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Easy Homemade Ham Glaze Recipe (Best Brown Sugar Glaze)

Easy Homemade Ham Glaze Recipe (Best Brown Sugar Glaze)

A sweet, tangy brown sugar and honey glaze with orange juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. This recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups, enough for one 8–10 lb ham.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 cup Packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • 1/4 cup Orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground cloves
Optional Additions
  • 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 pinch Cayenne

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Add the brown sugar, honey, orange juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and cloves to a small saucepan.
  2. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the glaze is smooth.
  3. Bring the mixture just to a gentle simmer and cook for 3–5 minutes. Do not boil vigorously.
  4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the apple cider vinegar or butter, if using.
  5. Brush one-third to one-half of the glaze over the ham before baking according to the ham package or recipe directions, generally at 325°F.
  6. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham during the final 20–30 minutes of baking, adding a second thin coat during the last 10 minutes.
  7. Rest the ham for 10–15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Score the fat layer in a shallow diamond pattern before glazing. If the glaze thickens while standing, gently rewarm it with 1–2 teaspoons of orange juice or water. Reheat a fully cooked ham to 140°F; a raw or cook-before-eating ham should reach the temperature specified by its package or recipe.