The Recipe Bench

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes | Servings: 12-14

This Honey Glazed Ham tastes just like the famous Honey Baked Ham but costs a fraction of the price! A simple honey-butter glaze gets brushed on every 10-15 minutes, creating layers of sweet, caramelized flavor. Perfect for Christmas dinner, Easter, or any special occasion. No fighting holiday crowds—just delicious ham at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Tastes like Honey Baked Ham. Seriously, no one will know you didn’t pay $80 for this at the store.

Simple ingredients. Just honey, butter, corn syrup, and cloves. That’s it!

Foolproof method. The constant basting creates that signature sticky-sweet glaze without any guesswork.

Feeds a crowd. One ham serves 12-14 people, perfect for holiday gatherings.

Make-ahead friendly. Bake the ham, let it cool, slice it, and reheat when ready to serve.

Tips for Success

Use a fully cooked ham. This recipe is for reheating and glazing a pre-cooked ham, not cooking a raw ham. Look for “fully cooked” or “ready to eat” on the label.

Spiral-sliced is easiest. A spiral-sliced ham is pre-cut, making serving a breeze. If you can’t find one, a bone-in ham half works great too.

Don’t skip the basting! Basting every 10-15 minutes is what creates that signature sticky, layered glaze. Set a timer so you don’t forget.

Keep the glaze warm. A warm glaze brushes on more easily and penetrates the ham better. Keep it on very low heat or in a double boiler.

Watch the broiler carefully. Broiling caramelizes the glaze beautifully, but it can burn quickly. Stay by the oven during this step.

Use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 140°F since the ham is already cooked. You’re just heating it through and adding flavor.

Save the drippings. The pan drippings mixed with glaze make an incredible sauce. Pour it over the sliced ham or serve on the side.

Make it ahead. Bake the ham up to 2 days ahea

Storage & Reheating

Room temperature: Don’t leave ham at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Refrigerate: Store leftover ham wrapped tightly in foil or in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Reheat: Place slices in a baking dish, add a splash of water or leftover glaze, cover with foil, and reheat at 325°F for 10-15 minutes.

Freeze: Wrap sliced ham tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Best served warm: This ham is best enjoyed warm, but it’s also delicious cold in sandwiches!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different size ham? Yes! Adjust the baking time: 10-12 minutes per pound at 325°F. A 5-7 lb ham will take about 1 hour; a 10-12 lb ham will take closer to 2 hours.

Do I have to use cloves? No, cloves are traditional but optional. They add a warm, spicy aroma. If you don’t like cloves, just skip them.

Can I make this with a bone-in ham? Absolutely! Bone-in hams have more flavor. Just make sure it’s fully cooked and follow the same method.

What if I don’t have corn syrup? You can substitute with an equal amount of honey (so 1 cup honey total) or use maple syrup.

Can I use a ham steak instead? Yes, but reduce the baking time significantly—about 20-25 minutes total. Baste every 5-7 minutes.

How do I prevent the glaze from burning? Keep the oven at 325°F (not higher) and only broil at the very end. If the glaze starts to darken too much, tent the ham with foil.

Honey Glazed Ham (Better Than Honey Baked Ham!)

This Honey Glazed Ham tastes just like Honey Baked Ham but costs way less! Simple honey-butter glaze, basted every 15 minutes for that signature caramelized crust. Perfect for Christmas dinner, Easter, or any holiday gathering.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 4 minutes mins

Servings: 14

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 7-10 lb fully cooked spiral-sliced ham
• Whole cloves for studding about 20-30
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup 1/2 stick unsalted butter

Method

 

1. Preheat and prep. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
2. Score and stud the ham. If your ham isn’t already spiral-sliced, use a sharp knife to score the surface in a diamond pattern, cutting about 1/4 inch deep. Stud the ham with whole cloves, placing one at each intersection of the diamond pattern (or randomly if using spiral-sliced ham).
3. Place ham in pan. Put the ham cut-side down in the prepared roasting pan. If using a spiral-sliced ham, place it cut-side down to keep it moist.
4. Make the glaze. In a small saucepan or in the top of a double boiler, combine corn syrup, honey, and butter. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and mixture is smooth and well combined. Keep the glaze warm on very low heat while the ham bakes.
5. Brush with glaze. Generously brush the entire surface of the ham with the warm honey glaze.
6. Bake and baste. Bake the ham in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is the key: Baste the ham with the honey glaze every 10 to 15 minutes throughout the baking time. This builds up those delicious layers of caramelized sweetness.
7. Broil to caramelize. During the last 4 to 5 minutes of baking, turn on the broiler to caramelize the glaze. Watch carefully to prevent burning—you want a deep golden-brown, sticky glaze.
8. Rest before serving. Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute.
9. Slice and serve. If not using a spiral-sliced ham, carve into thin slices. Drizzle any remaining glaze from the pan over the sliced ham. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Information (Per Serving)

Calories: 320 Protein: 28g Carbohydrates: 18g Fat: 15g Saturated Fat: 5g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 17g Cholesterol: 85mg Sodium: 1,450mg

Made this recipe? We’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment below or tag us on social media.