If you’re like me, you may not be in love with the traditional honey glaze that comes with most hams. But once you try this Mustard Brown Sugar Baked Ham you’ll become the biggest fan of glazed ham. This is one of the most flavorful spiral-cut glazed ham recipes you’ll try!
Why Our Mustard Brown Sugar Ham is the Best
A juicy, flavorful fan that’s fit for any holiday table- what’s not to love!
- Sweet and savory flavors – With both whole grain mustard and brown sugar, you get a delicate balance of both savory and sweet.
- Simple ingredients – No need to use the boring glaze that comes with your ham. This glaze is sophisticated in flavor, yet made with ingredients you probably already have.
- Great for special occasions – This gorgeous ham is sure to be a show stopper at any holiday or gathering- especially Christmas and Easter.
Ingredients
With such simple ingredients, it couldn’t be easier to make this super-easy ham with brown sugar mustard glaze!
- Bone-In Spiral Sliced Ham – The bone-in aspect adds depth of flavor and moisture, while the spiral slicing allows for even cooking and easier serving.
- Real Maple Syrup – Its natural sweetness complements the savory flavors of the ham, adding a rich and caramelized glaze.
- Brown Sugar – Provides a sweet and molasses-like flavor that caramelizes beautifully on the surface of the ham, enhancing its overall richness.
- Coarse-Grained Mustard – Adds a tangy and slightly spicy kick that balances out the sweetness of the maple syrup and brown sugar, creating a flavorful contrast. I also like the little mustard seeds for appearance and texture.
- Fresh Rosemary, Finely Chopped – Infuses the ham with aromatic herbal notes, adding depth and complexity to its flavor profile. You can use dried, but make sure it still has flavor. The ratio is 1 tablespoon of fresh to 1 teaspoon of dried.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Helps to season the ham evenly, enhancing its natural flavors without overpowering them. Make sure it is COARSE and not fine- or it will be way too salty.
- Ground Allspice – Contributes warm and aromatic undertones, enhancing the overall complexity of flavors in the baked ham. It also makes the house smell good.
How to Make Mustard Brown Sugar Baked Ham
Once you make this sweet and savory ham, it may become your go-to protein for everything from parties to meal prep.
- Bake ham. Cover ham with foil and bake in a roasting pan for the recommended time.
- Make glaze. Add syrup, brown sugar, coarse-grain mustard, seasonings, and fresh rosemary to a small bowl.
- Baste ham with glaze. Take the ham out of the oven and remove the aluminum foil. Using a pastry brush, apply the basting liquid in between each ham slice.
- Bake again. Place the ham in the oven again, without foil.
- Allow to rest. After baking for the recommended time and the meat has reached the desired temperature on an instant-read thermometer, remove the ham from the oven and allow it to rest briefly before serving.
What to Serve With Mustard Brown Sugar Baked Ham
Ham is such a versatile protein — it can be used in tons of ways! Serve it on biscuits, replace Canadian bacon with it for a twist on eggs Benedict, or layer it with cheese on a Hawaiian ham slider.
You can also serve it as a main meal, of course. It’s the perfect pairing for veggie side dishes like green beans with bacon, broccoli, or creamed corn casserole. For starches, try bacon mustard potato salad, Hasselback potatoes, or creamy mac and cheese.
Variations
There are a few ways you can make this ham recipe your own.
- Citrus – Add grated orange or lemon zest to the glaze for a bright citrus flavor that pairs well with the sweetness of the maple syrup and brown sugar.
- Mustard – If you don’t dig the texture of a whole grain mustard, try using Dijon mustard or yellow mustard instead.
- Heat – Incorporate a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes into the glaze to add a spicy kick.
- Garlic – If you’re a big fan of garlic like I am, toss in some garlic powder or minced garlic cloves.
- Acidity – Add a bit of acidity to the glaze by mixing in pineapple juice or apple cider vinegar.
- Herbs – Experiment with different herbs such as thyme, sage, or oregano in place of, or in addition to, rosemary.
- Spices – Change up the spices and sprinkle in some cinnamon or ground cloves for warmth.
- Liquor – Substitute a small amount of bourbon or whiskey for some of the maple syrup in the glaze for a boozy twist that adds flavor but not alcohol.
- Asian Fusion – Swap out the mustard for a mixture of soy sauce, honey, and ginger for an Asian-inspired spin.
- Smoky Flavor – Add a touch of smoked paprika or liquid smoke to the glaze for a hint of smokiness.
- Nuts – Sprinkle chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts over the glaze before baking for added crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
Storage and Freezing
Ham can be used in so many different ways — make it and enjoy it throughout the week all on its own or repurpose it in other ways.
You can make your glaze ahead of time and store it for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
How to Store Leftover Ham
Refrigerate ham for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can I Freeze Mustard Brown Sugar Ham?
Freeze your ham slices for up to 3 months. Simply wrap them tightly individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. Or, place them in a resealable freezer bag separated by parchment paper.
Common Questions about Mustard Brown Sugar Baked Ham
While each mustard will have its own unique flavor, you can substitute various mustards to make a glaze for baked ham.
Ham stays super most if you cover it while cooking. However, it can help to remove the foil for the final baking time.
With more moisture, of course! If you’re worried about your ham drying out, just add liquid like wine or water to the roasting pan to keep it juicy.
More Flavorful Ham Recipes
Whether for a special occasion like a holiday, or just when you have a hankering for ham, here are some of our favorite recipes.
Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham Recipe
Thyme Honey Baked Ham
Balsamic Cherry Ham Glaze Recipe
Mustard Brown Sugar Baked Ham
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8-10 pound bone-in spiral sliced ham
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons coarse-grained mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary , finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place ham in a large baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together real maple syrup, brown sugar, coarse-grain mustard, fresh rosemary, Kosher salt and allspice.
- Remove and uncover. Baste between each ham slice and over the top with all basting liquid. If your ham slices are having trouble staying up see my tip above for tying your ham.
- Return to oven, uncovered for 45 minutes.
- Remove and serve immediately.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
Nutrition
I made this for Easter! Incredibly tasty! My man and I loved it ❤ thank you!
Re: Easy mustard Brown Sugar Baked Ham recipe. I hope to prepare this delicious-sounding recipe. I have trouble with keeping slices in the optimum position for baking with glaze. Can you direct me to your tips re Tying Ham mentioned in the recipe note #4. Cannot seem to find that info. Thanks
The unit of measure for the Maple Syrup got left off. Is is supposed to be 1/2 cup?
Yes! And thank you for catching that!
If there are three flavors I absolutely love together, it’s ham, brown sugar, and mustard! This gorgeous recipe is the way to my heart. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
That ham looks so perfectly sliced and the flavours sound amazing.
Looks delicious, love the sugar and mustard combination!
I am a big fan of honey-glazed hams, but I’m always looking for ways to change things up, and this sounds delicious. I appreciate your clear directions for separating each slice to get the the honey-mustard glaze on everything.
Looks like I need to make some ham this holiday season!