Brown sugar glazed ham is sweet ham goodness. East to cook and perfect for your holiday table. Make it in the oven, crockpot, or instant pot!
Brown sugar glaze for ham is classic holiday recipe and doesn’t disappoint. Serve it with green bean casserole and quick yeast dinner rolls!
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Brown sugar glazed ham recipe
- Ham – Spiral sliced ham, fully cooked.
- Sugar – Light brown sugar, packed.
- Maple syrup – Real maple syrup.
- Juice – We like apple juice, but you can also use pineapple juice.
How do you make brown sugar glazed ham? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, while the oven is preheating, bring brown sugar, juice, and syrup to a light simmer in a sauce pan on the stove top.
⭐ Then, lower heat and gently simmer until brown sugar mixture has thickened and become a glaze consistency.
⭐ Next, place ham in baking dish or roasting pan and coat with half of the glaze mixture. Bake until heated through.
⭐ Finally, pour remaining glaze over ham and broil on lower middle rack until the sugar begins to caramelize.
Crockpot Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
To prepare this using a slow cooker, whisk together brown sugar, juice, and syrup in a saucepan. Simmer a few minutes until thickened.
Place spiral ham in crock pot and pour glaze over, making sure to get sauce between slices. I like to lay my ham on its side whenever possible if using this method.
Cover and cook on low until heated through. Spoon glaze from bottom of dish over ham before serving.
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
If you’d like to use an instant pot, whisk together brown sugar, juice, and syrup on sauté mode. Turn off sauté mode and remove most of the glaze to a pourable measuring cup or similar vessel. Add 1 cup of water (2 cups if using an 8 or 10 quart).
Place spiral ham in instant pot and pour glaze over, making sure to get sauce between slices. Unless you are using an 8 or 10 quart, you will likely need to cut the ham down to fit it. This is fine, tuck slices into pot where they will fit.
Cover and set to sealing. Cook on manual (high pressure) for 1.5 minutes per pound, then allow a natural pressure release. To thicken remaining glaze, remove ham and whisk in a cornstarch slurry while liquid is simmering.
Preparation
Can you make brown sugar glazed ham ahead of time?
I don’t suggest making this in advance for a holiday meal (it’s best warm straight from the oven), but if you were wanting ham slices for your sandwiches throughout the week, then by all means!
How do you keep brown sugar spiral ham from drying out?
The key is to not overcook the ham. Spiral ham is already cooked, so we are really only heating it up. Make sure to take the ham out as soon as it reaches an internal temperature of 140F.
If you are using a larger ham and are worried it will dry out before heating through, then tent/cover with foil until the last 30 minutes of bake time.
Can you cook the spiral ham from frozen?
We do not suggest cooking this from frozen. To thaw quickly, immerse in a cool water bath and change the water every 10 – 15 minutes until ham is no longer frozen.
Leftovers and storage
How long does brown sugar glazed ham last?
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for about 5 days. Store in a sealed container for best results. Make sure to dispose of leftovers if they sat at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
Can you freeze brown sugar ham?
Yes! There’s nothing better than finding a container of leftover frozen holiday ham in the freezer. What a treat!
Allow the ham to cool, then place in a freezer safe container. Spoon any excess glaze or juices over top, then seal and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
😍 Add more flavor by making sure to work the glaze in-between the spiral slices before baking.
🔥 Give it a kick by adding a few spoonful’s of jalapeno jelly or some spicy mustard to the glaze.
⚖ When planning, remember that an 8 pound ham can feed 9 to 10 people (estimate about 3/4 pound per person for a bone-in ham and 1/2 pound for boneless).
What to eat with brown sugar glazed ham (serving suggestions)
This is for sure a holiday dish in our home (although, my kids wish I made it more frequently) – serve it with sweet potato casserole, easy pumpkin biscuits, and roasted green beans. For dessert Dutch apple pie or homemade pecan pie!
More delicious ham recipes
- Crock pot spiral ham
- Homemade ham salad recipe
- Scalloped potatoes with ham
- Apricot glazed ham
- Ham and cheese croissants
- Ham and hash brown breakfast casserole
- See all our yummy ham recipes!
Other holiday main dishes to try
Tools we love
- Glass baking dish – This one is great because it comes with a lid. Use it to bake and then store leftovers.
- Slow cooker – So great for holidays and whenever you don’t want to heat up the kitchen with the oven.
- Instant pot – Perfect for making your ham, or use it to make something else and free up the oven for ham!
Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!
Follow us below!Use #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
How to Make Brown Sugar Ham
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 6 - 9 pound spiral ham bone-in
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup maple syrup real, not artificial
- 1 cup juice apple or pineapple (we used apple in the pictured recipe)
FOR INSTANT POT DIRECTIONS
- 1 - 1.5 cups water
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch slurry 2 tablespoons cold water + 2 tablespoons cornstarch, whisked
Instructions
OVEN DIRECTIONS
- In a saucepan whisk together brown sugar, maple syrup, and juice over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat and continue stirring and cooking until mixture reduced down to a glaze consistency. About 10 - 15 minutes.
- Place ham in an oven safe baking dish and pour half of the glaze over the ham, working some of the glaze in-between spiral slices.
- Bake at 350F on center oven rack until a meat thermometer inserted at the thickest part reads 140F (about 90 minutes).
- Pour remaining glaze over ham and return to oven on the lower middle rack. Turn on broiler, and cook until ham glaze begins to caramelize. Watch closely, this typically takes between 3 - 7 minutes depending on the shape of the ham and proximity to broiler element.
SLOW COOKER DIRECTIONS
- In a saucepan whisk together brown sugar, maple syrup, and juice over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat and continue stirring and cooking until mixture reduced down to a glaze consistency. About 10 - 15 minutes.
- Place ham in crock pot and all of the glaze over the ham, working glaze in-between spiral slices.
- Cover and set to low for 2 - 4 hours, until heated through.
- Spoon glaze from bottom of crock over ham before serving.
INSTANT POT DIRECTIONS
- You will need either an 8 quart instant pot or smaller ham (4 - 6 pounds). Alternatively, slice your ham to fit.
- Whisk together brown sugar, maple syrup, and juice on sauté mode. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat and continue stirring and cooking until mixture reduced down to a glaze consistency. Remove glaze from pot and set aside.
- Pour 1.5 cups water (in 8 quart) or 1 cup water (in 6 quart) in the inner liner of the pot. Add ham to pot. (If you're pot is finnicky and tends to give a burn notice, place the ham on a trivet).
- Pour glaze over ham, making sure to get some between each spiral slice. Lift ham to get glaze underneath as well.
- Cook on manual (high pressure) for 1.5 minutes per pound, then allow a natural pressure release for 12 minutes.
- To thicken remaining glaze, remove ham and whisk in a cornstarch slurry while liquid is simmering. Spoon additional glaze from pot over ham before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Beth says
This recipe looks so darn delicious! As soon as Costco gets their ham in I am all over this. How did you get those crispy brown edges?
Kara says
Oh my goodness, so tasty! I love the caramelized glaze, it is so yummy! I now have leftovers in my freezer and can’t wait to make another meal with it. 🙂
Andrea Thueson says
This brown sugar-glazed ham recipe was pure perfection! I will definitely be making this again 🙂