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    Home » Hunger

    Winter Spiced Holiday Ham

    By Lauren on December 21, 2020, Updated June 23, 2022 Leave a Comment

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    boneless spiral cut ham with glaze on a platter
    collage of sugar glaze coated ham
    overhead angle of spiral cut ham with winter spiced glaze
    boneless spiral cut ham with glaze on a platter
    side angle of sugar glazed ham on a serving plate

    Tender cooked ham coated in classic holiday spices and sugar glaze with just the right amount of caramelized crisp! Winter spiced holiday ham is the holiday ham recipe perfect for celebrating and oh so easy to prepare.

    boneless spiral cut ham with glaze on a platter

    Get dinner in the oven so you can actually enjoy the holiday instead of working over the feast all day! This beautifully spiced holiday ham fits the bill for a low effort, high-quality main dish!

    Just the right amount of spice (clove, ginger, cinnamon) and sweetness (brown sugar and molasses), and oh boy, that perfect crunchy caramelization on the outside. It's my favorite part!

    side angle of sugar glazed ham on a serving plate

    HOW TO MAKE WINTER SPICED HOLIDAY HAM

    Bake. Mix. Broil. Serve.

    It's seriously low maintenance. The ham is already cooked, you just need to heat it to 140°F with a little water in the pan so it stays nice and tender and doesn't dry out.

    labeled ingredients for winter spiced holiday ham
    process shot images for making winter spiced holiday ham

    What kind of ham should you use?

    My go-to is boneless, spiral cut because all you have to do is put it on the serving plate once it's done. Easy peasy. You can also use a bone-in ham if that's your jam! You may need to up the size because you'll get fewer servings due to the bone.

    When do you glaze the ham?

    After it's done cooking because it's just a quick broil! You want to make sure the ham has reached an internal temperature of 140°F then it's time to glaze! You'll also want to drain most of the water from the pan. You can use a turkey baster or measuring cup.

    spreading thick sugar glaze over spiral cut ham

    This glaze is really thick so pour it over the top of the ham and then spread it over the sides with the backside of a spoon.

    Switch the oven to broil. Depending on the height of your ham, you'll want the rack in the middle to the second-lowest position. The game should be close enough to the broil element so that it caramelized the sugar without burning it. This will take about 3 to 5 minutes depending on your oven.

    Can I still make this ham without a broiler?

    Yes! Try using a kitchen torch (affiliate link) instead of a broiler! It may take a bit longer to crisp the sugar all over, but it's a nice alternative.

    You can also just turn the temperature of your oven up to 500°F and bake at the high-temperature setting, but if your oven hasn't been cleaned in a bit you might get quite a bit of smoke at that high temp setting.

    overhead angle of spiral cut ham with winter spiced glaze

    What to serve with holiday ham?

    Potatoes and veggies! Those are the classics we roll with on our holiday table. Here are some ideas of what to serve with your main dish.

    • lobster and leek potato gratin
    • classic mashed potatoes
    • honey ginger roasted carrots
    • pancetta roasted Brussels sprouts
    • gingerbread cinnamon rolls

    What are your go-to holiday side dishes? Tell me below! If you made this recipe please let me know with a rating and comment! Happy holidays friends!

    boneless spiral cut ham with glaze on a platter

    Winter Spiced Holiday Ham

    Low maintenance holiday cooking!  Winter spiced holiday ham brings the classic flavors of clove and cinnamon with a hint of spicy ginger in a thick, caramelized sugar glaze over a no-fuss, easy to cook holiday ham.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: boneless christmas ham, holiday ham, sugar glazed ham, winter spiced ham
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
    Servings: 8 to 10 servings
    Calories: 381kcal
    Author: Lauren
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    Ingredients

    • 4 to 5 pound boneless ham
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon ground clove
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground mustard
    • 2 tablespoons molasses
    • 1 to 2 teaspoons water

    Instructions

    • Prep. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Place the ham flat side down in a baking dish. Fill the baking dish with ½ inch to 1-inch water.  Cover with foil.
    • Bake. Bake the ham for 15 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
    • Mix. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, spices, molasses, and water.  Use less water for a thick glaze and more water if you want just a touch of glaze over the ham.
    • Broil. Set the oven to broil. Drain most of the water from the baking dish. Spread the glaze over the top of the ham and down the sides. Broil on high for 3 to 5 minutes until the sugar starts to caramelize.
    • Enjoy! Serve right away.

    Notes

    • This glaze can be used on a bone-in or boneless ham.  Depending on the size of your ham, you may need to 1.5x to 2x the recipe to coat the entire ham.  This recipe as is will coat an entire 4 to 5 pound boneless, spiral cut ham.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 2624mg | Potassium: 724mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Hi, I'm Lauren! This is my slice of the internet to share seasonally-inspired recipes. I live in the heart of New England with my husband, two kiddos, English bulldog and our two local restaurants. Life is busy AND delicious!

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