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!!
Greg says
Has anyone made this with the spiral cut hams from the supermarket (e.g. Costco, etc..)? I can’t seem to find anyone that sells a ham with the skin still on, and wanted to see if it was still worth it to go with this recipe if I can’t find one.
Suzan Goard says
I also have not found a ham with skin still attached. I ended up with two hams totaling 10 lbs.–sadly neither has bone in. Should I NOT score them? Yours’ look so beautiful scored.
annette says
I am transporting the ham and wish to serve it cold. Any problems with this> thank you, Nagi for your great recipes.
Kimberly says
Hi Nagi, this recipe looks absolutely delicious! Defenitely going to make this for christmas this year, it is going to be a mix of Indonesian and Dutch recipes. A big family so there is going to be a lot of your recipes on the table this christmas!
Thank you for sharing with us ❤️
Nagi says
That’s great, I hope you have an awesome feast Kimberly!!
Miguel Hernandez says
I am going to have the glaze ham is going to be the first time, but with your recipe is for sure a winer, thank you and happy holidays for you and family and your dog too.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Miguel!
Doris says
Hi, I am sooo wanting, no, need, to make your Maple Glazed Ham! I have never cooked such a huge food endeavor in my life but feel confident after reading your excellent tutorial and watching the video! Only one question, please: Do I place the ham on top a baking rack or directly into the baking pan? In the video, the ham is in the pan, however, in the photo of the ham placed balanced onto balled up foil to level, it looks like it’s atop a rack. Please help because I am a total novice and I want to bake the Perfect Glazed Ham with your help! Thank you, Aloha🌺
Nagi says
I agree, you NEED to do this 😂 I’ve done it on a rack – but if you don’t have one, it’s perfectly fine to just sit it in the pan – N x
Chit says
Glazed ham I would love to be the Center of Christmas table! Looks so good am already imagining slicing!
Leona Bosch says
I love all your recipe. I got my daughter and daughter inlaw to do and see your recipe. Yust watch your video my mouth water every time.
Kim Pedrazas says
You were correct when you said this ham was incredible…thrilled with the results!
Patricia Lambert says
Making for Christmas as my daughter swears my hams are much better than Honey Baked Ham! High praise indeed!
Carol Billman says
Good Morning Nagi,
I can’t wait to try this ham for Christmas. My glaze is basically the same but used orange juice. I am most definitely using fresh oranges this year. I am also trying your breakfast frittata. I have been following you for a few months and just love your recipes. On hand for an appetizer is your French Onion Chip Dip. Made this twice already and I swear people are eating it with a spoon. Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Carol
Joan waldron says
Absolutely yummy
Nagi says
Thanks so much Joan – N x
Trudy says
Cooked this ham last night for guests. It was just delicious. We are doing another one for New Year’s special dinner. Well worth cooking. Yet another winner Nagi.
Nagi says
Yum! I’m so glad you enjoyed it Trudy!
Alison says
I would love the salmon, chicken and hazelnut salad recipes please. Yum!
Nagi says
They’re on the way!
Pat Q says
I would love the recipe for the hot smoked salad. It looks and sounds amazing.
Nagi says
I’ll post it soon Pat!
Carolyn says
I too would love the Herb and Garlic Roast Chicken recipe. Will be trying the ham very soon. Thanks so much.
Nagi says
I posted it on Friday! Enjoy 🙂
Loonchick says
Really enjoy your recipes – husband and I were swooning over the slow cooker BBQ brisket this week! I would love to have the herb and garlic roast chicken recipe, please! Love your blog so much 😉
Nagi says
Hi Loonchick – I posted it Friday, I hope you love it!
Jane Campbell says
Hi Nagi, I am very much looking forward to making this ham. I love your recipes, the smoked salmon dip was a hit at a party I attended recently. Delighted to know you are in SMH and have a book out. You deserve your success. I would love to try the herb and garlic roast chicken, sounds like a godsend during the busy christmas period, and the hot salmon, just because it sounds so darned good.
Thank you again for so many yummy successful dinners.
Nagi says
You’ll just have to try them all Jane 😂
Ann Marie says
I am looking forward to this ham! BTW, I told everyone about your Thanksgiving offer of Emergency consultation. Thankfully, I didn’t need it but thought it was over the top wonderful.
Nagi says
You’re too sweet Ann, thanks so much!
Carol says
I would love to have the recipe for the Herb & Garlic Roast Chicken with Gravy recipe! Thanks!
Nagi says
It’s now up Carol, Enjoy!
Ndulamo Faith Ngwenya says
Good day Nagi
May i please kindly have the Herb & Garlic Roast Chicken with Gravy recipe.
Nagi says
It’s now up, I hope you love it!
Maria says
I’m astonished and shocked by your pouring custard on your cake. Maybe this is an American thing. A traditional British cake may be iced or naked or decorated with nuts or even glacé fruit but it is served in slices without anything else. Custard or other sauces are served with Traditional Christmas pudding but NEVER cake. I do like your elegantly marked icing and find the cherries with icing sugar snow a charming topping. I do imagine your Mother and her ‘tennis club’ friends enjoyed their seasonal buffet meal. Happy Christmas from Australia. Maria
Nagi says
You can never have enough toppings in my world Maria! And who doesn’t love a good glug of custard?! 😂
Mj says
I would love the herb and garlic chicken, salmon and potato salad recipes!
Many thanks for all your posts.
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Mj!