Brown-Sugar Glazed Ham: A Complete Thanksgiving Recipe

Brown-Sugar Glazed Ham ingredients and timing

Ham is a well-established U.S. Thanksgiving main dish, particularly in the South. YouGov’s national polling identifies it as the leading turkey alternative, while also showing that regional service rates differ substantially. ^[4]

Yield: 10 to 12 servings. Prep time: 20 minutes. Cook time: 1 hour 45 minutes. Total time: 2 hours 5 minutes. Ingredients: One 8- to 10-pound fully cooked bone-in spiral ham; 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar; 1/3 cup apple cider; 1/4 cup Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons maple syrup; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves; and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. ^{[1] [3]}

How to make brown-sugar glazed ham

1. Heat the oven to 325°F. Put the ham cut-side down on a rack in a foil-lined roasting pan. Add 1 cup water, cover tightly with foil and heat about 10 to 12 minutes per pound. 2. Simmer brown sugar, cider, mustard, maple syrup, vinegar, ginger, cloves and pepper for 5 minutes until syrupy. 3. When the ham reaches about 120°F, uncover and brush with one-third of the glaze. Repeat twice at 10-minute intervals. 4. Remove when a thermometer in the thickest meat, away from bone, reaches 140°F for a packaged fully cooked ham. Rest 15 minutes before slicing; follow the package if it specifies a different safe endpoint. ^{[1] [3]}

Make-ahead, storage and substitutions

Mix the glaze up to five days ahead. The ham can be heated earlier the same day, but it is juiciest served after its rest. Refrigerate carved leftovers within two hours in shallow containers and use within four days, reheating portions to 165°F. A non-spiral fully cooked ham works but is slower to serve. Check the label carefully: fresh or cook-before-eating ham requires different handling and must reach the USDA temperature specified for that product. ^{[2] [3]}