Honey Baked Ham — 🍯🐷❤️ Spiral baked honey ham that’s SO EASY you really can’t mess it up! The sweetness of the honey works perfectly with the saltiness of the ham. This ham is similar to the spiral cut hams everyone loves to purchase but is so much less expensive! Perfect for HOLIDAY MEALS and family dinners!
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Easy Honey Baked Ham Recipe
If you’ve ever been intimidated to make a honey baked spiral ham worthy of your family’s holiday celebrations such as Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, this super easy recipe will give you the confidence to make one.
Or, try this honey baked ham the next time you’re looking for something for a Sunday dinner or satisfying family meal.
Everyone will be impressed with the flavor of this spiral baked ham that’s perfectly sweet to balance the saltiness of the ham.
It reminds me of those fancy-looking honeybaked hams that everyone loves to buy. However, this version is far less expensive and tastes just as good — if not better — than anything you’d order online, order from your grocery store, or order in a restaurant!
Ingredients in Honey Baked Ham
The star of this recipe is undoubtedly the honey baked ham glaze. I kept the ingredients list short and simple because I really wanted the actual flavor of the meat to shine through.
Here’s what you’ll need to make the honey baked spiral ham:
- Precut spiral sliced hams – Use a boneless ham over a bone-in ham
- Apple juice
- Water
- Honey
- Light brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Grainy mustard
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Ground cloves
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Cook a Honey Baked Ham
- Place the ham on a rack in a large roasting pan, cut-side down, and pour the apple juice and water into the bottom.
- In a small saucepot, add the honey, brown sugar, vinegar, Dijon and grainy mustards, garlic, onion powder, black pepper, and ground cloves. Whisk to combine. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugars melt and the mixture is smooth. There’s no need to bring the mixture to a boil.
- Brush half the glaze all over the ham, making sure to get it between the slices. Cover and bake until the internal temperature reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Increase the temperature to 375F.
- Remove the ham from the oven, remove the foil, and brush half of the remaining glaze all over. Cook the ham uncovered until the internal temperature reaches 130F. Turn the broiler to low, and brush the remaining glaze all over.
- Rest for about 20 minutes to achieve a tender ham.
Tip! Create a Crispy Skin
The glaze on the outside doesn’t really get crispy, but I highly recommend broiling it for a few minutes to get that caramelized flavor out of the sugar mixture.
With the natural sugars in the honey, make sure to keep an eye on it the entire time you’re broiling, or it could burn.
Tips for the Best Honey Baked Ham Recipe
Allow your ham to sit out at room temperature for 3 hours before baking it. It will help bring up the ham’s temperature so it won’t take as long to cook.
I like to save the cooking liquid. Then, when reheating the ham, place the cooking liquid in a large skillet with the ham slices.
I prefer to cut the slices off the main ham shank and place them directly into the pan with the liquid. Bring it to a simmer, and it’s ready to re-serve!
Storage:
Store: Leftover spiral baked ham will last up to five days in the fridge. Store the meat in an airtight container for best results.
Freeze: Leftover ham can be frozen for up to three months in freezer bags. I recommend storing smaller portions of ham in one bag so that you can thaw a couple of servings at a time. When ready to eat the frozen ham, simply thaw it overnight in the fridge.
What to Serve with Baked Spiral Ham
Recipe FAQs
Although the overall flavor profile is quite sweet from the honey, apple juice, and brown sugar, it all really works beautifully and balances the inherent saltiness of the ham.
Ironically, you don’t really specifically taste honey even though there’s lots of honey in the glaze. It just really adds the perfect sweetness.
The rule of thumb is to allow for 18-20 minutes per pound. In total, this spiral baked ham will need to cook for about 1 hour and 50 minutes total. It’ll first bake for 90 minutes at 325F, then an additional 20 minutes at 375F.
Leftover ham is great to have on hand for soups, chowders, sliders, and more. Use the leftover meat to make Ham and Cheese Sliders (a long-time reader favorite!), a Baked Ham and Cheese Omelet, or serve it on a charcuterie board.
When using boneless ham, a general rule of thumb is to allow for at least 1/3 pound per person. However, I always allow for more in case people are extra hungry.
Honey Baked Ham Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Small Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 precut spiral ham, boneless (7-10 pounds)
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup honey
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon grainy mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Let the ham sit out at room temperature for 3 hours before baking. This will help bring the ham’s temperature up so it won’t take as long to cook. This accounts for the long "additional time" measurement above.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the ham onto a rack in a large roasting pan, cut-side down. If you do not have a roasting rack, you can make one by using a large piece of foil, compressing it down into a long rope, and securing the ends together to form a circle. Place the foil circle into the bottom of the roasting pan and place the ham, cut-side down, on top of the foil.
- Pour the apple juice and water into the bottom of the roasting pan.
- To a small sauce pan, add the honey, brown sugar, vinegar, dijon and grainy mustards, garlic and onion powders, pepper, cloves, and whisk together until combined and place over medium-low heat. Continue to stir occasionally until the sugars have melted and the mixture is smooth; remove from the heat.
- Brush half of the glaze all over the ham, trying to get some of the glaze between the slices, but don’t worry if you can’t. Cover the ham and roasting pan with foil, noting you may need to overlap the foil.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 90 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches around 110°F.
- Increase the oven temp to 375°F.
- Remove the foil and brush with half of the remaining glaze (make sure you reserve the other half), again trying to get the glaze between the slices as best you can. Tip – If the glaze thickened too much and it is not brushable, place it back on the stove to loosen it up.
- Place the ham back in the oven, uncovered this time, and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches about 130°F.
- Turn your broiler to low.
- Brush the remaining reserved glaze all over the ham, trying to get the glaze in between the slices as best you can.
- Broil the ham until the glaze starts to bubble and becomes caramelized. Tip – Make sure to keep an eye on it the entire time or it could burn!
- Allow the ham to sit and rest for about 20 minutes before serving. I prefer to serve with the ham drippings as a jus because they add so much moisture and flavor* (See Notes).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Made this ham for Sunday School Class Christmas Potluck Lunch last Saturday. There were 2 other hams. Howeverrr, Some went back for seconds on this ham and not the others. I tried the other two hams. Even though one was cooked in a sauce it was very dry. The other ham was good but not as good as your recipe. No, I didn’t go back for seconds. I’m still enjoying what’s left at home!
Made this ham for Sunday School Class Christmas Potluck Lunch last Saturday. There were 2 other hams. Howeverrr, Some went back for seconds on this ham and not the others. I tried the other two hams. Even though one was cooked in a sauce it was very dry. The other ham was good but not as good as your recipe. No, I didn’t go back for seconds. I’m still enjoying what’s left at home!
Thanks for the 5 star review and I love hearing that my ham recipe was the favored one at the potluck and that you’re still enjoying your leftovers!
grear
great
one of the best I have seen
Oh this looks amazing canāt wait to make this got Easter !āĀ
Hope you enjoy it!
great