Maple Glazed Ham – this is the ham glaze you use when you want to add a special touch to your festive baked ham, but still keep it easy! The most incredible sticky glaze with the subtle fragrance of maple and hint of holiday spices, this is THE Christmas Ham recipe I make to gift and take to gatherings year after year.
New to glazed ham? Start here -> How to Make Glazed Ham. No maple syrup or honey? Make this show stopping Brown Sugar Ham Glaze instead!
Maple glazed ham
There is no reason to be daunted by the thought of making a glazed ham! It’s quite straight forward if you have someone to show you how to do it.
(PS That “someone” is me!😂)
Here’s why this Maple Glazed Ham is my go-to centrepiece for holiday menus:
It makes the most wonderful, regal centrepiece – huge payoff for effort
This maple ham glaze has a touch of special that people love – but it’s 100% dead easy
It’s low risk and forgiving to make
Prep ahead or make ahead (days and days ahead!)
Economical – it’s sliced thinly, a bit goes a long way and leftovers last for ages and ages
When it comes to ham, there’s nothing to the ham glaze recipe – it’s literally mixing up a few ingredients. The part that’s not an everyday step is peeling the skin off – but don’t worry, the visual steps and recipe video below will guide you through it. It’s not a big deal – the skin WANTS to come off!
What you need for Ham Glaze
Here’s what you need for the Maple Ham Glaze. So few ingredients, it’s magical how it transforms once baked! It’s the combination of the glaze, the caramelization of the fat on the surface of the ham and the salt in the ham itself (which is why I don’t use any salt in the glaze).
Maple syrup is what gives this ham glaze a special little touch. No one can put their finger on it – they just know it’s got something magical about it! Sub with honey in a heartbeat! No maple or honey? Make this Brown Sugar Ham Glaze!
Brown sugar adds to the caramelised flavour of the glaze;
Dijon Mustard is a thickener for the ham glaze AND adds a touch of much needed tang to an otherwise sweet glaze;
Cinnamon and all spice for a touch of festive spices;
Oranges – for a bit of liquid in the pan that’s more interesting than just using water, plus a touch of extra natural sweetness. You can’t taste the oranges in the end result once cooked. Orange juice has more flavour than just using water which adds to the flavour of the glaze and also the sauce made using the pan drippings;
Cloves – optional, for studding! I really can’t taste it so I do it for visual / traditional purposes only. Also, they are a bit impractical – you can’t freely baste as you have to dab around the cloves (otherwise you brush them off) and also you need to remove them before carving. No one wants to bite into a clove!
How to make Glazed Ham
Making Glazed Ham is a 3 step process:
Remove rind (skin) from ham;
Slather with maple glaze then bake for 2 hours, basting with more glaze every 20 to 30 minutes;
Baste loads after removing from oven – the trick for a thick, golden glaze!
1. How to remove rind from ham
If this is the part you’re worried about – don’t be! The skin is thick, sturdy and WANTS to come off – so it peels off with little effort, mostly in one piece!
Here’s how to remove the rind from the ham. The recipe video below also provides a visual tutorial – and if you’re new to making Glazed Ham, start here -> Guide: How to Make Glazed Ham.
2. Baste and bake
This part couldn’t be easier – just brush or spoon the Maple Ham Glaze all over the ham, squeeze over the orange juice then pop it into the oven to bake, spooning over reserved glaze every 20 minutes or so!
3. Baste, baste, baste before serving!!
Now here’s the trick for an incredible glaze on your ham – baste LOADS after it comes out of the oven using the syrupy sauce in the baking pan! As that syrupy sauce cools, it will thicken and darken slightly in colour, so as you brush or spoon it over the ham, it creates an incredible thick to-die-for glaze!
Sauce for Ham
While ham itself is seasoned well enough such that it can be eaten plain, nobody ever says no to sauce!
I used to serve ham with sauces like Cranberry Sauce, mustard, caramelised onion jam and even chutney. But then one day it dawned on me – everybody’s favourite part is the glaze. Why not just use the pan drippings which is just the excess glaze that drips down the ham into the pan? Combined with the ham juices and orange juice, it transforms into a fantastic sauce to drizzle over the ham!
How to serve ham
Here’s how I serve ham – in fact, how I served it on the weekend at a Christmas Party I catered for my mother! (The only “catering job” I do each year – because I can’t say no to her 😂)
Wrap parchment / baking paper around “handle”, and tie with ribbon (practical to hold onto for carving + looks nice);
Cover serving platter / board with green fluffage of some kind. Whatever’s good value at the shops on the day;
Place ham on the green fluff age and place quartered oranges around it (for colour). In the past, I’ve also used cherries – just depends what’s better value on the day (oranges are usually good value!);
Once the glistening ham has been admired enough (yep, I’m really that immature 😂), I start carving!
Leftover ham will keep for a week in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. See How to Store Leftover Ham for directions.
What to make with leftover ham
I always get way more ham than I need (budget 1kg / 2 lb per 6 to 8 people) because Christmas is just as much about leftovers as it is the grand feast on the day! Here are some recipes I deem to be worthy of making using leftover ham!
Recipes worthy of your leftover ham
And don’t forget the bone! SO MUCH FLAVOUR in the bone 🙌. Here are my ham bone recipes:
Ham bone recipes
There’s something so iconic, so sentimental about a shiny, glistening Maple Glazed Ham taking pride of place in the centre of a festive table. It’s completely incomparable to the ham slices slapped between sandwich bread that you get over deli counters. I even know people who hate deli ham who go nuts over Glazed Ham.
Plus, as I said right up front, this is easy, easy, easy! It’s also make ahead or prepare ahead, is fabulous served warm OR at room temperature. Oh – and wait until you see the VIDEO!!! ⬇⬇⬇ – Nagi x
New to Glazed Ham? Start here -> Guide: How to Make Glazed Ham.
Watch how to make it
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Maple Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 5 kg / 10 lb leg ham, bone in, skin on (Note 1)
- 30 Cloves (for studding the ham, optional – mainly for decorative purposes)
- 2 oranges , cut into quarters (Note 2)
- 1 cup (250ml) water
Glaze
- 3/4 cup (185ml) maple syrup (sub honey)
- 3/4 cup (165g) brown sugar , packed
- 3 tbsp dijon mustard (can sub American or other plain mustard)
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp All Spice (or nutmeg)
Instructions
- Take ham out of fridge 1 hour prior.
- Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F (140°C fan). Arrange shelf in lower third so the ham will be sitting in the centre of the oven (rather than in top half of oven).
- Place the Glaze ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined – use whisk if needed.
Remove ham rind (skin)
- Run small knife around bone handle, down each side of the ham, and under the rind on the cut face. (See video & photos in post)
- Slide fingers under the rind on the cut face of the ham, and run them back and forth to loosen while pulling the rind back. Use knife if needed to slice off any residual rind.
- Lightly cut 2.5cm / 1" diamonds across the fat surface of the ham, about 75% of the way into the fat. Avoid cutting into the meat.
- Insert a clove in the intersection of the cross of each diamond on the surface (optional).
Glaze and Baking
- Place the ham in a large baking dish. Prop handle up on edge of pan + scrunched up foil so surface of the ham is level (for more even caramelisation).
- Squeeze the juice of 1 orange (4 quarters) over the ham. Then place them along with the remaining orange into the baking dish around the ham.
- Brush / spoon half the glaze all over the surface and cut face of the ham (don't worry about underside, glaze drips down into pan)
- Pour the water in the baking dish, then place in the oven.
- Bake for 1.5 – 2 hrs, basting very generously every 30 minutes with remainig glaze + juices in pan, or until sticky and golden.
- Use foil patches to protect bits that brown faster than others – press on lightly, caramelisation won't peel off with the foil.
- Allow to rest for at least 20 minutes before serving. Baste, baste, baste before serving – as the glaze in the pan cools, it thickens which means it "paints" the ham even better – but be sure to save pan juices for drizzling.
Serving and presentation tips
- My favourite sauce: Use pan juices as the sauce – it's loaded with flavour! Pour into a jug and warm so it's pourable. Thin slightly with water if required. Drizzle sparingly as the glaze flavour is intense!
- Other condiments: Dijon mustard, wholegrain mustard, onion jam, tomato chutney, cranberry sauce.
- Presentation: Wrap handle with baking paper and ribbon if desired. Remove cloves. Cover serving platter with lots of green fluffage, then place ham on. Surround with more quartered oranges, for colour. Let people admire before carving!
- Serving: Personal preference whether to serve at room temp or warm, I like either. I also like to drizzle with pan juices – it looks messier but tastes fabulous. Slice thinly! I start slicing at the table, then finish it in the kitchen (towards end when it gets messy!)
- Leftovers: See list in post for recipe using leftover ham and ham bone!
- Storing: Will keep for at least a week in the fridge if properly stored using a water-vinegar soaked ham bag or pillowcase. Otherwise freeze – don't forget the bone! See How to Store Glazed Ham for directions.
Recipe Notes:
- Skin (rind) on ham – Make sure you get the ham with the skin on (rind – thick rubbery skin). Between the skin and the ham is a layer of fat which is what makes this ham gorgeously sticky. There are some hams which come with the skin and fat removed. Though you can use this recipe for those hams too, you won’t get the sticky exterior you see in the photo.
- Half or whole – this recipe can be used for half or whole hams.
- Larger hams – For larger hams, scale the glaze by using the recipe slider (click on the Servings)
- Ham quality – Buy the best ham you can afford. The more you pay, the better the quality. However, for an economical option, I can recommend the Woolworths Smoked Ham Leg for $9/kg (I used a half leg). I was very impressed with how great it was for such good value – I’ve used it for several years now. There is an even cheaper one for $6/kg – I bypassed this because it wasn’t smoked and looked a bit pale.
- Cooked ham – Make sure you get a cooked ready-to-eat ham, not a raw one (also referred to as “gammon”). All ham sold in Australia in supermarkets is ready-to-eat but if you get your ham from the butcher, double check that it’s not raw. If you have a raw ham (gammon), this recipe is not suitable.
- With other main dishes – 6 to 8 people per 1 kg / 2 lb ham (bone in weight). So a 5 kg / 10 lb ham = 30 – 40 people, about 100 – 130g / 3.4 – 4 oz per person.
- As the only main protein – 5 people per 1 kg / 2 lb ham (bone in weight). So a 5 kg / 10lb ham would serve 25 people, about 150g/5oz meat per person..
Nutrition Information:
Recipe originally published December 2016. Updated and reviewed every year or so to improve with things like better photos, recipe video, writing edits. Recipe not amended – I wouldn’t dare, people love it as is!
Life of Dozer
Surely you know Dozer well enough by now to know that there’s only one reason why he wouldn’t be gagging over a giant hunk of meat….
….. food on the Christmas tree, of course!!
Angela says
Hi Nagi. Just looking at your wonderful Christmas menu and drooling! I might do your ham glaze but am doing a duck as well. Would this glaze (with a few additions) be ok to glaze a duck?
liz says
H! Nagi,
Huge fan here!!!! I would like to know , as its my first time making glazed ham. If I cook the ham the day before, can I just serve it cold the next day? I’m making a roast lamb on the day (your slower bake version) too and potatoes and won’t have time to reheat it. Thanks!
Lizzie says
I make this glazed ham year-round as my go-to cold meat. So much better that deli hams and it lasts really well in my ham bag. No need to wait for Christmas! Thanks a bunch.
Esther Chionh says
This is perhaps a silly question – do I need a rack in the pan to raise the ham up?
By the way, I am a fan of yours who simply love your recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Daniel Cook says
What final temp did you take the ham to? Cooking times vary with size of ham. Thank you
Sacha Puslednik says
Nagi. You come to the rescue again. A great family treat. Thankyou!!! Will be making your left over recommendations also
Kim says
How can we thank you! I ordered a 10.5kg ham from the butcher, got them to skin it for me and then cooked this for our annual Christmas in July party for 80 guests. We had platters of hot nibbles served around the firepits first followed by everyone grabbing bread rolls and cutting hunks of this amazing ham and stuffing rolls full!! A month on and I’m STILL getting compliments on the ham, and requests for the receipe for this Christmas and assurances that I will have this again next year! Nagi, we didn’t think we could love you anymore, but from the bottom of my Christmas loving heart thank you thank you thank you for making our party such a success and so easy! Big pats to Dozer too! xxxxx
Blitzo says
I always love your recipe Nagi its perfect for all occasion.
Helen says
I just cooked this for a Mid Winter Christmas dinner for 80 people, and everyone was raving about the ham! Using the Glaze as a sauce is genius. Thanks Nagi, you made me look like a super star chef, not the basic home cook (that was silly enough to volunteer in the kitchen) that I really am
WY says
Delicious, eaay and foolproof. One of my favourite recipes.
Sylvie says
Hi Nagi, I have made your recipe twice now and it is soo good. We are only two people in our household so I get a very small ham but follow your recipe. It is my go to recipe moving forward. Thank you!
Nagi says
It’s always a good thing to have on hand for leftovers too! Enjoy Sylvie! N x
OBAFGKM says
Made it for an Easter family gathering. Yum! Outstanding recipe! A true keeper! Only deviation was addition of a quarter tsp ground clove because I like the flavor. Also I used a spiral-cut ham because a local grocer ran some incredible deals — it worked just fine. Note that the drippings were delicious without enhancement, remarkably low-fat, and worth saving, every ounce.
Nagi says
A spiral cut ham definitely makes the serving easier!! I am happy you liked it! N x
Keith Eckensviller says
Hi Nagi:
I’m trying this glaze receipt out on my Easter ham (small 1.5 kg no bone carved style). I added a bit of orange juice to the glaze as the brown sugar I had was a rock (required a chisel and coffee grinder to powder it). I put Orange juice in the pan with some apple slices for moisture. Thanks much for this recipe
Keith from Stoney Creek (via North Bay), Ontario, Canada
Nagi says
Woo hoo Keith!! I am so glad that you enjoyed it!! Thanks for letting me know – I can’t believe you used a CHISEL??!! N x
Phoebe says
Hi Nagi, I wonder where did you get the ham? I have seen it in a local restaurant before but when I tried to buy it in the supermarket no one seemed to know what I was referring to. People just showed me the small packed precooked ham in fridge. I don’t think they can archive this result. Please help, I would love to try this recipe!!
Phoebe from Toronto, Canada 🍁
Keith Eckensviller says
Hey Phoebe.
I get my large bone in hams at Costco. Wal-Mart has them too, but I don’t like them as much. The Costco (Kirkland brand) spiral cut bone in is great and they range in size. It also comes with a packet of glaze mix (which isn’t bad). They also carry a carved style ham if you want a smaller one with no bone.
Nagi says
Hi Phoebe – here in Australia a whole or half bone-in leg ham is available year round although it’s much more common around the holidays. In North America you can order it online delivered or you can order from a butcher in your local area. You want to order a skin on, smoked, bone in leg ham or half leg ham (for a half ham tell them you want the end with the bone in it.) See my notes on ham sizes and how to peel them here: https://www.recipetineats.com/brown-sugar-ham-glaze/ N x
Sarah McCarthy says
As per usual, a fantastic recipe Nagi! I ended up making this on Boxing Day as the buffet lunch we had on Christmas Day just didn’t deliver the ham we were hoping for. Needless to say, we were happily eating this ham for days after. So delicious and moist.
Nagi says
It’s not the holidays without a good ham!! N x
Jackie says
After making many many hams over the years this was was the best hands down. So easy and the flavour was amazing. This is my go to ham glaze from. now on.
Thanks Nagi.
John says
Nagi your maple sticky glazed ham was a great success for Xmas. I left off the cloves and cut strips across the ham for ease of carving. Glazing was perfect and the warm ham disappeared in minutes. Many thanks for this.
Clara says
Absolutely delicious. Beautiful sauce that really accents the ham and mashed potatoes. Awesome leftovers too. Wouldn’t change a thing to the recipe.
Sabrina Hendricks says
Nagi San. Good morning and Happy New Year and wishing you a healthy, prosperous and peaceful year and all the very best in 2022.
This comment is a long time coming. I tried the Maple Glazed Ham for the very first time in my life and I was so anxious the entire time. However it turned out magnificently at my Christmas Eve Dinner and the dinner was all but ignored (and which was catered to for by a Restaurant) for your lovely Ham. Thank you again Nagi San. You are the best. I have tried quite a few recipes and I refuse to follow anyone else. Take care and keep safe. Xx
Christine says
Thanks for your recipe and handy hints. The only change I made was to reduce the brown sugar to 1/2 cup, the maple syrup to 1/2 cup and add 1/2 cup of fine orange marmalade. Absolutely easy and everyone loved it at Christmas lunch. And when they went home, we enjoyed it for a further 5 days!! Thanks again!