Delicious seasonal favorites pop their heads in based on tradition and community. Each winter our family has a delicious Christmas ham dinner with sweet potatoes, green beans, glazed carrots, and homemade macaroni and cheese. Then in the spring our family has a wonderful Easter dinner filled with seasonal favorites from deviled eggs to potato salad and the main course–brown sugar glazed Spiral Sliced Ham. The following is a simple and delicious way to dress up any ham (spiraled sliced or not).

Spiral Sliced Honey Ham

Ingredients

• 1 Spiral Sliced Ham (or one ham with slits cut in the top to allow seasonings in)
• 3/4 to 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
• 1/2 cup honey (or 1 package of ham glaze)
• 1-20 oz can pineapple slices

What You Will Need

• Toothpicks
• Roasting Pan
• Aluminum Foil
• Turkey Baster

Directions (preheat oven to 250 degrees)

Most hams are fully cooked and require a simple heating prior to serving. Follow the directions on your ham for cook times if it varies from what is provided here. Check your label to find out your producer’s recommendations.

Step 1: Remove the  ham from the packaging.

NOTE: Many hams come with a package of seasoning or glaze to use on the ham or you can purchase products separately at your local stores like Meijer. The one used on this ham is from the Boar’s Head Brand meat company.

Step 2: Place the ham in a roasting pan.

Step 3: Open pineapple can and place each slice on the ham using tooth picks covering the top and front of the ham.

NOTE: You can use whole cloves to attach the pineapple to the ham. This will change the flavor of the ham slightly if you enjoy the taste of cloves. Try to use a mixture of cloves and toothpicks to prevent over spicing the ham with cloves.

Step 4: Fill each space with packed brown sugar covering the top of ham.

Step 5: Drizzle honey (or ham glaze) over the top of the pineapple and sugar and any exposed ham surface.

NOTE: The glaze can be placed directly on the ham prior to the pineapple. If you want a really sweet ham cover the ham with the glaze (even between slices) and then attach the pineapple and cover with brown sugar and honey or more glaze.

Step 6: Cover with aluminum foil.

Step 7: Bake in 250 degree oven for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes for most half-hams (10 minutes per pound).

Step 8: Carefully remove from oven.

Step 9: Add additional sugar or ham glaze as needed and return to oven without foil.

NOTE: You can also use the juices in the bottom of the pan to flavor the ham.  Use a Turkey Baster to baste the ham with the sweet drippings in the pan.


Step 10: Increase temperature to 350 degrees and allow ham to cook an additional 10-15 minutes. The higher temperature will help to create a “crust” on the ham with the sugar and glaze.

Step 11: Remove from oven when sugar is melted and looks slightly caramelized on the ham.

Step 12: Allow ham to cool for approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to slicing.

NOTE: Remove pineapple slices and reserve for later. These are delicious and can be served with your meal.

Step 13: Cut around ham bone to free slices from the bone. Cut with the natural seems of the ham and place on serving dish.

Step 14: Garnish using cooked pineapples.

Step 15: (Optional) Serve the ham with heated, unused glaze on the side for dipping or with your favorite mustard.

What to Serve with Honey Ham

• Mashed Potatoes
• Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Potato Salad
• Glazed Carrots
• Corn
• Green Beans
• Deviled Eggs
• Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
• Broccoli Casserole
• Homemade Noodles
• Butternut Squash Casserole
• Applesauce
• Cranberry Sauce
• Dinner Rolls

Spiral sliced honey hams are great anytime of the year. You can make delicious meals with the leftover ham such as scalloped potatoes and ham, beans and ham, ham salad, honey ham cubes, or hot ham and cheese sandwiches. Enjoy!

Do you have any tips on making a honey ham? Our readers would like hear about your variations; please feel free to comment.