Apple Cider Glazed Ham

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Brown sugar, honey, mustard, and apple cider give spiral-cut ham a spectacular transformation.

Robby Melvin

Updated on November 1, 2023

Tested by

Food & Wine Test Kitchen

honeybaked ham — Photo: Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford / Food Styling by Ali Ramee

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 35 mins

Yield:

10 servings

Pulling off an impressive holiday ham at home takes just a few simple steps. Start with a good-quality, bone-in spiral-cut ham — make sure it is unglazed. Coat it with this deliciously sweet apple cider glaze featuring light brown sugar, honey, and Dijon mustard. Brushing the glaze onto the ham in 15-minute intervals during the last 30 minutes of baking creates a wonderfully sticky and caramelized crust. Serve any leftovers on biscuits with a slather of mustard.

Frequently asked questions

Do you glaze ham before or after cooking?

Both! For the best glazed ham, brush a portion of the glaze on the ham before it goes in the oven to build flavor and allow the glaze to caramelize and turn sticky-sweet, then brush the remaining glaze on after the ham has cooked. Think of this step like basting a turkey — by brushing some of the glaze on once the ham is cooked, you’ll add even more flavor and moisture just before your guests take their first bites.

What is the secret to juicy ham?

Like any cut of meat, the key factor in serving juicy ham is not overcooking it. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham; insert it into the thickest portion of the ham and once it registers 140°F, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes. Resting is important too, as it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the ham, ensuring that each slice will be as moist and tender as the rest.

How long does it take to heat a bone-in spiral sliced ham?

As a rule of thumb, cook a bone-in spiral sliced ham for 13 to 15 minutes per pound. For an 8- to 9-pound bone-in spiral sliced ham, cook it for about two hours total. Even though the ham is pre-cooked, this time will allow it to reheat all the way through thoroughly.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Avoid purchasing a glazed ham; the glazes will be loaded with salt and other preservatives that you don’t need. Plus it’s just as easy and even more delicious to make your own using a handful of basic pantry ingredients, as we’ve done here.

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Ingredients

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup apple cider, divided
1 (8- to 9-pound) fully cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham half

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a roasting pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Stir together brown sugar, honey, mustard, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the cider in a medium bowl.
Place ham in prepared pan so that individual ham slices are perpendicular to pan bottom. Brush ham with 3/4 cup glaze, gently pushing glaze in between slices. Turn ham over so that bottoms of slices are now facing up; brush an additional 3/4 cup glaze in between slices. Turn ham so that the large, flat, cut side is facing down in pan.
Pour remaining 1/2 cup cider into bottom of pan. Cover tightly with foil. Bake in preheated oven 1 1/2 hours. Remove from oven; remove and discard foil. Brush ham evenly with 1/3 cup glaze; return to oven, and bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Brush with 1/3 cup glaze; return to oven, and bake until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of ham registers 140°F, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven; brush with remaining 1/3 cup glaze and pan drippings. Let stand 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.