Sugar Baked Ham

Transform your holiday table with this irresistibly sweet and savory Sugar Baked Ham, the ultimate centerpiece for any celebration! This recipe features a fully cooked bone-in ham coated in a luscious glaze made from brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, pineapple juice, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves. The glaze caramelizes in the oven, creating a sticky, golden crust that’s bursting with flavor. Optional garnishes like pineapple rings, maraschino cherries, and whole cloves add a festive touch that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfectly balanced between sweet and smoky, this baked ham is slow-roasted to juicy perfection, with each slice offering tender, mouthwatering bites. Ready in just a few simple steps, it’s a crowd-pleaser that serves up to 12 and pairs effortlessly with your favorite holiday sides. Whether you’re hosting Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, this sugar-glazed ham recipe is guaranteed to impress!

Nutriscore Rating: 52/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:180 mins

Total Time:200 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 8 pounds Bone-in ham (fully cooked)
• 1 cup Brown sugar
• 0.5 cup Honey
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
• 0.5 cup Pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons Butter (unsalted)
• 15 pieces Whole cloves (optional, for garnish)
• 6 pieces Pineapple rings (optional, for garnish)
• 6 pieces Maraschino cherries (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).

Step 2

Place the ham in a roasting pan, flat side down. If desired, score the surface of the ham by cutting shallow crisscross patterns into the rind for better glaze absorption.

Step 3

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, pineapple juice, and butter. Stir and cook until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Pour half of the glaze evenly over the ham, ensuring it coats the surface and seeps into the scored lines. Reserve the rest of the glaze for later.

Step 5

If using, press whole cloves into the scored surface for added flavor, and arrange pineapple rings and maraschino cherries on top, securing them with toothpicks if necessary.

Step 6

Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours.

Step 7

Remove the foil and brush the ham with additional glaze every 20 minutes for another hour, ensuring that the glaze caramelizes and forms a sticky, golden crust.

Step 8

Once the ham reaches an internal temperature of 135°F (57°C), remove it from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Step 9

Slice the ham and serve with extra glaze drizzled on top or on the side for dipping.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(4135.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	7302.8

Total Fat 326.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 122.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 2196.5mg	0%
Sodium 43675.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 334.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 12.2g	0%
Total Sugars 307.9g
Protein 771.4g	0%

Vitamin D 14IU	0%
Calcium 632.0mg	0%
Iron 26.6mg	0%
Potassium 11350.5mg	0%

*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: 39.9%

Protein: 41.9%

Carbs: 18.2%