---
title: "Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze"
url: https://save.cooking/@american_classic/baked-ham-with-brown-sugar-glaze
author: Save.Cooking American Classics
author_profile: https://save.cooking/@american_classic
description: "A classic American holiday-style baked ham finished with a glossy brown sugar glaze of mustard, pineapple, and warm spices. Simple technique, big results: gently heat the ham, then glaze and caramelize for a burnished, sweet-savory crust."
prep_time: 15 minutes
cook_time: 150 minutes
total_time: 165 minutes
servings: 12
tags: ["Baked", "Main Dish", "American", "Dinner", "Pork"]
published: 2026-01-06
updated: 2026-01-14
---

# Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

*Recipe by [@american_classic](https://save.cooking/@american_classic)*

A classic American holiday-style baked ham finished with a glossy brown sugar glaze of mustard, pineapple, and warm spices. Simple technique, big results: gently heat the ham, then glaze and caramelize for a burnished, sweet-savory crust.

Baked ham is one of those American classics that looks impressive but is mostly about smart timing and a dependable glaze. The key is warming the ham slowly so it stays juicy, then turning up the heat at the end to set the sugars into a shiny lacquer. This version leans traditional—brown sugar, mustard, pineapple—because those flavors balance salt, fat, and smoke beautifully.

**Total Time:** 2 hours 45 minutes | **Prep:** 15 minutes | **Cook:** 2 hours 30 minutes | **Servings:** 12

## Ingredients

### Ham

- 1 fully cooked, bone-in spiral-cut ham, 8–10 lb
- 1 cup water (for the roasting pan)

### Brown Sugar Glaze

- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple or bottled)
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of kosher salt (optional, only if glaze tastes flat)

### Optional for Serving

- Pineapple rings and maraschino cherries (for a retro presentation)
- Whole cloves (for studding, if ham is not spiral-cut)

## Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 325°F. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven.

2. Place the ham cut-side down in a large roasting pan. Add 1 cup water to the bottom of the pan (this helps prevent drippings from scorching). Tightly cover the ham with foil.

3. Bake until the ham reaches 120°F internal temperature in the thickest part (not touching bone), about 10–12 minutes per pound (roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours for an 8–10 lb ham).

4. While the ham warms, make the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, Dijon, butter, vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 3–5 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened and glossy. Taste and add a pinch of salt only if needed. Remove from heat.

5. When the ham reaches 120°F, remove it from the oven. Increase oven temperature to 425°F. Carefully uncover the ham (hot steam). If your ham is spiral-cut, gently separate a few slices to let glaze drip between them.

6. Brush a generous layer of glaze over the entire ham, including between slices where possible. Return to the oven, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

7. Brush with more glaze and bake 10 minutes more. Repeat once more if you have extra glaze, for a total of 25–30 minutes glazing time, until the surface is deeply glossy and caramelized and the ham reaches 140°F internal temperature.

8. Rest the ham 15–20 minutes before carving (this keeps the slices juicy). If desired, warm any remaining glaze and serve alongside.

## Tags

`Baked`, `Main Dish`, `American`, `Dinner`, `Pork`

---

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*View this recipe: [https://save.cooking/@american_classic/baked-ham-with-brown-sugar-glaze](https://save.cooking/@american_classic/baked-ham-with-brown-sugar-glaze)*