a baked ham with a Brown Sugar Ham Glaze Recipe over the top is the perfect main course to serve. It is so simple to throw together and only requires a handful of ingredients you probably already have on hand. I use a honey roasted spiral cut ham because they always go on sale and are a cinch to serve. Then I top it with this delicious glaze to really take it over the top and make it special because it is the holidays after all.

Whether you have a bone-in ham or boneless ham you can use this brown sugar glaze! Need a good ham recipe? Check out How To Slow Cook a Pre-cooked Ham In The Oven, Slow Cooker Ham or my Pineapple Glazed Ham.

Ingredients Needed for this Simple Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

You can ditch the glaze packet that came with your ham. All you need are 4 simple ingredients and about 7 minutes of your time to make this heavenly ham glaze. Here’s what you need:

Brown Sugar: Packed with sweetness and caramel notes, using light or dark brown sugar adds depth to the glaze.
Maple Syrup or Honey: Opt for REAL maple syrup or honey for a natural touch of sweetness.
Mustard: Whether it’s yellow, whole grain or dijon mustard, mustard brings a tangy kick to balance the sweetness.
Garlic: Minced garlic infuses the glaze with a subtle, savory flavor. Try using Roasted Garlic!

Variations:

Feeling adventurous? Try swapping out the mustard for orange juice or pineapple juice for a tropical twist.
Experiment with different types of honey for unique flavor profiles.
For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the glaze.

How to Make Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham

Once the glaze is all heated and the sugar melts, brush glaze over the entire ham to coat-including in between slices (if using a spiral ham) and all the nooks and crannies. Stick the ham back in the oven for the last few minutes of cooking and serve. It gets sticky and is the perfect amount of sweet to savory. Try it on your ham this Easter or Christmas and you will see just how much better it becomes!

For full recipe details including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here are step-by-step instructions for making and using this Brown Sugar Glaze:

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat Oven to 425° F.

2. Heat All Ingredients in a Saucepan

In a small saucepan, measure out all ingredients and stir over medium heat. Simmer glaze until sugar melts and becomes syrupy about 1-2 minutes.

3. Remove From Heat + Brush onto Ham Slices

Remove glaze from heat and brush glaze on to the ham generously with a basting brush, being sure to separate the slices of spiral ham to get glaze into the nooks and crannies.

4. Bake Glazed Ham

From here you’re just going to bake your almost ready and warmed ham just long enough to set the glaze and get it nice and sticky. Bake your glazed ham at 425° F for 10 minutes or until glaze is sticky and set. Cut slices off the ham with a sharp knife. Keep ham slices warm while you’re cutting by covering the slices with aluminum foil. Serve warm.

Pro Tip: Whether your ham is fresh or pre-cooked and ready-to-eat, ham should be heated to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F as measured with a meat thermometer before removing from the oven.

Storing Leftover Glazed Ham

Allow leftover ham to cool completely to room temperature before placing in an airtight container and storing in the fridge. Leftover ham is good for up to 4-5 days. If you didn’t use all of the glaze, you can store it in an airtight container and add the rest of the glaze to leftover ham the next day.

What Side Dishes to Serve with Ham

This is one of the easiest things you can do to any ham to set it part from ordinary dinners and make it much more special, especially for a Sunday dinner or holiday feast. Here are a few favorite sides to serve with your ham. You can’t have ham without a few of these dishes:

Loving the glazed life? Try these other glazed main dish recipes: Crockpot Cherry Balsamic Glazed Pork, and Sweet Chili Hoisin Glazed Chicken Drumsticks.

More Meat Recipes to Try!

Using this simple glaze brings your juicy ham to the next level! Printable recipe below, friends! Have a great day!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Print Pin It

5 from 5 votes