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Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

Brown Sugar Ham Glaze made with honey, Dijon, and fruit juice for a thick, glossy finish. Simmered until slightly thickened, then brushed onto a fully cooked ham during the final 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 230
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Brown sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar Pack firmly for best thickness.
Honey
  • 0.25 cup honey
Pineapple or orange juice
  • 0.25 cup pineapple or orange juice Use either juice; both work for flavor and shine.
Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
Butter
  • 2 tbsp butter Helps the glaze turn glossy and smooth.
Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
Ground cloves
  • 0.25 tsp ground cloves

Equipment

  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Make the glaze
  1. Add the brown sugar, honey, pineapple or orange juice, Dijon mustard, butter, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, and cloves to a saucepan and stir to combine.
  2. Heat the saucepan over medium heat until the mixture reaches a gentle simmer, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves.
  3. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy, then remove from heat while warm.
Glaze the ham
  1. Brush the warm glaze over a fully cooked ham during the last 30 minutes of baking, every 10 minutes, covering the scored diamond pattern.
  2. At the table, spoon any remaining warm glaze over the sliced ham so it clings to the surface.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the glaze warm so it stays pourable for brushing; if it thickens too much, loosen with a teaspoon or two of warm juice. Store leftover glaze covered in the fridge for up to 5 days and rewarm gently in a saucepan; freeze up to 2 months. For a slightly less sweet option, reduce honey to 3 tbsp and increase pineapple/orange juice by 1 tbsp (taste and adjust).