Brown Sugar and Spice Crusted Ham

Elevate your holiday table with this showstopping Brown Sugar and Spice Crusted Ham—a perfectly baked bone-in ham featuring a deeply flavorful glaze that's equal parts sweet, tangy, and spiced. Infused with a luxurious blend of brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, and aromatic spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, this recipe promises a caramelized crust that’s both visually stunning and irresistibly delicious. A touch of orange juice adds brightness, while whole cloves can be optionally studded for a festive, classic touch. With just 15 minutes of prep time and a simple basting technique, this ham roasts to perfection, serving up to 12 guests with tender, juicy slices bursting with flavor. Whether for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, this easy yet elegant ham is sure to become a family tradition!

Nutriscore Rating: 55/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:150 mins

Total Time:165 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 piece Bone-in fully-cooked ham (8-10 lbs)
• 1 cup Brown sugar
• 0.5 cup Honey
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground ginger
• 0.5 cup Orange juice
• 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper
• 20 pieces Whole cloves (optional, for studding)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and position a rack in the lower part of the oven.

Step 2

Unwrap the ham and pat it dry with paper towels. Place it cut-side down in a large roasting pan.

Step 3

If desired, score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern and stud it with whole cloves for decorative flair and extra flavor.

Step 4

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, ginger, orange juice, butter, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat.

Step 5

Brush about half of the glaze evenly over the surface of the ham, making sure to get it into the scored cuts if applicable. Reserve the remaining glaze for basting later.

Step 6

Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours (90 minutes), basting every 30 minutes with additional glaze.

Step 7

After 90 minutes, remove the aluminum foil, increase the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C), and brush the ham with the remaining glaze.

Step 8

Continue baking the ham uncovered for an additional 30 minutes, basting it every 10 minutes for a beautifully caramelized crust.

Step 9

Remove the ham from the oven and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. Transfer to a cutting board and slice to serve.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	5010.1 grams (5010.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	7794

Total Fat 422.50g	542%
Saturated Fat 144.40g	722%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 2006mg	669%
Sodium 40261mg	1750%
Total Carbohydrate 318.90g	116%
Dietary Fiber 9.40g	34%
Total Sugars 297.30g
Protein 619.00g	1238%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 632mg	49%
Iron 20mg	113%
Potassium 8800mg	187%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 50.3%

Protein: 32.8%

Carbs: 16.9%