My Maple Glazed Ham is a regal yet EASY centrepiece for Christmas! The subtle fragrance of maple and hint of festive spices makes such a perfect ham glaze.
Sticky and caramelised just like a classic Brown Sugar Ham Glaze, this is great for preparing ahead or making ahead completely. Also see my new Ultimate Ham Guide – everything you need to know about glazing a ham!
MAPLE GLAZED HAM
For years and years, I was scared of making Christmas ham, thinking it was technically difficult or tricky to make. I didn’t want to risk making it for a special event, nor did I want to do a practice run – I mean, we’re talking about giant hunks of meat here!! Then one Christmas, I watched a friend make it. Peel off the skin, cut diamond shapes into the fat, slather on a glaze and bake until sticky and warmed through.
What?? What? No special equipment, I couldn’t see any failure risk. It’s not tricky to handle, it’s not like roasting meat where you have to worry about overcooking. Really, it’s just about getting the surface golden and sticky, because by the time that happens, the inside will be warmed through and that’s all you need.
That’s my big tip for a perfect Christmas Ham. Yes, really. Go by eye. When the surface looks like THIS, it’s DONE!
MAGICAL, SIMPLE HAM GLAZE
I’m sure there are some real fancy Glazed Ham recipes out there. But for me, this is simply perfect and I have no intention of changing this as my go-to Baked ham recipe. I use a fairly simple Maple Brown Sugar Glaze. Brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon and All Spice (Christmas flavours!) and mustard for a bit of tang and to thicken it into a slather.
The ingredients list is so short, it’s almost magical how it transforms once baked. It’s the combination of the Brown Sugar 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).
CHOOSING A HAM
Come holiday time, you’ll find ham legs widely available, ranging from economical to really great quality free range legs. I’ll be honest with you – if a baked ham makes it on the RecipeTin Eats family Christmas menu for this year, it’s likely we will get it from a butcher and indulge a bit.
But for the recipe video and the photos, I used an excellent value half ham leg from Woolworths. And I have to say, I was mighty impressed, as were all my taste testers who sampled it.
What’s the difference between expensive and economical hams?
The more economical hams tend to have a higher water content because of the way it’s been prepared, and that affects texture and flavor. Quality of life of the pigs comes into play, as does the amount of preservatives and additives in the ham, and how intense / “good” the smoked flavour is.
Christmas is certainly a time for indulgence, and I know there are some who may take a view to buy top end, or don’t bother. I take a more pragmatic view. Buy the best you can afford. The more you pay, the better quality it will be, translating into better flavour.
BUT for an economical option, the $9/kg ($4.50/lb) Smoked Half Leg of Ham I got from Woolworths is excellent value. I was really impressed. (OK, the glaze goes a long way to dress it up!!) (PS I did also see there was a $6/kg ham leg, I bypassed that because it wasn’t smoked and smoked ham has a better flavour, for an extra $3/kg, I really think it’s worth it).
Sauce for Ham
While ham itself is seasoned well enough such that it can be eaten plain, nobody ever sauce no to sauce!
And the excess glaze that drips down into the pan combined with the ham and orange juice transforms into a fantastic sauce to drizzle over the ham.
I know it makes the pile of ham look a bit messy, but I truly think it’s worth doing. You could also serve it on the side. 🙂
There’s something so iconic, so sentimental about a shiny, almost glowing Maple Glazed Ham taking pride of place on 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
Things to make with leftover ham – and the bone!
- Ham and Cheese Puffs
- Monte Cristos – ham and cheese French toast sandwiches
- Ham and Corn Chowder
- Cheese and Ham Pancakes
- Creamy Ham Bone and Bean Soup
- Ham Bone Congee (3 ingredient Chinese Rice Soup)
- Epic Christmas Leftovers Bread Bowl Sandwich!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Maple Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 4 - 5 kg / 8 - 10 lb leg ham, bone in, skin on (Note 1)
- Cloves (for studding the ham) (optional - mainly for decorative purposes)
- 2 oranges , cut into quarters
- 1 cup water
Glaze
- 3/4 cup maple syrup, real (not artificial) (or substitute with honey)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 3 tbsp dijon 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 160C / 320F (standard) or 140C / 285F (fan). Arrange shelf in lower third so the ham will be sitting in the centre of the oven (not right at the top of the oven, this causes more uneven cooking on surface).
- Place the Glaze ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined.
- Remove the skin of the ham, ensuring you leave the fat on (Note 3 for steps, step photos below and refer recipe video below).
- Use a small sharp knife to cut 2.5cm / 1" diamonds across the fat surface of the ham. Avoid cutting into the meat.
Glaze and Baking
- Place the ham in a large baking dish. Prop handle up using scrunched up foil to level the surface of the ham (more even browning, new tip!)
- 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.
- Rub/brush a little bit of Glaze on the underside of the ham. Then slather about 2/3 of the remaining Glaze on the top and sides of the ham, including the cut face (save some for basting).
- Insert a clove in the intersection of the cross of each diamond on the surface (optional).
- Pour the water in the baking dish, then place in the oven.
- Bake for 1 1/2 hrs, basting very generously every 30 minutes, or until sticky and golden. At the first 30 minutes, slather with remaining glaze, then after that, spoon over pan juices very generously (or dab with brush). Rotate pan if required to brown evenly.
- Allow to rest for at least 15 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.
- Wrap handle with baking paper and ribbon if desired. Remove cloves. Then slice thinly - try to get a bit of the glaze on every slice!
- Personal preference wether to serve at room temp or warm, I like warm. I also like to drizzle with pan juices - it looks messier but tastes fabulous. Drizzle sparingly as the glaze flavour is intense! Note juices need to be warm for drizzling, it thickens when cooled.
Recipe Notes:
- Using a small knife, cut through the skin around the top of the ham handle.
- On the cut surface of the ham (i.e. the side that the pink ham is showing), run the knife between the skin and the fat, then insert your fingers and run your fingers around the ham to separate it even more. Leave as much fat as possible - that's what makes your ham gorgeous and golden.
- Starting in one corner, peel back the skin. As you pull back more, insert your fingers between the fat and the skin to assist. Use knife if required to assist.
- Repeat with the skin on the underside of the ham. 4. SERVING: I like to place the uncut ham on the table as a centrepiece, then when ready to eat, slice it and pile the slices onto a plate. Add orange quarters for decoration, then drizzle over pan juices if desired (or serve on the side). Mustard is also great - Dijon and/or Hot. 5. MAKE AHEAD OPTIONS a) PREPARE THEN BAKE FRESH: Remove skin, cut fat, insert cloves, make glaze. Then refrigerate until required, then glaze etc and bake on the day of per recipe. b) COOK AHEAD: Elevate the handle of the ham by propping it on the edge of the baking dish (or use ramekin) so the surface of the ham is as level as possible. Then follow recipe but bake at 180C/350F for around 1 hour, basting every 20 minutes, until golden and sticky. Then cover loosely with foil and cool, then refrigerate. To reheat, remove from fridge and bring to room temperature, then reheat covered loosely with foil in a 160C/320F oven for 40 minutes or until a metal skewer inserted into the middle comes out warm. When the inside is warm, remove foil and baste, then bake until the surface is sticky and golden - it should not take long. The juices thicken into a jelly when cool so it needs to be reheated (microwave is fine). DO NOT MICROWAVE!!! It can make the fat diamonds "pop" and you might lose the best part - the golden, sticky surface! 7. SERVINGS: If ham is the main protein, I would cater for 250g/8oz ham per person (including bone, so excluding is about 200g/7oz). So a 4kg/8lb ham would serve 16 people. 8. Nutrition per serving, assuming 25 servings for a 4.5 kg / 9 lb bone in ham. I assumed the bone was 500g / 1 lb.
Nutrition Information:
HOW TO REMOVE SKIN OFF HAM
See description of steps in recipe, Note 3.
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!!
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This was excellent. I just cooked it for our Canadian Thanksgiving dinner and every person at the table had seconds, including my 89 year old mother who eats like a bird most of the time. I think the only things I added were a little bit of Franks hot sauce to zip it up for my mom and some maple/bacon seasoning powder than I sprinkled on for the first 30 minutes of cooking.
Sounds great Gordon, I’m so glad it was a hit!!
I’m trying this tonight! But I’m curious how you would cook the ham if it was not previously cooked. It has been cured but not cooked… would the cooking time and temperature be the same?
It smells delicious! I added some pineapple pieces with the cloves.
Used your recipe for Easter, yesterday. Tasted delicious, thank you.
Great!!
Hi Nagi love your new site! I’ll be making this recipe on the 25th for Christmas dinner! Quick question, will the cooking time be the same for an 8 lb bone-in ham?
I will be making your ham glaze and ham for Christmas Day
This ham and glaze looks fantastic! This will be the one I’ll use this year. Thank you for all of your recipes this past year. I use them all the time!
I’m going to serve the maple glazed ham and one or two of your veg sides. Thanks for the inspiration.
Instruction 1. take ham out of oven 1 hour prior .The newbies might be thinking, “what the!”, 🤔
🙈 Thanks Shaz!!
I made your Maple Glazed Ham last year. It was a real thumbs up!
My son actually told me he would only fly home for Christmas this year if I made it again.
What a winner!
Nagi, in step 1 I think you mean take from fridge 1 hour ahead. It states oven 🙂 I use a brown sugar glaze with maple syrup and season with ground cloves. I’m going to try adding the mustard this time. Interesting that you can buy a half ham with the shank still on. Where I live the shank is cut off and sold separately for seasoning things like beans and greens. Love your blog, so informative.
Hi Nagi,
Love your site and I’ve tried many of the recipes. My kids think I’m the best Dad cook ever 🙂
I thought I’d seen a Christmas ham recipe with the ham all sliced up (instead of the whole ham) to maximise the glazing. Am I mistaken?
Thanks
Hi Quyen, I haven’t done this yet – but I always serve the glaze in a dish on the side as well so guests can have extra!
Hi Nagi,
It was a hit yesterday. The whole 6kg leg was polished off in no times (7 teenagers) 🙂
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Will definitely make it again next year.
Quyen
this is by far the best ham glaze ever…
I love the new site…
Handsome new website! Congratulations!
I LOVE your recipes! Can’t wait to try this one! Thank you!
Thanks Ruth! This ham won’t disappoint – promise!
Hi Nagi, I love your recipes.
Just wondering with the glazed ham recipe would the same cooling time apply for half leg.
I note that this recipe calls for whole leg.
Thank you
Hi Caroline, this recipe uses a half leg 🙂
Hi Nagi, is the orange flavour in this recipe very strong? Can you taste the orange flavour once its all cooked?
Hi Jane, it’s not very strong or overpowering 🙂
I served this recipe up last year for christmas and now I have inherited the job of future hams. Thankyou Nagi for a wonderful recipe that was truly a winner last year. I hope I can do it proud again this year! Wishing you and your family a great celebration. Many thanks.
Good work David, I’m so happy it was a hit!
This recipe makes me so excited for Christmas! I made it for a christmas dinner for my friends last year and then the following day for a birthday. It turned out amazing each time. I was so surprised as it looked so beautiful that you would think it would be incredibly complicated, however it was so simple. It was also delicious the next day cooked up in a fry pan drizzled with those juices for breakfast. I am definitely going to be making it again this year. Thank you for this recipe. I can’t wait to try making your baked mac and cheese and iceberg/dill salad for some freshness!
I have been looking for a recipe with these flavors for forever! Okay about a month but still.
Quick question though, can I cook mine in a slow cooker?
For thanksgiving this year we are doing several smaller sized meats instead of a main course so we try to save the oven for all of our many sides.
I fixed this for Easter and it was the best ham I’ve ever made! Thank you for this delicious recipe. I will be using it for every ham from now on!
My 3 year old grandson couldn’t get enough.
We did a breakfast this year and it was a hit.
Thank you so much!
Love hearing that Melissa! So pleased you enjoyed this so much! N xx
How to make lamb chop?
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This is THE BEST ham recipe I’ve ever tried and my family was making lots of ummmms and wows during supper tonight. I was so impressed with the moistness and the flavor was outstanding!!!!!!! I highly recommend this recipe for anyone. Not expensive, not time consuming, not dry and not much was left for leftovers 👍 This will be my go to recipe for every occasion. Thank you for sharing.
FANTASTIC to hear Regina!! Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed this 🙂 N xx
Hi! Quick question- I have never cooked a ham before and was wondering if it would be helpful to put the ham on a small baking rack inside the baking dish? I wasn’t sure if it would make it dry out or not? Thank you again for your wonderful site. You are my go-to for trustworthy recipes!
Hi Sarah! No need to do that, ham’s are solid enough not to need to be elevated and also, the flavour the base sucks up while cooking is so terrific! So glad you enjoy my recipes, thank you for trying them! N xx
Thank you! I’m making your maple glazed ham AND your slow cooker garlic butter turkey tomorrow!!
OMG I want to be at your house tomorrow