Description
Looking for an easy ham glaze recipe that delivers incredible flavor without complicated steps? This simple glaze transforms a basic grocery store spiral ham into the best ham you’ve ever served. With just three pantry ingredients – orange juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon – you’ll create a glossy finish that makes any Christmas ham or holiday main dish absolutely spectacular.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pre-sliced ham (2-3 pounds)
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Make the glaze
- In a medium saucepan, combine the orange juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
- Once boiling, cook for 1–2 minutes until the sugar is fully dissolved and the glaze is slightly syrupy. Remove from heat.
Layer the ham
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Separate the ham slices slightly and arrange a layer of ham in a baking dish (cut side down if possible).
- Spoon some of the glaze over the first layer of ham, letting it drip between the slices.
- Add another layer of ham, followed by more glaze.
- Continue layering until all of the ham and glaze are used, finishing with glaze on top.
- Bake uncovered for 15–20 minutes per pound, basting once or twice if desired. For a 2–3 pound ham, about 45 minutes works perfectly.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Spoon extra glaze from the pan over the ham slices if desired.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Bring your ham to room temperature before baking. Cold ham straight from the refrigerator takes longer to heat through and may cook unevenly.
- Don’t Overbake: Since you’re working with already smoked ham, overcooking dries it out. Stick to the 15-20 minutes per pound guideline.
- Add maple syrup or honey for a richer glaze.
- A splash of honey, maple syrup, or a pinch of ground cloves makes a great addition.
- Pineapple juice is a great substitution if you don’t have OJ on hand or you can mix orange juice and pineapple juice.
- This recipe works beautifully for Easter, Christmas, or any cozy family dinner.
- A tablespoon of Dijon mustard mixed in adds a little extra kick to the glaze.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: MainDish
