Tasty Apricot Glazed Ham Recipe

Finding the perfect centerpiece for your holiday dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. Between coordinating all the side dishes, setting a beautiful table, and making sure everyone arrives on time, the last thing you need is a main dish that requires constant attention or complicated techniques.

That’s why this apricot glazed ham has become my go-to recipe for special occasions – it’s straightforward to prepare, needs minimal hands-on time, and fills the house with the most wonderful sweet and savory aromas while it bakes. The best part? It always gets those “mmm” sounds from around the table when dinner is served.

What Kind of Ham Should I Use?

For this recipe, you’ll want to start with a pre-cooked spiral-sliced ham, which you can find at most grocery stores. While both bone-in and boneless hams will work, a boneless spiral ham is easier to serve and provides consistent, even slices. City hams (the most common type in supermarkets) are perfect for this recipe – they’re wet-cured and usually come pre-cooked, just needing to be heated through. Look for a ham labeled “fully cooked” or “ready to eat” rather than “cook before eating.” If you’re shopping by weight, plan on about 1/2 pound per person for a boneless ham, and try to choose one with a nice fat cap that will help keep the meat moist during heating.

Options for Substitutions

Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this ham recipe:

• Apricot jam: If you can’t find apricot jam, peach preserves work great as a 1:1 replacement. You could also use orange marmalade or pineapple preserves – each will give the ham a slightly different but equally good flavor.
• Dijon mustard: Regular yellow mustard can work in a pinch, though it’s a bit sharper. Whole grain mustard is another good option, or even honey mustard (if using honey mustard, reduce the brown sugar by 2 tablespoons).
• Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar interchangeably. If you’re out, mix regular white sugar with a tablespoon of molasses. Honey or maple syrup can also work, but reduce the amount to 1/3 cup since they’re more liquid.
• Spiral ham: While spiral-cut ham is ideal for this recipe, you can use a regular bone-in or boneless ham. Just score the surface in a diamond pattern so the glaze can seep in.
• Spices: Out of cloves? Try allspice or nutmeg instead. For cinnamon, apple pie spice makes a nice substitute, or you can skip either spice if you don’t have them on hand – the glaze will still taste great.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when preparing a glazed ham is cooking it at too high a temperature, which can quickly dry out this already-cooked meat – keep your oven at 325°F and use a meat thermometer to avoid overheating past 140°F internal temperature.

Timing your glaze application is crucial: if you add it too early, the sugars will burn and become bitter, so wait until the last 30 minutes of cooking to brush on your apricot mixture.

Many cooks forget to tent their ham with foil during the first portion of heating, which helps retain moisture and prevents the outside from drying out before the center is warmed through.

For the juiciest results, let your ham rest for 15-20 minutes after removing it from the oven, and don’t forget to baste with pan juices every 20 minutes during cooking to maintain moisture.

What to Serve With Glazed Ham?

A sweet and savory glazed ham calls for some classic side dishes that balance out the meal perfectly! Creamy mashed potatoes or sweet potato casserole make excellent companions, soaking up all that delicious glaze that drips down. For some green vegetables, roasted asparagus or green beans add a nice fresh element to counter the richness of the ham. Since this is often a holiday or Sunday dinner centerpiece, you might want to round out the meal with some soft dinner rolls or buttermilk biscuits to help scoop up every bit of the apricot glaze. If you’re serving a crowd, a simple mac and cheese on the side is always a hit with both kids and adults.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover ham? Place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and pop it in the fridge. It’ll stay good for 4-5 days, perfect for sandwiches, omelets, or quick dinner fixes throughout the week.

Freeze: This glazed ham freezes really well! Cut it into smaller portions, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and place in freezer bags. It’ll keep its flavor for up to 2 months in the freezer. This is super handy when you want to save some for later meals.

Reheat: To warm up your ham, place it in a baking dish with a splash of water or chicken broth, cover with foil, and heat at 325°F until it reaches your desired temperature (about 18 minutes per pound). For smaller portions, you can microwave slices with a damp paper towel over them to keep the meat moist.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	100-120 minutes
Total Time	115-140 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 6000-6500
• Protein: 400-450 g
• Fat: 250-300 g
• Carbohydrates: 500-550 g

Ingredients

For the ham:

• 10 lb spiral ham (pre-sliced for easy serving)

For the glaze:

• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (adds a tangy kick)
• 1 cup apricot jam (I use Smuckers All-Fruit Apricot Preserves, for best flavor)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/8 tsp cloves (freshly ground for better aroma)

Step 1: Prepare the Ham and Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Place the ham in a roasting pan or a 9×13 baking dish with the cut side down, which helps retain the moisture during baking.

Step 2: Make the Apricot Glaze

In a saucepan, combine apricot preserves, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cloves.

Whisk all the ingredients together and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.

As soon as it reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and set it aside.

This creates a flavorful glaze for the ham.

Step 3: Glaze and Bake the Ham

Brush half of the prepared glaze over the ham, making sure to get the glaze between the slices of ham for maximum flavor.

Cover the pan tightly with foil to prevent the ham from drying out.

Bake the ham in the preheated oven for 90 minutes or follow the package instructions if different.

Step 4: Apply Remaining Glaze and Finish Baking

After the initial baking, remove the ham from the oven and brush the remaining glaze on top, reserving a little if you want extra for serving.

Increase the oven temperature to 425°F.

Return the ham to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the exterior of the ham is nicely browned and caramelized.

Step 5: Rest and Serve the Ham

Transfer the ham to a serving platter.

Allow it to rest and slightly cool for about 15 minutes before slicing.

This resting period helps in retaining the juices and makes slicing easier.

Serve with additional glaze on the side, if desired, to enhance the flavor with each bite.