This easy, homemade honey-baked ham recipe is perfect for holidays, family dinners, or anytime you want to impress without the stress.
Skip the store-bought, overpriced honey hams this year! This easy homemade honey-baked ham gives you that same sweet, sticky, crowd-pleasing glaze without any fuss. We’re talking a juicy spiral-cut ham baked low and slow, then finished with a warm glaze made from honey, brown sugar, butter, and cozy spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. It’s ridiculously simple! No fancy techniques are required, and it makes your house smell absolutely incredible.
Ham Glaze Variations
Want to switch things up? Here are some easy twists on the classic glaze. Swap or add these while keeping the base method the same and simmer everything together:
Citrus Boost: Add the zest of one orange along with the orange juice for extra bright flavor.
Pineapple Twist: Replace the orange juice with pineapple juice (or add 1/2 cup crushed pineapple). It brings bright, tropical sweetness that pairs amazingly with ham.
Maple Version: Swap the honey for pure maple syrup (or do half honey, half maple). It gives a deeper, richer flavor—great for fall or if you want something less floral than honey.
Bourbon Kick: Replace the orange juice with 2–4 tablespoons of bourbon (or whiskey) when simmering the glaze. It adds a warm, smoky depth without tasting boozy after baking.
Honey-Mustard Tang: Add 1–2 tablespoons of Dijon or spicy brown mustard in place of the spices. It balances the sweetness with a little savory zing.
Spicy Heat: Toss in a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a subtle sweet-spicy vibe.
What Type of Ham Should You Use?
For making a honey baked ham, start with a fully cooked (smoked or cured) ham. Most grocery store hams that are labeled “ready-to-eat,” “fully cooked,” or “smoked” fit this category. You just need to heat it through while applying the honey-based glaze, instead of cooking it from raw.
Recommended Ham Types:
Bone-in spiral-cut ham: This is the top choice for convenience and flavor when making a honey baked ham. The bone keeps the meat juicier and adds richer taste, while the pre-sliced spiral allows the honey glaze to seep deeply between slices for maximum flavor in every bite. Look for shank-end (leaner, classic shape, easier to carve) or butt-end (fattier, more tender).
Bone-in unsliced ham: Unsliced is great if you want maximum juiciness, since the lack of pre-cuts helps retain moisture better during cooking. However you will need to cute the surface in a diamond pattern so the glaze can penetrate the meat. Some cooks prefer this over spiral-cut to avoid any risk of drying out.
Boneless ham (spiral-cut or unsliced): A solid easier option if carving around a bone isn’t appealing or you need a smaller size. It heats faster but can be slightly less flavorful and juicy than a bone-in ham. It still works well with a good honey glaze.
Hams to Avoid:
Uncured ham or raw ham: Not ideal for standard honey baked ham recipes, as it requires full cooking like a pork roast (longer time, different temps). The sweet glaze shines best on already-smoked/cured ham.
Country ham: This is dry-cured and very salty. It’s better for thin slicing and serving as-is rather than glazing and baking like a city ham.
Pre-glazed or “in water” hams with lots of added liquid: These can be overly watery or have competing flavors; opt for plain hams without extra glaze packets if possible. If they have a packet, toss it out and make homemade honey glaze.
Check holiday sales for the best deals on quality hams with minimal added water.
Honey Baked Ham Recipe
If your ham is a little smaller or a little larger, that’s perfectly ok. The rule of thumb is 10 minutes of baking time per pound of ham, so adjust as needed.
Ingredients:
- 9-Pound Spiral Cut Ham
- 3/4 Cup Honey
- 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 1/4 Cup Orange Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
Items Needed:
- 9×13 Baking Pan
- Foil
- Small Sauce Pot
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 pan or line it with foil.
- Remove the ham from the packaging and place it face down in the middle of the prepared pan. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
- After the ham has baked for 1 hour, add the brown sugar, honey, orange juice, butter, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a small pot.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes or until the sugar is fully dissolved and the glaze begins to thicken.
- Remove the ham from the oven, remove the foil, and drizzle 1 cup of the honey mixture all over the top of the ham so that it runs down and coats every bit of the ham.
- Use a basting brush to push some of the glaze in between the slices.
- Place the ham back in the oven without the foil and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Remove the ham, and turn it onto its side. Drizzle the leftover glaze to over the ham allowing it to run over the ham and into the slices.
How to Store Leftover Ham
Carve up the ham and store it in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 1 week. You can freeze ham in an airtight container, for up to 3 months.
Printable Recipe for Honey Baked Ham
Honey Baked Ham Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Pan
- foil
- Small Sauce Pot
Ingredients
- 9 Pound Spiral Cut Ham
- 3/4 Cup Honey
- 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar packed
- 1/4 Cup Orange Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9x13 pan.
- Remove the ham from the packaging and place it face down in the middle of the prepared pan. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
- After the ham has baked for 1 hour, add the brown sugar, honey, orange juice, butter, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a small pot.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes or until the sugar is fully dissolved and the glaze begins to thicken.
- Remove the ham from the oven, remove the foil, and drizzle 1 cup of the honey mixture all over the top of the ham so that it runs down and coats every bit of the ham. Use a basting brush to push some of the glaze in between the slices.
- Place the ham back in the oven without the foil and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Remove the ham, and turn it onto its side. Drizzle the leftover glaze to over the ham allowing it to run over the ham and into the slices.
Nutrition
More Ham Recipes
Instant Pot Ham Recipe with Pineapple
10 Leftover Ham Recipes + 5 Ways to Use a Ham Bone
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