Bourbon Glaze for Ham
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This bourbon ham glaze recipe is an easy way to take your ham to the next level. With just a few simple ingredients and ten minutes of prep time, this is the perfect simple glaze for your next special occasion.
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This Bourbon Glazed Ham is the perfect classic southern recipe for your holiday table. It’s sweet, sticky, and flavorful, with a hint of bourbon that adds an extra layer of complexity.
The glaze is made from simple pantry ingredients and comes together quickly in one pot. With a few simple steps, you can have a delicious ham main course to feed a crowd. This succulent ham is sure to be a hit at your dinner table with the whole family, serve it with garlic cheesy mashed potatoes and brown sugar brussels sprouts to round out your holiday meal!
My family loves making ham, but especially on the holidays, I look for ways to make my ham extra special, and this bourbon glaze is exactly that! Whether you bake, grill, or smoke the ham, this is the perfect glaze recipe to take it over the top.
Ingredients
This is one of those easy sauce recipes you’ll wonder why you have never tried before. There’s nothing fussy about this recipe, just 3 simple ingredients you probably already have on hand in addition to the ham you are glazing.
- bourbon
- maple syrup
- brown sugar
- ham
What bourbon should I use in my ham glaze?
If you aren’t familiar with bourbon, you may not be sure which bourbon you should use for this maple bourbon glaze. Every bourbon will have a slightly different flavor profile, so choose a high-quality bourbon that you enjoy drinking.
Bourbons with smoky flavors will pair well with smoked ham as well as notes of citrus. You can also choose a spiced holiday bourbon to flavor the glaze to compliment the ham’s natural flavor.
How to choose a ham
When choosing a ham for baking, there are a few factors to consider:
Type of ham: Hams come in different types, such as whole, half, bone-in, boneless, spiral-cut, and pre-cooked. Each type has its own unique characteristics and preparation requirements, so choose the type that fits your needs and cooking preferences. I prefer a boneless pre-sliced fresh ham, personally.
Size: Consider the size of the ham you need based on the number of people you’ll be serving and how much leftovers you want. A general rule of thumb is to plan for about 1/2 pound of boneless ham per person or 3/4 pound of bone-in ham per person. If the size of your ham is larger than you need for one meal, there are so many different uses for leftover ham.
Quality: Look for a ham that is fresh, well-marbled, and has a good texture. A high-quality ham will have a smooth surface, a firm texture, and rich color.Price: Hams can vary greatly in price depending on the type, quality, brand, and even the grocery stores where you buy them. Determine your budget before making a purchase, and choose the best quality ham that fits within your price range.
Step by step
- Thirty minutes before your ham is finished cooking, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer.
- Continue on a low simmer for 10 minutes over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until the brown sugar is melted and it has a thick, syrup-like consistency.
- Pour or brush the glaze over the top of the ham in the roasting pan with a basting or pastry brush, being sure to cover the outside surface of the ham entirely and let it drop down into the slices if using a pre-sliced ham.
- Return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes, uncovered.
Variations and add-ins
Add a splash of orange juice, orange zest, or orange marmalade to the glazeAdd a teaspoon of stone-ground or dijon mustard to spice it up.
Add a splash of pineapple juice to the glaze.
If you aren’t a fan of bourbon, leave it out and make this simple recipe just a brown sugar glaze
FAQs
Yes, you can definitely make this bourbon ham glaze ahead of time. Make it up to 5 days early and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to use it, take it out and let it come to room temperature before using a basting brush to spread the bourbon glaze recipe over your spiral ham.
Wait until the final 20-30 minutes of cooking to apply the easy bourbon glaze to avoid burning the sugars. You can also apply half of the glaze and continue cooking for 20 minutes and apply the other half when the ham comes out of the oven.
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Bourbon Glaze for Ham
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Description
This bourbon ham glaze recipe is an easy way to take your ham to the next level. With just a few simple ingredients and ten minutes of prep time, this is the perfect simple glaze for your next special occasion.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Instructions
- Thirty minutes before your ham is finished cooking, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer.
- Continue on a low simmer for 10 minutes over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until the brown sugar is melted and it has a thick, syrup-like consistency.
- Pour or brush the glaze over the top of the ham in the roasting pan with a basting or pastry brush, being sure to cover the outside surface of the ham entirely and let it drop down into the slices if using a pre-sliced ham.
- Return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes, uncovered.
Notes
nutritional value is for glaze alone and undivided, calories per serving will vary depending on the size of your ham
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: sauce
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 1104
- Sugar: 241.7 g
- Sodium: 65.5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 249 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
