Eric was watching this documentary the other day and I wasn’t really paying much attention. It was about video games and how the first companies got started. (As usual, someone dropped out of college and made it big, what else is new. I don’t know why everyone wants to go to college these days, seems like all the geniuses are dropping out! I’m joking don’t worry. Charlotte, if you read this, I’M JOKING, COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT. Anyway, the guys who made up Pac-Man was being interviewed and my head snapped up when he mentioned pizza. (Are you surprised?) He said that they came up with the Pac-Man shape when they were eating a pizza one day. A whole pizza with a couple slices missing = Pac-Man. How fun is that? And get this, originally Pac-Man was a typical kill-em-dead type video game. Guys loved it. But they wanted to get women to play. “So we changed it. Eating instead of killing.” Isn’t that so funny? They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but I think we’re seriously underestimating the insatiability of women here! Ha! Speaking of eating all the things. Are you guys ready for Thanksgiving in just a few days?? I am so here for it! I have just a couple more recipes I want to share with you this week in case you are a last minute planner like me. First up, the best freaking ham I’ve ever had:
This Honey Baked Ham Recipe is drool-worthy
Have you had the famous Honey Baked Ham? Full disclosure, I’ve never tried it. But it is famous for a reason! I get why, now that I’ve made it at home. This ham is seriously unlike anything I have ever had before. I AM OBSESSED. I did a whole bunch of research to find out why people pay an arm and a leg for Honey Baked Hams. Do you want to know the secret? Dry sugar and a kitchen torch. They sprinkle the ham with dry sugar and spices and then torch it. JUST LIKE A FREAKING CRÈME BRÛLÉE. Oh my gosh you guys, it is unreal. The edges of the salty ham are covered in spiced sugar and caramelized. The sugar melts, then hardens into this gorgeous shell, just like on top of your crème brulée. It absolutely CRACKLES. These photos don’t even come close to doing it justice. I made an 8 pound ham, and I think Eric and I single handedly ate all of the edge pieces of the ham over the course of a day. Okay maybe not all of it, but pretty dang close. The crispy sugared edges are not QUITE as phenomenal after you refrigerate it, so we just kept saying, well, we better eat it now while the sugar is still crackly and shatters in your mouth. No regrets. Let’s make it!
Ingredients for Honey Glazed Ham
Here’s a quick list of ingredients for your shopping. Scroll down to the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!
What you’ll need for the Honey Ham Glaze
No ham is complete without the traditional honey glaze! Today’s glaze is so simple. Butter, honey and a lil dijon mustard for good measure.
Finding the right ham for Honey Bake Ham
First start off by choosing a really high quality ham. I love to use a bone-in ham; the bone provides tons of flavor that a boneless ham just can’t compete with. You want a ham that is fully cooked and labeled as smoked (it’s actually really tough to find a fresh ham (uncured, unsmoked) in American markets, so rest assured most of the hams you see are fully cooked. If you see a really cheap ham, keep walking. Take a look at the label and you will find that there is (probably) water added to it. It’s cheaper because you’re paying for water weight. These hams are mushier and not as high quality. (Hams labeled “with natural juices” are a step up.) But honestly just buy what you can afford and no one will notice if the ham isn’t the perfect texture because they will be so distracted by your perfect, crackly, caramelized edges. I like to buy spiral hams. They are pre-sliced and just make serving so darn easy. Plus, since they are already sliced, you don’t have to deal with scoring the ham. The honey mixture we’re using just seeps right into the sliced edges and gets good and deep. Plan for 1/2 or 1 pound of ham per person. Choose 1 pound per person if you want leftovers. A half ham is usually about 7 or 8 pounds and serves 8-12 people.
How to cook a Honey Ham
Usually a baked ham is doused in glaze and then baked. But this copycat Honey Baked Ham has an extra step. Basically, you will:
Make a quick homemade honey glaze and pour it over the ham. Cover with foil and bake at 325 until warm (Usually this is where ham recipes stop) But then we go and roll the whole thing in a sugar rub, then torch it to crackly perfection!!
Aren’t you so excited?? More details here, but the full recipe is at the bottom of the post! First, unwrap your beautiful ham and remove all the netting and shrink wrap. Often they have a little ham glaze packet sealed inside. Toss it in the trash with gusto! Sometimes there is a little plastic cap over the bone, take it off. Place your ham flat-side down on the roasting rack in your roasting pan. If you don’t have a roasting pan, set a metal cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet. You don’t want your ham getting all soggy sitting in those juices.
Step One: Make the Honey Ham Glaze
When should I glaze my ham?
The glaze goes on before the ham is baked. In a small bowl, melt a couple tablespoons of butter. Squirt in a bit of Dijon. Add in a bunch of honey. Stir it together until it’s deliciously syrupy. That’s it!
How to make Honey Ham Glaze
Use your hands to massage the honey mixture into the ham all over, top to bottom, side to side. Work it in between the spiral cuts. It’s okay if some of the mixture drips into the bottom of your pan. Scoop it up and slap it back on the ham.
Step Two: Cook your Honey Glazed Ham
Should I bake ham covered or uncovered?
When baking your glazed ham, you definitely want to cover it with foil! A poor ham gets all dried out if you bake it uncovered, even if you have smothered it with glaze as we have. Add about a cup of water to the bottom of your roasting pan to keep everything nice and moist.
How long do you bake ham for?
Bake for about 20 minutes per pound of ham. (You can also slow cook it! See recipe for details.)
Do you cook a ham at 325 or 350?
325! Either temperature will work, but I prefer to bake ham loooow and slow. 325 is best to ensure a juicy, tender ham that is not dried out.
How to check the temperature of baked ham
A meat thermometer is your best bet. Insert into the thickest part of the ham and avoid contact with any bone. Remember, your ham is already thoroughly cooked; it was safe to eat before you put it in the oven. 140 degrees F is the temperature you want for a completely warm and juicy ham. Let your ham cool about 15-20 minutes before eating (or torching!)
Should I brush my ham with glaze halfway through baking?
Yes and no. If you plan to follow this recipe, you’ll get a Honey Baked Ham copycat with a crackly, delicious Honey Baked Ham sugar-shell, and there’s no need to brush your ham with more glaze while it’s cooking. Instead, we are rubbing it with dry sugar and torching it to get that crackly crust (THEN adding more glaze as a serving sauce.) Just keep reading! So worth it! However, if you’re not planning to follow the recipe through to the end and want a traditional glazed ham, then yes, about 20 minutes before your ham is done roasting, take it out of the oven, brush with more glaze, and then return to the oven to finish heating. Our ham is all baked. Now comes the fun part!
Step Three: Putting the Candy Shell on your Honey Ham
It’s time to bust out the pyrotechnics. Keep the torch moving continually. The flame should not stay in the same spot for any period of time. Move in small circles until the area you’re working on has transformed from little grains of sugar into a melty bubbly shiny caramely bit of lava. Once it’s bubbly, move on to the next area. Within a minute or two, the liquid will harden into a shiny crackly shell, like this: Now I know what you’re going to ask next.
Can you broil the ham instead of torching?
The short answer: yes but not really. How’s that for being clear? You can rub the sugar mixture and broil it, but because of the natural shape of the ham, it will cook unevenly, leaving you with an almost guaranteed burned edge (I know because I tried it.) And don’t get me wrong, we still ate that ham and it was delicious. Just not really the same effect. Plus it’s hard to turn a ham to get all parts under the broiler. A kitchen torch really is the tool you need to recreate the honey baked ham effect. Buy a kitchen torch today and then you have an excuse to make this Crème Brulée Cheesecake, or this Crème Brulée Pumpkin Pie. Torch all the things!! After you’ve finished torching your ham and have snuck a thousand tiny bites of the edge, it’s time to make a final glaze to be used as a delightfully syrupy serving sauce. Take that leftover sugar mixture and put it in a small pan with some of the ham drippings (or you can use water). Be sure to skim the fat. Bring the mixture to a boil and let simmer for a minute or two until thickened. Pass the glaze at the table! It is a sticky and sweet glaze and the perfect compliment to a salty ham.
Storing leftover Honey Bake Ham
A baked ham will keep in the fridge for 7-10 days.
Can you freeze Honey Bake Ham?
If you want to freeze leftovers, make sure you seal well it well in a ziplock or airtight container. You don’t want it to dry out. It will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Yes I said months! I feel like I ALWAYS have chopped ham in my freezer from the last holiday. It’s the perfect jump start to a no brain dinner like Split Pea Soup, Ham Mac and Cheese Soup, Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole, or Cheesy Ham Broccoli Frittata. And that’s everything! This really is my new favorite ham! We could not stop eating it! I will have to buy a store-bought Honey Baked Ham someday (they are like $125!!!) and let you know how they compare. But I really don’t know how it could get better than this! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
How to use Honey Glazed Ham Recipe leftovers
Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Frittata « Love this last minute meal. A great low carb post Thanksgiving dinner! Cheesy Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole « Your overnight guests will love you. Cheesy Overnight Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole « One of the top recipes on my blog! Ham Mac and Cheese Soup « This soup is so cheesy and delicious. Done in just a few minutes! Split Pea Soup with Smoked Gouda « This is my favorite soup to make with a ham bone. Easy Ham Salad from 365 Days of Baking Instant Pot Ham Bean Soup from Noshtastic Ham Tetrazzini from Spicy Southern Kitchen
More main dish ham recipes to try out!
Oven Roasted Cranberry Dijon Glazed Ham « This one is so great for the holidays! Raspberry Chipotle Glazed Ham « I love this one. The little kick from the chipotle is so good! Easy Sriracha Ham (Slow Cooker) « set it and forget it! Riesling Peach Glazed Ham from Real Housemoms Jamaican Dr. Pepper Glazed Ham from Spiceology 5-Spice Cherry Rum Glazed Ham from Marion’s Kitchen
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