Irresistibly Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham: Your Perfect Holiday Centerpiece Recipe
Get ready to impress with the juiciest, most tender Brown Sugar Glazed Ham you’ve ever tasted! This incredible recipe is not only bursting with flavor but also incredibly easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients to create a show-stopping dish that will undoubtedly be the highlight of your next holiday gathering. Whether you’re planning for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a special Friendsgiving feast, this ham promises to be a memorable addition to your table. (A special thank you to Truvía® for sponsoring this post and helping us create this delightful recipe!)
Happy [current day of the week]! Can you believe how quickly the holidays are approaching? I know I’m certainly counting down the days until Thanksgiving, eagerly anticipating a much-needed break from the usual routine and the joy of reconnecting with family. And, of course, a huge part of that holiday excitement revolves around the food! We all love indulging in delicious meals that bring comfort and joy.
To truly get into the festive spirit, I’m thrilled to share that Truvía is hosting a fantastic virtual “Friendsgiving” celebration this year! Throughout this event, you’ll discover a curated collection of appetizer, entree, and dessert recipes, all crafted with wonderful Truvía products. These recipes are perfectly suited for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving feast, offering delicious and thoughtfully prepared options for every course.
The Friendsgiving festivities kicked off with an absolutely mouth-watering appetizer from The Wicked Noodle: an INCREDIBLE Baked Brie with Roasted Balsamic Cranberries. Seriously, I’m already planning to make it for my own gathering – it sounds so elegant and flavorful! For the main event, I have the distinct pleasure of presenting this tender Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipe. And keep an eye out, because our good friends at Julie’s Eats & Treats will soon be unveiling a dessert recipe that I’m absolutely certain will be nothing short of amazing!
It’s no secret how much I genuinely adore Truvía products. I’ve been baking with them for years, and this marks my second year of partnership with them, which is truly exciting. It’s always a pleasure to promote a product that I genuinely love and use in my own kitchen. Truvía offers a wonderful way to enjoy the sweetness we crave with fewer calories, making our holiday treats and everyday meals a little lighter without sacrificing any of the deliciousness. Their Brown Sugar Blend, in particular, has become a staple for me, providing that rich, caramel-like flavor with a reduced amount of added sugar.
Now, let’s dive into the star of our show: this magnificent ham! I’ve prepared ham before, but I confess that I typically relied on the small packet of glaze mix that often comes tucked inside the ham packaging. This time, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and craft my own homemade glaze. (And, truth be told, my ham didn’t come with a packet this time around, which gave me the perfect excuse to experiment!)
This homemade glaze recipe is delightfully simple, combining the rich, sweet notes of Truvía Brown Sugar Blend with the vibrant, fruity tang of apricot preserves, a subtle kick from dry mustard, and a touch of water to bring it all together. That’s truly all it takes! The ham then slowly roasts in the oven for a couple of hours, allowing it to thoroughly soak in all the incredible apricot and brown sugar flavors. This gentle cooking process ensures every slice of ham is incredibly tender and wonderfully juicy, with a perfectly balanced sweetness that isn’t overpowering.
While turkeys often steal the spotlight on the Thanksgiving table, don’t underestimate the power of a perfectly glazed ham! Perhaps this is the year to add a ham to your holiday menu, offering a delicious alternative or a complementary centerpiece. Hams are also fantastic for Christmas Eve dinner, Easter brunch, or any special occasion where you want to serve something truly impressive yet manageable. The aroma alone will fill your home with holiday cheer, and the leftovers (if there are any!) are just as delightful for sandwiches, soups, or even breakfast scrambles.
Speaking of the cooking process, the key to this ham’s incredible tenderness is the low-and-slow roasting method. Baking it at 275ºF allows the meat to cook gently, absorbing all the flavors of the glaze without drying out. Covering the ham with foil for the initial phase creates a steamy environment, locking in moisture. Then, uncovering it and applying the second layer of glaze allows that beautiful, sticky, caramelized crust to form, adding another layer of texture and rich flavor. This two-stage glazing process ensures maximum flavor penetration and a stunning presentation.
Don’t forget to explore all the other wonderful recipes from Truvía’s exciting Friendsgiving celebration! You won’t want to miss any of the delicious dishes, from appetizers to desserts. I’ll be sharing all the Friendsgiving recipes on my Facebook page and Twitter, so make sure to follow along to catch every single one. Wishing you a very Happy Friendsgiving filled with great food and even better company!
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
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Ingredients
- 1 9-10 lb smoked/precooked ham
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Truvia Brown Sugar Blend or 3/4 c. brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 3/4 tsp. dried mustard powder
- 1 tsp. water
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 275ºF. Lay a large piece of tinfoil over rimmed baking sheet. Place your ham cut side down in the middle of the tinfoil.
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In a small bowl, combine Truvia, preserves, mustard and water. Stir to make glaze.
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Rub about half of the mixture on the outside of the ham. Cover completely with the foil. Place in oven and cook for 1.5 hours.
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When 1.5 hours is up, pull baking sheet out of oven and pull tinfoil off ham. Spread remaining half of glaze over ham and lightly cover with the foil. Bake for 20-30 minutes longer.
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Slice ham and serve. Enjoy!
Some Yummy Side Dishes to Complement Your Glazed Ham:
A spectacular main dish like Brown Sugar Glazed Ham deserves equally delicious accompaniments. Here are some of my favorite side dishes that pair perfectly, creating a balanced and unforgettable meal:
Easy Potato Casserole
This Easy Potato Casserole is pure comfort food. Its creamy texture and rich flavor make it an ideal companion to the savory-sweet ham. It’s a classic holiday side that always pleases a crowd, offering a hearty and satisfying element to your meal. The tender potatoes, enveloped in a cheesy, creamy sauce, beautifully soak up any of the delicious ham juices, creating a harmonious bite.
Bacon Brussels Sprouts
For a delightful contrast to the sweetness of the ham, these Bacon Brussels Sprouts are absolutely perfect. The crispy bacon adds a salty, smoky depth, while the slightly bitter, earthy Brussels sprouts provide a wonderful balance. Even those who claim not to like Brussels sprouts often find themselves converted by this irresistible combination. It’s a sophisticated yet simple side that adds vibrant color and flavor.
Crock Pot Stuffing
When your oven is already occupied with a large ham, this Crock Pot Stuffing recipe is an absolute lifesaver. It’s incredibly flavorful, packed with aromatic spices and herbs that elevate it far beyond a “blah” stuffing. Cooking it in the slow cooker means you can prepare it hours in advance, freeing up valuable oven space and your time on busy holiday mornings. It’s moist, savory, and an essential part of any holiday spread, complementing the ham beautifully.
This is a sponsored post brought to you by Truvía®. As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own. I only share products and recipes I genuinely love and believe in. 🙂