Name: Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8-10 pound bone-in cooked ham; 1/3 cup water (for baking); 1/2 cup water (additional for glaze and pan juices); 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 1 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup honey; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves; 4 cloves garlic, smashed

Jump to Recipe· 4.6 from 6 reviews

If you’re searching for a showstopper centerpiece that’s both comforting and spectacularly flavorful, you’ve absolutely got to try this Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe. Honestly, I make this for every holiday and special occasion because the glaze strikes that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and just a touch of spice that gets everyone excited at the table. Trust me, once you taste that caramelized crust with the succulent ham underneath, you’ll understand why it’s become my go-to recipe—and I’m sharing every juicy detail so you can nail it in your kitchen!

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Why This Recipe Works

Balanced Glaze: The blend of brown sugar, mustard, honey, and warm spices creates a glaze that’s sweet and tangy without overpowering the ham.
Perfect Caramelization: Scoring the ham and brushing in stages helps the glaze penetrate and form a gorgeous, sticky crust.
Simple Yet Elegant: Minimal ingredients and straightforward steps make it approachable, whether it’s your first ham or your tenth.
Versatility: You can customize the spices or add a little extra honey for a sweeter glaze—perfect for adapting to your taste.

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham, flavorful ham glaze, holiday ham recipes, caramelized ham glaze, easy ham for holidays - The image shows a close-up of a cooked ham with a shiny, caramelized surface. The ham is scored in a diamond pattern, with the cuts revealing juicy layers beneath the crispy outer skin. The glaze on the ham gives it a glossy, reddish-brown color that shines under the light, highlighting the texture and slight charring at the edges. The background is a soft, blurred gray, which makes the ham stand out clearly. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

These ingredients come together to create a comforting, mouthwatering glaze with rich depth and just the right kick of warmth. I always make sure to have quality honey and fresh Dijon mustard on hand—it really elevates the sauce and brings the glaze to life.

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham, flavorful ham glaze, holiday ham recipes, caramelized ham glaze, easy ham for holidays - Flat lay of a large bone-in cooked ham with a rich pink glaze visible on the surface, a small white bowl of thick golden honey, a small white bowl filled with dark brown soft brown sugar, a small white bowl of smooth pale yellow Dijon mustard, a small white bowl of melted golden butter, four whole fresh garlic bulbs with some cloves separated but intact, two small white bowls containing fine ground cinnamon and ground cloves, and a small white bowl of clear water droplets, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Bone-in cooked ham: The bone adds extra flavor and helps the meat stay juicy, plus it holds the glaze beautifully.
Water: Keeps the ham moist during the initial baking stage.
Unsalted butter: I use full-fat for richness, but reduced fat works if you want to trim calories; this helps brown the sugar nicely.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and helps form that irresistible caramel crust.
Honey: Brings natural sweetness and gives the glaze a smooth, sticky texture.
Dijon mustard: Adds sharpness and balances the sweetness perfectly.
Ground cinnamon & ground cloves: Warm spices that give just a hint of fragrant complexity.
Garlic cloves: Smash them to release flavor; they add a subtle savory note that cuts through the sweetness.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love making this Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe my own by adjusting the glaze sweetness or spice level depending on the season or who I’m cooking for. You should absolutely play around with the glaze—maybe a splash of apple cider vinegar for a zing or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper for heat.

Honey Variation: Sometimes I swap honey for maple syrup when I want a deeper, smokier flavor that pairs beautifully with the cloves.
Spice Swap: Adding a little ground ginger or even a pinch of cayenne can give a nice kick without overpowering the ham.
Diet-Friendly: For a lower-sugar option, reduce the brown sugar and honey slightly but keep enough to still get that caramelization magic.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Ham and Oven

First things first, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and place a rack in the lower third. I like to give my ham some time at room temperature—about 1 to 2 hours—to ensure even cooking. While you wait, remove all packaging, including any plastic or netting. Carefully trim off the rind but leave the fat on because that fat layer is where the magic happens when glazing.

Step 2: Score and Bake the Base

Using a sharp knife, score the fat on the ham in a diamond pattern, about 1-inch wide squares but only 1/4 inch deep to avoid cutting into the meat. This scoring helps the glaze seep into the ham and forms those irresistible caramelized pockets. Place the ham in a foil-lined baking tray (foil or parchment paper makes cleanup a breeze), pour 1/3 cup of water into the pan, then cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. This gentle heat gently warms and keeps the ham moist.

Step 3: Make the Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze

While the ham is baking, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it starts turning golden and nutty—this step ups the flavor tremendously. Stir in brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and cloves, and keep stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Lower the heat and add smashed garlic cloves; let the aroma fill your kitchen as the glaze simmers gently, then remove from heat. Let it cool to a syrupy, honey-like consistency so it spreads easily without running off the ham.

Step 4: Glaze and Brown

Take the ham out and crank your oven to 425°F (220°C). Remove the foil, brush one-third of your glaze all over the ham, making sure to get it inside the scored diamonds for maximum flavor. Pop it back into the oven uncovered for 15 minutes to let the glaze start caramelizing.

Step 5: Repeat Glazing Until Divine

Pull the ham out again, brush with another third of the glaze along with some pan juices to keep things moist. Bake for another 15 minutes and repeat once more. After about 30 minutes of glazing and baking, you’ll have a beautifully browned, sticky, almost lacquered crust. If the color isn’t quite there, carefully broil for 2-5 minutes, watching closely so it doesn’t burn. Let the ham rest for 10-20 minutes before slicing to keep those juices locked in.

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Pro Tips for Making Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe

Don’t Skip the Scoring: It’s key to letting the glaze soak in and building that irresistible crust.
Keep Glaze Runny: If your glaze thickens too much between bastings, stir in some pan juices and warm it gently—that keeps it brushable and smooth.
Use Quality Ingredients: Fresh Dijon mustard and pure honey make a noticeable difference in flavor depth.
Watch Your Broil Time: Sugar burns fast, so if using the broiler, keep your eyes glued to avoid a bitter crust.

How to Serve Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham, flavorful ham glaze, holiday ham recipes, caramelized ham glaze, easy ham for holidays - A thick slice of cooked ham with a shiny light pink inside and a brown outside crust sits on a white plate. You can see the glossy glaze coating the top and sides, with some darker caramelized spots around the edges. The ham is juicy and soft, with smooth texture and slight marbling of fat near the edges. The slice is placed in front of a large chunk of the remaining ham, showing a similar layered texture and a slightly wrinkled outer skin. The plate rests on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I’m a sucker for fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme sprinkled on just before serving—it adds a fresh touch against that rich, sticky glaze. Thin slices of orange or even pineapple wedges placed around the ham add a nice contrast and look gorgeous on the platter.

Side Dishes

This ham pairs wonderfully with classic sides like scalloped potatoes, green beans almondine, or a crisp winter salad. On the sweeter side, I love serving it alongside roasted sweet potatoes or a tangy apple slaw to play up those warm glaze flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday dinners, I love carving the ham just before serving and arranging the slices in overlapping circles on a festive platter. Drizzle a little extra warmed glaze over the top and garnish with fresh herbs and orange zest for an eye-catching touch that guests always notice.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I wrap leftover ham tightly in foil or plastic wrap and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. It stays juicy for up to 5 days, and I find that letting it come to room temperature before reheating keeps it tender.

Freezing

If you want to freeze leftovers, slice the ham first, then place pieces in freezer-safe bags with a little glaze or pan juice to lock in moisture. It freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

To keep the ham moist when reheating, cover it with foil and warm gently in a 325°F (160°C) oven until heated through. Brushing on a little warmed glaze during reheating brings back that fresh-off-the-oven shine and flavor punch.

FAQs

Can I use a fully cooked ham for this Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe?

Absolutely! This recipe is designed around a fully cooked, bone-in ham. The baking and glazing steps warm the ham thoroughly while developing that delicious caramel crust—no raw ham prep needed.
What if my glaze becomes too thick?

If the glaze gets too thick to brush, just stir in some of the pan juices and warm it gently over low heat until it loosens up to a nice, spreadable consistency. This keeps it working perfectly for each basting.
How do I know when the ham is done?

Since the ham starts fully cooked, you’re more focused on warming it through and caramelizing the glaze. Bake as directed for about an hour and a half total, and use the broiler for the last few minutes if you want extra browning.
Can I make this recipe without scoring the ham?

While you can skip scoring, I don’t recommend it—scoring lets the glaze penetrate and caramelize better, giving you that signature burst of flavor and beautiful appearance.
Can I prepare the glaze ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the glaze a day ahead and reheat it gently before using. Just keep it covered in the fridge so the flavors stay fresh.

Final Thoughts

This Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham Recipe isn’t just any ham—it’s the one that brings everyone around the table with smiles and seconds. I’ve enjoyed watching family members light up when they taste that caramelized glaze and tender meat, and I know you’ll find the same joy in making it for your crew. So go ahead and grab a ham, try this glaze, and add your own little twists. You’ll love having this recipe in your back pocket, ready for holidays, Sunday dinners, or that random “I want something special” meal. Happy cooking, friend!