Best Glaze for Spiral Ham (Only 2 Ingredients)
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Ditch that packet of brown sugar glaze that came with your spiral ham, and make this super easy 2-ingredient spiral ham glaze instead! Sweet, tangy, and so easy to make, it’s the perfect way to enhance your holiday meal.
Why you’ll love this spiral ham
I don’t know about you, but we have ham every Christmas. Sometimes we even prepare it for Thanksgiving, too! However, I’m not a huge fan of brown sugar glazes, finding them a bit boring.
And pineapple glazes get old, too. Instead, I like to switch things up completely with this easy 2-ingredient ham glaze. Unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before, it’s guaranteed to be a hit with the whole family!
- Easy – With no complicated steps and just two simple ingredients, this recipe elevates your ham with minimal effort.
- Flavorful – The glaze infuses the ham with a sweet, tangy, and savory flavor that’s out-of-this-world delicious.
- Unique – A bit of an unusual combination the raspberry mustard glaze offers a change from the same old holiday ham, creating an original main course all your guests will love.
Try this recipe this holiday season, and you may never go back to classic brown sugar or honey-glazed ham options again!
Key Ingredient Notes
- Ham – I highly recommend using bone-in spiral-cut ham packaged with juices or just water. It’s pre-cooked and the easiest to prepare!
- Raspberry jelly – For a deliciously smooth glaze, I recommend seedless jelly.
- Dijon mustard – Tangy and spicy Dijon mustard balances out the sweetness of raspberry jelly.
How to make spiral ham with an easy 2-ingredient ham glaze
Before you begin, preheat your oven to 300°F.
1. Roast the ham
- Layer two long sheets of aluminum foil on a baking sheet.
- Place the ham in the center of the pan cut side down.
- Wrap the ham by bringing all four ends of the foil up and folding them around the meat.
- Roast for two hours.
2. Prepare the spiral ham glaze
- While the ham roasts, whisk the raspberry jelly and mustard in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Reserve about 1 cup of the glaze for serving.
3. Glaze the ham
- Remove the ham from the oven, and carefully open the foil. Be careful not to burn your fingers!
- Baste the pool of juices at the bottom over the ham. I love to do this to keep the meat moist and add extra flavor!
- Increase the oven temperature to 375°F.
- Brush the glaze all over the ham.
- Roast uncovered for 30 minutes, basting the meat every 10 minutes.
4. Serve
- Brush another layer of glaze all over the ham.
- Serve warm with the reserved glaze on the side.
Save the bones and juice
Don’t toss out the leftover bones and ham juice! Instead, use them to infuse flavor into soups and stews like ham and potato soup.
Tips for Success
- Cover the ham with foil for the first two hours of baking. This locks in moisture, keeping the ham moist and adding lots of flavor.
- Baste the ham as it cooks with the leftover juices and glaze for the boldest flavor.
- Uncover the ham in the last 30 minutes of baking to achieve a beautiful golden exterior.
- Use a meat thermometer like a Thermapen to ensure the thickest part of the ham away from the bone reaches an internal temperature between 120°F and 140°F.
Make-Ahead Tips
- Whisk the raspberry jelly and mustard for the spiral ham glaze in a bowl, and store it covered in teh fridge for 1-2 days. Bring it to room temperature, and give it a good whisk when you’re ready to use.
- Use a spiral-cut ham, which is already cooked, and then just reheat it in the oven before adding the glaze.
How to serve baked ham with spiral ham glaze:
Of course, you can serve this ham with spiral ham glaze any time of the year. However, I love to serve it during the holidays with comfort food side dishes like:
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Warm Quinoa Brussels Sprouts Salad
- 3-Ingredient Creamed Corn
- Orange Cranberry Sauce
Don’t forget to finish your meal with a dessert like easy pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or Christmas sugar cookies, too!
Storing Tips
- Store leftover glazed spiral ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
- Freeze cooked and cooled ham for up to 3 months.
- Thaw leftovers in the fridge overnight, and enjoy them cold in salads or sandwiches. Or, reheat ham slices in the microwave or oven.
FAQs:
No, you don’t need to put water in the pan.
It’s not necessary to bring the spiral ham to room temperature before roasting.
It’s important to only glaze a ham in the last 30 minutes or so of baking. Any earlier, and the sugars in the glaze will burn. I also like to serve extra glaze on the side for dipping and drizzling!
More Holiday Main Courses
Raspberry Mustard Glaze for Spiral Ham Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bone-in spiral cut ham 6-8lbs
- 1 cup seedless raspberry jelly
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Layer 2 long sheets of aluminum foil on a baking sheet, as shown in the video above.
- Place the ham cut side down.
- Wrap the ham by bring all 4 ends of the foil up and around the ham.
- Roast for 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together raspberry jelly and mustard until smooth. Reserve about 1 cup of glaze for serving.
- Remove the ham from oven and carefully open the wrap. You’ll get a pool of juices in the bottom. You can baste it over the ham, if desired.
- Increase the oven to 375°F.
- Brush on the remaining glaze all over the ham. Roast without cover for 30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes.
- Take the ham out of the oven and brush another layer of glaze.
- Serve with the reserved raspberry mustard glaze on the side.
⭐️ Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a review and let us know how you liked it!
Tips & Notes
– Store leftover glazed spiral ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
– Freeze cooked and cooled ham for up to 3 months.
– Thaw leftovers in the fridge overnight, and enjoy them cold in salads or sandwiches. Or, reheat ham slices in the microwave or oven.
Nutrition
Loved the glaze recipe. If made ahead the day before how long do you recommend for reheating the next day for serving?
Hi, Lil. So glad you loved the glaze! You’ll follow the same directions for reheating the ham. 😉
Glaze was simple & delicious. My family loved it.
Yay, so happy you tried and loved my recipe. Thank you for your comment, Lil!
This is perfect for Easter!
Yes, it is. Thanks, Carolyn!
This will be perfect for easter!
Yes, indeed. Thanks, Lauren!