Brown Sugar Ham Glaze Recipe

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You already bought a beautiful ham, so let’s skip the little glaze packet that comes tucked inside. This Brown Sugar Ham Glaze is smoother, richer, and sticks to the meat beautifully. It melts together in minutes, bakes up glossy and sticky, and gives your ham that sweet and savory finish people expect when they head back for seconds.

Ingredient Notes + Variations

This glaze keeps things simple and intentional. Each ingredient has a purpose, and together they create a smooth, glossy coating with just the right balance of sweet and savory.

• 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!

How to Make Brown Sugar Glaze

This brown sugar ham glaze comes together in minutes on the stovetop and finishes in the oven. It is quick, forgiving, and very hard to mess up.

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 ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below.

Step 1: Preheat Oven

Preheat Oven to 425° F.

Step 2: Heat the Glaze

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.

Step 3: Glaze the Ham

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.

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.

Tips for Success

• Separate the spiral slices before glazing so the flavor reaches every bite.
• Simmer just until smooth, not longer, to keep the glaze from thickening too much.
• Use a baking temperature of 425° F so the glaze sets quickly without drying out the ham.
• Brush on extra glaze halfway through baking for an extra glossy finish.

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:

• Scalloped Potatoes
• Funeral Potatoes
• Oven Roasted Asparagus
• Maple Glazed Carrots
• Dinner Rolls

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

Variations

• 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.

More Recipes to Try!

• Moist Meatloaf Recipe
• Perfect Roast Turkey
• Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
• Garlic Pork Loin Roast with Gravied Potatoes
• Steak Cooked on the Stove

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.