Baked ham with brown icing

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Perfectly baked ham Topped with a homemade brown icing is a delicious and easy dish you can make for any special occasion or holiday. It’s always a crowd puller and makes Easter or Christmas dinner extra special without fuss. Add that Baked ham with brown icing ASAP to your holiday menu!

All about ham

Cured, smoked and baked are all signs that the ham you are about to buy has been pre-cooked. In fact, most ham you buy at the grocery store is already safe to eat and you just need to reheat it. Also, they will go on sale around Easter or Christmas.

I always buy a bone-in cooked spiral ham because most of the work is already done for me. But a few extra steps in baking your ham can take it from good to great. I love the Kirkland Signature Ham from Costco because taste and price are unbeatable.

What else do I need?

• A meat thermometer is quite important when preparing large pieces like this. Invest in a good one like this and you’ll be set for a long time.
• The last thing you need for this recipe is this brown sugar ham glaze. It’s such a simple addition, but it really takes this ham to new heights. Of course, any frosting is fine, but I love this frosting recipe because it’s the best combination of savory and sweet garlic with maple syrup, brown sugar, and mustard. All glazes are basically meant to do the same thing: caramelize the outside and add more flavor.

How to bake a ham

For detailed information on how to bake a ham, see the printable recipe card below 🙂

Preheat and prepare ham

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. When you’re baking a cooked spiral ham on the bone, the good news is that it’s already cooked and you’re basically just reheating it. The bad news is that you can easily dry it out if you overbake it. Since it’s already sliced, it really doesn’t take much to dry. To counteract this, place the ham face down in a casserole dish or roasting dish and cover with foil. Keeping it covered with foil will keep that moisture in!

Bake and spread the ham

Bake 12-15 minutes per pound (or cook according to specific package directions). Baste 1-2 times with ham juice that has collected at the bottom of the pan while cooking. Be sure to separate the slices when stapling. This keeps the ham juicy.

I’ve seen many recipes that baste with the frosting while the ham is cooking, but I’ve found better results basting with ham juices to keep everything moist and then done with the frosting.

How long does it take to bake a ham?

Bake your ham at a lower temperature for a longer time. Again, just heat it through so you can serve it for dinner. Generally you will Bake at 275 degrees for 12-15 minutes per pound. Most hams come with baking instructions for you to follow, but most fall within these guidelines. You want the internal temperature to be 145 degrees F for par-cooked ham and 160 degrees F if you’re cooking raw.

So for a 10 pound bone-in cooked spiral ham, that’s 2-2 1/2 hours or up to 145 degrees F.

Make the brown icing

Make the glaze while the ham is baking.

In a small saucepan, measure all ingredients and stir over medium-high heat. Let the glaze simmer until the sugar melts and becomes syrupy, about 1-2 minutes.

Glaze, grill and rest

Once your ham is done cooking, add a glaze to caramelize it and lock in some extra flavor. Instead of using the pre-made frosting that comes with the ham, I opt to use brown icing for my recipe. I like separating the slices (since this is a spiral ham after all) and brushing the glaze on as much of the ham as possible.

Bake the glazed ham at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes or until sticky and firm. Take the ham out of the oven and cover with foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Carve and serve.

How to carve baked ham on the bone

Baked ham with a bone running right through the middle can be a real pain if you don’t know what you’re doing. The only way to get the flesh off is to work with the bone and cut around it.

1. But first things first: let yours Ham rest 10-15 minutes after glazing, covered with foil.
2. Transfer ham to a carving board (or chopping board with a kitchen towel underneath).
3. Lay the ham bottom side up, lInsert the center bone and trim all the way around.
4. There are natural cuts of meat separated by fat around the bone. Cut through these separations to get slices. Place on a serving tray.

leftovers

Do you have leftovers? Store ham in a covered, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days! Or if you don’t have enough to save, consider making another dish out of it (e.g. ham salad).

Side dishes for ham

And of course no baked ham should be missing without:

and maybe some carrot cake for dessert 😉

More heavenly entrees to try!

Save this recipe for your holiday table 🙂 It can be pinned, printed or bookmarked.