Celebrate the holidays with this Bourbon Glazed Ham! A brown sugar glazed ham with a kick of bourbon that helps elevate the flavor. This bourbon ham takes just 5 ingredients to make. Cook in this holiday ham in your oven or your slow cooker.
The bourbon brown sugar glaze is what makes this baked ham stand out from the rest. A bone-in ham that is tossed in a roasting pan and baked for a few hours in the oven.
Table of contents
Give this brown sugar ham recipe a try if you want something different from the classic holiday ham recipe. Or if you want to use your grill try my double smoked ham. Drizzle over some onion gravy to elevate the flavor!
π©βπ³Why I Recommend This Recipe
- 5 simple ingredients
- Easy Prep
- Juicy and flavorful meat
- A gorgeous presentation for holidays
- Make a simple brown sugar glaze for ham
- Great leftover
- Serve for a weeknight dinner, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and more
π§ Ingredients
Ham | I used a bone in ham for this recipe. You could use a spiral ham if you would like.
Brown Sugar | Brown sugar is going to give this ham a nice sweetness without being overpowering. I also add a splash of molasses to make it a richer flavor and color.
Molasses | This is going to add a nice richness to your ham. Reach for your favorite brand of molasses.
Bourbon | Reach for your favorite bourbon to help mix up for this glazed ham.
Mustard | Ground prepared mustard is what I reached for, and it gives the ham a nice little kick of tang.
Variations To Recipe
- Add in some orange zest or even orange marmalade to the glaze, it will help enhance the flavor of the meat and glaze.
- Swap the bourbon with another type of alcohol. Whiskey could work for this as well like a Jack Daniels.
- A spicy mustard works great in replace of a prepared ground mustard. You just want something with a nice kick to help tame the sweet.
π½οΈ How to Make
Full directions on how to make this bourbon glazed ham recipe are in the printable recipe card below. This is a quick walk-through.
Step 1: Take your ham and place in a roasting pan. Take 2 tablespoons of bourbon and brush it all over your ham.
Step 2: Then bake in the oven at 325 degrees for 2 hours.
Step 3: Right before the timer is up, you will make your glaze. Start by adding your brown sugar, mustard, molasses, and bourbon to a bowl. Mix until well combined.
Step 4: Remove the ham from the oven and brush the ham with this bourbon brown sugar glaze. Cook for another 30 minutes or until your ham reads 140 degrees internal temperature.
Pro Tip: Don’t baste your ham too early with the glaze or it will burn on the ham. Make sure to wait till the end of cooking your ham.
Then remove ham and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice and serve up your ham.
How to Make in The Slow Cooker
Add ingredients like you would for oven in the slow cooker. Place lid on and cook for 3-4 hours on low. Make sure it reaches the proper internal temperature.
You will cook your ham with the glaze on it, and then if you want a few times during the cooking process you can spoon the glaze over the top of the ham.
Once the ham reaches the proper internal temperature, slice and serve.
π₯¬Storing And Freezing Leftovers
To store leftover ham just simply place in an airtight container. Store for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Use your best judgement in terms of if the ham is good or not.
For freezing leftovers, you simply store in a freezer bag or use a vacuum seal system. Then freeze for up to three months in a freezer bag. Or longer if you use the vacuum-sealed system.
Thaw in the fridge the night before then reheat in the microwave, oven, or skillet on the stove. If you heat in the oven make sure that you cover and add a little water to prevent your ham from drying out.
Expert Tips
- You can use a spiral ham or bone in ham. The choice is yours.
- Buy as small or large of a ham as you would like. Just make sure that you adjust cooking time to fit the size of your ham.
- You can slow cooker your ham for a few hours then transfer to a roasting pan and then top with glaze and finish cooking in oven for a sticky glaze.
- This ham is delicious for the holidays as it is gorgeous and flavorful.
- Use a sharp knife to slice so you get clean cuts.
- Reach for any of your favorite brands of bourbon.
π₯© Recipe FAQs
At 325 degrees you will cook 10 minutes per pound of ham. You need the internal temperature to reach 140 degrees. So, adjust the cook time to fit the size of your ham.
You can cover the ham with foil to start cooking, because it will help to prevent the ham from drying out. Then when you apply glaze, keep the aluminum foil off.
Mix your mustard, brown sugar, molasses, and bourbon together. Then baste your ham and finish cooking in the oven until it is fully cooked.
Covering your precooked ham with aluminum foil or a lid will help to keep your ham from drying out. Then when you baste with the glaze it helps to lock in moisture as well.
Boneless hams are really easy to slice and serve. Whereas, bone-in ham offers a bit more flavor. Just like any bone-in meat you will find the flavor is richer than boneless.
Adding 1-2 tablespoons vanilla and 1/3 cup maple syrup will give you the flavor of the alcohol without needing to use alcohol in the ham recipe.
What To Serve With Ham
- Creamed Spinach
- Pea Salad
- Creamed Corn
- Twice Baked Sweet Potato Casserole
- Green Bean Almondine
- Green Bean Casserole without Canned Soup
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
Bourbon Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 1 8 to 10 pounds fully cooked, bone-in ham (can use boneless)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon prepared ground mustard
- ΒΌ cup bourbon + 2 tablespoons
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Then in your roasting pan pour in a cup of water. Now you will place your ham in the pan and baste with 2 tablespoons of bourbon whiskey.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours.
- Right before ham is done work on making your brown sugar glaze. In a bowl mix the brown sugar, molasses, mustard, and 1/4 cup bourbon.
- Baste your ham to coat the whole outside. Put the ham back in the oven uncovered this time.
- Cook an additional 30 minutes or until your ham reaches 140 degrees internal temperature.
- Remove the bourbon glazed ham from the oven, let sit 5-10 minutes to cool a bit then slice and serve.
Notes
Slow Cooker Directions:
Place ham and the glaze mixture in a slow cooker. Make sure the ham fits properly. Then cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until it reads 140 degrees. If you would like you can baste a few times through the cooking process. Cooking Time Varies: Adjust the cooking time depending on how large or small your ham is. Estimate 10 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F. Type of Ham To Use: You can use a spiral or boneless ham replace to the bone-in ham. Bourbon: Use any brand of bourbon you prefer. It pairs nicely with the ground mustard and brown sugar. Covering Ham: You can use a roasting lid to replace aluminum foil if you have that. It will help to prevent your ham from drying out as it cooks. Holiday Ham or Weeknight Dinner: This is a great weeknight meal, holiday ham, and more. I enjoy making ham here and there. Freeze Leftovers: You can freeze leftover ham. Just store in a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to three months. Or if you use a vacuum seal system it extends the freezer life longer.Nutrition
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