Description
This delicious Christmas Ham recipe features a tender spiral-sliced bone-in ham glazed with a sweet and fragrant mixture of orange juice, brown sugar, honey, and cinnamon. Finished with a vibrant topping of orange zest, pomegranate seeds, and fresh parsley, this festive dish is perfect for holiday gatherings and serves about 18 slices.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham
- 1 ham (spiral sliced bone-in, 9-12 pounds)
Glaze
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Toppings
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 Tbsp parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the ham.
- Prepare Ham: Remove the ham from its packaging, discarding most of the liquid but saving about one cup for cooking.
- Position Ham: Place the ham cut side down in a large baking dish or roasting pan and add the reserved liquid to the dish to keep the ham moist during baking.
- Make Glaze Mixture: In a large bowl or measuring cup, combine orange juice, brown sugar, honey, and cinnamon, mixing well to create the glaze base.
- Apply Initial Glaze: Pour half of the glaze mixture evenly over the ham, reserving the remaining half for later.
- Bake Ham: Bake the ham in the preheated oven for 2 to 2 ½ hours (approximately 20 minutes per pound), allowing it to cook through and absorb flavors.
- Prepare Glaze During Baking: During the last hour of baking, begin preparing the glaze sauce by heating the reserved glaze mixture.
- Heat Glaze: Pour the remaining glaze into a large pot or deep pan over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce Heat: Lower the heat to medium-low to allow the glaze to simmer without boiling over.
- Whisk Constantly: Stir the glaze continuously to prevent burning or bubbling over, ensuring a smooth texture.
- Simmer Glaze: Let the glaze simmer for 10-15 minutes or until it thickens to a syrupy consistency suitable for coating the ham.
- Cool Glaze: Remove the glaze from heat and set aside to cool slightly before applying.
- Remove Ham from Oven: Once the ham is fully cooked and tender, take it out of the oven and transfer it to a serving dish.
- Glaze Ham: Generously pour the thickened glaze all over the ham to coat it with a shiny, flavorful finish.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the ham with fresh orange zest, pomegranate seeds, and chopped parsley for a festive and colorful presentation.
- Serve: Carve the ham into slices and serve immediately to enjoy this delicious holiday centerpiece.
Notes
- Cooking time may vary depending on the actual weight of the ham; plan for about 20 minutes per pound.
- Be careful while simmering the glaze to prevent it from boiling over; constant whisking is essential.
- Reserved packaging liquid helps keep the ham moist during baking—do not discard all of it.
- Let the glaze cool slightly before glazing the ham to avoid it running off immediately.
- This ham can be served warm or at room temperature, making it versatile for holiday meals.
