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If you’re looking for the perfect holiday centerpiece — one that’s effortlessly simple yet impressive — this Maple-Glazed Ham is it. It strikes the ideal balance of salty and sweet, uses just a handful of wholesome and simple ingredients, and comes together with barely any hands-on time — just about 5 minutes before it goes into the oven.
This is also a gluten-free and dairy-free recipe, making it friendly for almost everyone at the dinner table.
Why You’ll Love This Holiday Baked Ham
This is the first whole roasted ham to appear here on LCK, and if I do say so myself, it was totally worth the wait. This Maple Glazed Ham is fall-apart tender, glazed to perfection, and bursting with cozy, comforting flavors that evoke everything good about the holidays.
It’s a show-stopping main dish that still feels approachable and doable, whether it’s for a big family gathering, special occasion, or a more intimate dinner.
Looking for more entrees for the holiday season? Check out our whole roasted turkey, orange cranberry roasted chicken, or even a spatchcock chicken!
Ingredients Needed
*Scroll down for the complete list of ingredients and baking instructions.
- Ham: I use a 10-pound naturally-cured, spiral-sliced, bone-in ham. Keep in mind that if you’re using a different size ham, the cooking time will change.
- Maple Syrup and Coconut Sugar: Provide a sweet, caramel-y base for the maple glaze. Be sure to use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup!
- Dijon Mustard: Thickens the glaze and adds a spicy tang.
- Seasonings: I use a simple, sweet-and-spicy blend of cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ginger, and cloves.
Where I Buy Ham
In this recipe, we’re using a fully cooked ham, usually labeled “ready-to-eat.” We typically find good-quality ham either at Whole Foods or Butcherbox.
First and foremost, we recommend purchasing a ham that is free of antibiotics and nitrates. After that, you can choose between bone-in, semi-boneless, or boneless. We used a bone-in spiral-sliced ham because we wanted to use the ham bone in other recipes, and because spiral-cut ham is easy to serve since it’s already halfway cut!
How to Make Maple Glazed Ham
Since the ham is already fully cooked, the only thing you’re doing is making the glaze and bringing it up to temperature!
- Bring the ham to room temperature: Bring the ham to room temperature for an hour, then place it on an oven-safe wire rack inside a roasting pan.
- Prep & bake: Preheat your oven to 325°F. Place the ham fat-side up on a rack in a roasting pan (add a little water to the pan to keep it moist). Score the top with a sharp knife, cover tightly with foil, and bake for about 2½ hours (about 18–20 minutes per pound).
- Make the glaze: While the ham cooks, combine maple syrup, coconut sugar, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cayenne if using in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then set aside.
- Glaze & finish baking: When the ham is close to done, remove the foil and generously brush the glaze all over. Return to the oven for another ~30 minutes to let the glaze caramelize and become glossy.
- Rest before slicing: After the oven, let the ham rest for about 20 minutes before slicing. This helps the juices redistribute so every slice stays juicy and tender.
Tools I Use
- Chefs Knife– For scoring the ham
- Roasting Pan– With wire rack
- Saucepan– For making the glaze
- Thermapen– For checking the ham’s internal temperature
FAQ’s:
The rule of thumb for cooking bone-in ham is to plan on 18-20 minutes per pound of meat. If you’re using boneless ham, plan for closer to 10-15 minutes per pound.
After the initial cooking time, the temperature should be 120ºF. Once you add the glaze and finish cooking the internal temperature of the ham should be at least 140ºF. Once it’s reached 140ºF, it’s good to go!
You’ll bake it covered for the first 2½ hours, then uncover it and cook it for another 30 minutes!
Covering it during the majority of the cooking time helps keep it moist while cooking it uncovered for the last 30 minutes allows the skin to get that golden-brown finish!
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge, then warm gently in the oven (about 300°F) with a splash of broth to prevent drying out.
Side Dishes to Pair with Maple Glazed Ham
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Garlicky Blistered Green Beans
- Honey Glazed Carrots
- Perfect Oven Roasted Veggies
- Collard Greens
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Healthy Creamed Spinach (Made Without Cream!)
Leftover Ham Recipes
Looking for ways to use up your leftovers? Check out these delicious recipes:
Watch The Video:
Maple Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 1 Naturally Cured Spiral Sliced Bone-In Ham about 10 pounds (see note)
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon grainy dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne optional
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Let ham sit at room temperature for about 1 hour before starting.
- Pre-heat oven to 325ºF and place an oven-safe rack inside a roasting pan. Place enough water to come up about ¼” in roasting pan.
- Place the ham fat side up on the rack. Score the ham diagonally with a sharp knife, and cover tightly with foil. Place in oven and bake for 2-½ hours, or until the ham registers an internal temperature of about 120ºF.
- Meanwhile make glaze: Add maple syrup, coconut sugar, dijon mustard and spices in a pot and bring to a boil. Set aside.
- Remove ham from oven and remove foil. Brush the top of the ham liberally with maple glaze and return to the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the ham has reached an internal temperature of at least 140ºF.
- When ham has reached the correct temperature remove from oven, and glaze the ham one more time. Let sit for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Buy a good quality ham!
- If you have a different sized ham, simply change the cooking time. You want to be cooking the ham about 18-20 minutes per pound.
Hello Lexi, I bought a 25 pound bone in smoked ham from my butcher for easter this year, I cooked the ham which was the first ham that I have ever cooked, and it was a big hit everyone loved it, and raved about it. My sister in law wants a copy of it. I made a couple of changes to the recipe, I substituted coconut sugar for brown sugar and I left out the cayenne pepper and it was amazing, I absolutely loved it. I will be cooking this recipe from now on, thank you very much Lexi.
Hello Lexi, how are you? I hope this message finds you well. I was buying a 30 pound ham, but when my butcher ordered the ham they sent him a 25 pound ham so I bought that ham. If I may ask you as far as the glaze recipe do you suggest that I double the recipe or triple the recipe may you let me know at your earliest convenience, as I am cooking it for Easter and this is my first time cooking a ham? Thank you very much take care and stay safe.
Go ahead and triple – while you may end up with extra, it’s better than being cut short.
Hello Lexi I am buying a whole raw 30Lb ham from my butcher for Christmas, I am a novice cook and am not good at math. May you help me? May you scale up the maple glaze for me for my 30Lb ham? Also can I substitute brown sugar for the coconut sugar as I do not like coconut? And at what temperature do I cook the ham at and for how long may you let me know please? Thank you very much take care and stay safe.
Hi Jamie,
So to simplify, on the recipe card itself on the post you can hit the 3x button, and this will scale the recipe up for you for your 30lb ham. For cook time we’ve put in the notes the following: You want to be cooking the ham about 18-20 minutes per pound. As for the coconut sugar substitute, brown sugar should be fine – we haven’t tested with it, but generally it works well.
We used this recipe when we hosted Christmas this year. It was a big hit with everyone! We prepped the glaze ahead of time, which worked out great. We’ll definitely be making it again next year!
Do you only cooked your ham for 1/2 hour when glazing your ham if it’s fully cooked
Do you only cook your ham for 1/2 hour if it is fully cooked
Sooo impressive! Look very yummy.
How long should the ham defrost if ordered from butcher box and frozen. I have an 8lb ham that has been frozen until Xmas. I know for turkeys it takes a few days. Is it the same for ham?
Made for Easter! Came out delicious And perfect, thank you!
This was amazing! We made it today for a family gathering & everyone raved about how good this ham was. Definitely a recipe I will make again. Thanks Lexi! ?
This is now our favorite way to glaze our ham! So yummy! New tradition to make the ham with this glaze.Thanks for the recipe.
I had never made a glazed ham before. This was absolutely amazing. Even the picky eaters in my house loved it!
Wow, I’ll be having a lot of ham this week and I hope it looks like this!!
Mmmm…nothing says the Holidays like a glazed ham! Yum! And definitely love making soup afterwards with the bone!
we just made butcher box ham with maple mustard glaze too! Can’t get enough. It’s the bEST HAM EVER!
This just reminds me of Christmas dinner!! YUM 🙂
I’ll take a slice!
Wow this looks delicious! I love a glazed ham!
Debs