If you’re a fan of ham but are tired of it sometimes just being ho-hum, this easy ham glaze is going to become your go-to! With satisfying sweet and savory flavors, this glaze is sure to take your next baked ham to the next level.
What is Easy Ham Glaze?
Easy ham glaze is a simple mixture of sweet, savory, and herbal ingredients that is guaranteed to take your ham to the next level. Maple syrup and brown sugar help to create a mouthwatering caramelized ham while mustard and rosemary give it an absolutely irresistible aroma and earthy flavor. Then, it’s all rounded out with the warmth of rosemary.
This super simple ham glaze is sure to take any ham from standard to scrumptious. Plus, it couldn’t be any easier to make. Get ready for everybody to ask for the recipe for this delectable glaze!
What Makes This Ham Glaze The Best?
There are plenty of reasons to love this delicious glaze, but here are just a few of our favorites.
- It’s so simple. If you’re looking for a recipe that you can whip up in nearly no time, this is the one!
- Chock-full of flavor. You’re not going to find anything in the store that packs in the layers of flavor like this sweet and savory sauce.
- It’s not just for ham. Don’t relegate this recipe to the bottom of your sauce list for your next holiday ham! Instead, experiment with using it with other meats, veggies, and even fruit.
Ingredients
This ham glaze recipe is perfectly portioned for an 8-10 pound spiral-cut ham but you can adjust as needed for the size that you have.
- Real Maple Syrup – This is the sweet goodness that makes your ham irresistibly caramelized.
- Brown Sugar – Adding brown sugar gives the glaze a rich, molasses-like depth. You can use light brown sugar or dial up the molasses flavor with dark brown sugar.
- Coarse-Grained Mustard – A spoonful of this mustard brings a punch of tangy zest and a bit of heat which perfectly balances the other sweet ingredients.
- Fresh Rosemary, Finely Chopped – Rosemary adds a touch of herbaceousness with its piney, aromatic flavor.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Salt brings out the rich and sweet flavors of the other ingredients.
- Ground Allspice – Just a pinch of this warm, aromatic spice ties everything together.
Variations
Don’t have all of the ingredients handy to make this simple recipe? No problem! Here are some easy swaps!
- Sweetener – Use molasses instead of syrup to deepen the caramel flavor even more. Or, try honey for sweetness with a different flavor profile.
- Dijon Mustard – If you prefer a smoother texture Dijon mustard is the perfect substitute.
- Thyme or Sage – Change up the herbs with thyme for a lemony, slightly minty flavor or sage for a more earthy, savory note.
- Sea Salt or Himalayan Pink Salt instead of Coarse Kosher Salt – These salts add a different texture and a subtle flavor variation.
- Spices – Try cinnamon for a warm, sweet-and-spicy kick, ground cloves for an amazing aroma, or nutmeg for a nutty and slightly sweet flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Add a little acidity with a splash of apple cider vinegar.
- Juice – Add a little bit of pineapple juice or orange juice for fruity flavor.
How to Make This Delicious Glaze
Upgrading a meal doesn’t get much easier than using this amazing glaze. For more detailed instructions on how to make the ham, check out my baked ham recipe that uses this sauce.
- Combine ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until completely combined.
- Brush onto ham. After briefly cooking the ham, pull the roasting pan out and use a pastry brush or a baster to coat the slices and top of the ham with the glaze. Then continue to bake until the ham has reached the desired temperature.
What To Serve With Easy Ham Glaze
Just because it’s called “ham glaze” doesn’t mean you have to reserve it just for your ham recipes! You can use this simple glaze on other proteins like baked chicken, turkey, pork chops, salmon, or even on tofu.
This glaze is also a great way to jazz up side dishes like roasted root vegetables, carrots, or potatoes — or you can brush it on oven-baked bacon to turn those sizzling slices into a candied masterpiece. And don’t sleep on brushing it on before you grill peaches, pineapples, or other fruit!
Storage and Freezing
The fabulous thing about this glaze is that you can make it and store it for when you need it! Make the glaze ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up a whole week.
How to Store Ham Glaze
If you’re storing the glaze just after making it, simple transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for a week. If you anticipate having leftover ham glaze after you use it on your ham, pour some into a separate bowl and use that to baste so that you don’t add any of the juices from the meat into the container you’re planning to store.
Can I Freeze Ham Glaze?
Freeze the sauce for up to three months in a freezer-safe container or a resealable freezer bag.
Common Questions About Ham Glaze
There are countless recipes for ham glaze that have a variety of flavor profiles. For this one, we use sweet maple syrup and brown sugar along with mustard, rosemary, salt, and allspice.
The answer actually lies somewhere in between! You’ll want to first start cooking the ham, and then after a short time, glaze it and let it finish baking.
The best way to make sure your ham is moist and juicy is to cook it covered. Use aluminum foil to cover it while it bakes.
More Simple And Savory Sauces
If you know me, you know how much I love a good sauce! Here are a few of my favorites that I know you’ll love too.
Avocado Crema
Meatball Sauce
Big Mac Sauce Recipe
Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham
Ingredients
- 8-10 pound bone-in spiral sliced ham
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons coarse-grained mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Place the ham in a large baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, coarse-grain mustard, fresh rosemary, Kosher salt and allspice.
- Remove and uncover the ham. Baste the ham glaze between each slice and over the top with all basting liquid. If your ham slices are having trouble staying up see my tip above for tying your ham.
- Return to the oven, uncovered for 45 minutes.
- Remove and serve immediately.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
Your glaze is literally perfect! We had it for family dinner last night served over our Ham and it was awesome! Thank you!
This is the ONLY way to cook ham! I love brown sugar and maple with the saltiness of ham, and your mix is really good.
This recipe was really simple but had a great flavor! I’d make it again for sure1
Mmm, mmm, mmmm, this maple brown sugar ham looks and sounds fabulous. I need a slice of this ASAP! Yummy!