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Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

Brown sugar ham glaze made on the stovetop for a glossy, slightly thick finish. Stir to dissolve, simmer until it clings, then brush it onto a scored ham during the last 30 minutes of baking for amber shine.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Brown sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar Packed
  • brown sugar, packed
Glaze base
  • 0.25 cup honey
  • 0.25 cup pineapple or orange juice Choose pineapple or orange juice
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp ground cloves

Equipment

  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Make the glaze
  1. Combine brown sugar, honey, pineapple or orange juice, Dijon mustard, butter, apple cider vinegar, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves in a saucepan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the surface starts to bubble.
  3. Simmer 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy, stirring occasionally so it coats the spoon.
Glaze the ham
  1. Brush the warm glaze over a fully cooked ham during the last 30 minutes of baking.
  2. Every 10 minutes, brush on another layer so the glaze keeps looking glossy over the scored diamond pattern.
  3. Spoon the remaining warm glaze over sliced ham at the table for extra shine and flavor.

Notes

For the smoothest texture, keep stirring until the brown sugar fully dissolves before you start timing the simmer. Store leftover glaze in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and rewarm gently on the stovetop before using; freezing is not recommended. For a lower-sugar option, replace the honey with an equal amount of a sugar-free honey-style syrup and use the same quantities of the remaining ingredients.