A foolproof, juicy orange bourbon glazed ham recipe that’s super easy using a precooked ham. Bourbon, brown sugar, honey, Dijon, and orange marmalade make a sticky-sweet glaze to complement!
Why this recipe works
Having a delicious, juicy glazed ham for the holidays is one of my favorite things. Because ham is precooked, many people make the mistake of cooking it too long and drying it out. I’ll show you how to make a precooked ham with glaze that you will love.
Juicy and delicious, this is a favorite for our Christmas and Easter dinner table. We love turkey for Thanksgiving, but Christmas for us is roast and ham all the way. Making a honey glaze for your ham is simple, and I’m going to show just how easy it is!
ANOTHER RECIPE YOU MIGHT LIKE: Hot Cross Buns
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitute Suggestions
HAM – You’ll need a precooked ham for this recipe, which is typically what you’ll find in stores. Since this is such a large hunk of meat, you’ll want to let it rest at room temperature before beginning. This will help the ham cook evenly. Remove it from the fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before beginning.
GLAZE – If you prefer, you may substitute orange juice for the bourbon. Just be careful not to let it scorch when reducing it.
How to Make Glazed Ham
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Bring ham to room temperature by removing it from the refrigerator about 30-40 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Add bourbon, brown sugar, honey, marmalade and mustard to a medium pan and cook over medium heat until liquid reduces by half. It will get thicker and coat the back of a spoon.
- With a sharp knife, cut a large diamond pattern over the ham. Push a clove into each corner of the diamonds, leaving the head of the clove sticking out.
- Place ham, skin side up, in a large roasting pan or other large oven safe pan.
- Pour thickened bourbon glaze all over the ham.
- Place ham in the oven. After 10 minutes, spoon juices from the bottom of the pan back over ham. Repeat this 3 more times, for a total of 40 minutes and 4 bastes.
- Remove from oven and spoon the juices over the ham again. Tent with foil and let rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are using a precooked ham, which is most likely what you will find in the grocery store as well. All that is needed is for the ham to be reheated.
This is a large piece of meat. In order for it to be warmed through, bringing the ham to room temperature first means the oven will not be fighting with the cold center of the roast.
If you prefer, you may substitute orange juice for the bourbon. Just be careful not to let it scorch when reducing it.
This glazed ham may be refrigerated for up to 7 days, or you can freeze it for 1 to 2 months.
Yes, I have several recipes using leftover ham! Please see the list of recipes at the end of the post.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your juicy glazed ham with holiday sides like crockpot mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables. This hunk of ham is, of course, not only restricted to Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, but makes an excellent dinner party main course or everyday meal that makes great leftovers throughout the week!
Leftover Ham Recipes
- Ham and Bean Soup
- Breakfast Casserole with Ham & Cheese
- Cheesy Chicken & Ham Chowder
- Macaroni and Cheese Casserole with Ham and Peas
- Split Pea Soup
I love to bake and cook and share my kitchen experience with all of you! Remembering to come back each day can be tough, that’s why I offer a convenient newsletter every time a new recipe posts. Simply subscribe and start receiving your free daily recipes!
Orange Bourbon Glazed Ham
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 12 pounds fully cooked bone-in ham not sliced
- 1 cup bourbon
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup orange marmalade
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- Whole cloves
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- If you prefer, you may substitute orange juice for the bourbon. Just be careful not to let it scorch when reducing it.
Instructions
- Bring ham to room temperature by removing it from the refrigerator about 30-40 minutes before cooking.12 pounds fully cooked bone-in ham
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Add bourbon, brown sugar, honey, marmalade and mustard to a medium pan and cook over medium heat until liquid reduces by half. It will get thicker and coat the back of a spoon.1 cup bourbon, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup orange marmalade, 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- With a sharp knife, cut a large diamond pattern over the ham. Push a clove into each corner of the diamonds, leaving the head of the clove sticking out.Whole cloves
- Place ham, skin side up, in a large roasting pan or other large oven safe pan.
- Pour thickened bourbon glaze all over the ham.
- Place ham in the oven. After 10 minutes, spoon juices from the bottom of the pan back over ham. Repeat this 3 more times, for a total of 40 minutes and 4 bastes.
- Remove from oven and spoon the juices over the ham again. Tent with foil and let rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- This glazed ham may be refrigerated for up to 7 days, or you can freeze it for 1 to 2 months.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
- Strawberry Sangria - May 19, 2026
- Chile Lime Chicken - May 13, 2026
- Key Lime Pie - May 11, 2026
Lynn Ryan says
what brand of bourbon do you use?
Amanda Formaro says
We used a Kentucky bourbon, any brand is fine.