Thanksgiving and Christmas Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

This Thanksgiving and Christmas Ham recipe is guaranteed to add a touch of sweetness and warmth to your holiday feast! The succulent ham is bathed in a luscious glaze made from honey, brown sugar, aromatic cinnamon, and tangy pineapple juice, creating a perfect balance of flavors that will melt in your mouth.

While turkey is the traditional centerpiece of Thanksgiving meals, some families and individuals choose to have ham as an alternative or in addition to turkey. Ham is also popular for Christmas and Easter.

A holiday ham is typically a whole or half ham that has been cured, smoked, and sometimes glazed to enhance its flavor. It can be made from various cuts of pork, such as the hind leg or shoulder, and comes in different sizes to accommodate the number of guests or family members.

Boneless vs Spiral Cut Ham

Spiral-cut ham is a bone-in ham that has been pre-sliced in a spiral pattern around the bone. The slices are usually uniform in thickness and extend almost to the bone. These are easy to serve since they are pre-sliced, making them a convenient option for large gatherings or events.

Boneless ham is a ham that has had the bone removed. It is usually taken from the hind leg or shoulder of the pig. These are easy to slice and carve since there is no bone in the way. This makes them convenient for serving and reduces the amount of waste.

Both types of ham often come pre-cooked, which means they only need to be reheated before serving. This can save time and effort in the kitchen.

I like to use spiral cut because they look nicer in terms of presentation and require less prep time while serving.

How to Choose the Best Size

Choosing the best size depends on several factors, including the number of guests you’ll be serving, your desired leftovers, and your preferred serving style. Here are some tips:

• Number of Guests: Estimate the number of guests you’ll be serving. As a general rule, plan for about 1/2 to 3/4 a pound of bone-in ham per person or 1/4 to 1/3 pound of boneless ham per person. Adjust this amount based on your guests’ appetites and if you want leftovers.
• Desired Leftovers: Consider if you want leftover ham for sandwiches, soups, or other recipes. If you enjoy having ham leftovers, aim for a slightly larger ham to ensure you have enough for post-meal dishes.
• Bone-In or Boneless: Decide whether you prefer a bone-in or boneless ham. Bone-in hams tend to have a richer flavor and are often larger, while boneless hams are more straightforward to slice and serve.
• Serving Style: Consider your serving style. If you plan to serve the ham as the main dish and offer various side dishes, a larger ham might be appropriate. For a smaller gathering with multiple main dishes, a smaller ham could be sufficient.
• Cooking Time: Keep in mind that larger hams may take longer to cook, so consider your available cooking time and the oven space you have.

Store Bought Hams are Pre Cooked

Store-bought whole hams are typically pre-cooked or partially cooked before being sold to consumers. This means that the ham has already undergone cooking processes to make it safe to eat without any further cooking required.

Pre-cooked hams are fully cooked by smoking, boiling, or baking, to ensure they reach a safe internal temperature and have a tender and flavorful texture. This pre-cooking process also helps to extend the shelf life of the ham.

When purchasing a whole ham from the store, you can usually find information on the packaging indicating whether the ham is pre-cooked. It may be labeled as “fully cooked,” “pre-cooked,” or “ready-to-eat.”

Reheating a pre-cooked ham ensures that it is heated through and enhances its flavor.

Ham Glaze

Using a glaze adds flavor and will also help prevent the ham from drying out while cooking. The key ingredients include brown sugar or sweetener, honey, pineapple juice, cinnamon and ground cloves.

How to Make Thanksgiving and Christmas Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Place a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add brown sugar or sweetener, honey, pineapple juice, cinnamon, and ground cloves.
2. Stir for 3-4 minutes until the sweetener has melted.
3. Add cornstarch and water to a small bowl and stir to combine.
4. Add the cornstarch slurry mixture to the glaze. Stir as you pour and add it in slowly. Stir until the glaze thickens.
5. Place the ham on a foil lined sheet pan or in a roasting pan. Drizzle the glaze over the ham.
6. Wrap and tent foil around the ham.
7. Bake.

Cook Time/How Long to Bake

According to the USDA, to reheat cooked hams, set the oven temperature no lower than 325 °F and heat to an internal temperature of 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

To reheat a spiral-sliced, bone-in ham in a conventional oven, cover the entire ham or portion with heavy aluminum foil and heat at 325 °F for about 10 minutes per pound.

For a smoked (pre-cooked) whole, bone-in ham with a weight of 10-14 pounds, bake for 15-18 minutes per pound.

For a whole, bone-in fresh, un-cooked ham with a weight of 12-16 pounds, cook for 22-26 minutes per pound.

Boneless hams should be cooked for 10-15 minutes per pound.

How to Tell When it’s Done

While most store-bought hams are pre-cooked and safe to eat, using a meat thermometer is a reliable way to check the internal temperature. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the ham, and ensure it reaches an internal temperature of at least 140 degrees.

Pay attention to the glaze on the ham. As the ham bakes, the glaze should caramelize and develop a glossy, golden-brown finish. This indicates that the ham is ready to be taken out of the oven.

Can You Make it Ahead of Time/How to Store

You can prepare the glaze and glaze the ham the night before you plan to serve it. Since the ham is already pre-cooked, I cook it the same day I plan to serve it. That also ensures the glaze has the best texture while serving.

Leftover ham can be stored in the fridge tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.

How to Reheat

You can reheat it at 350 degrees in the oven or air fryer until warm. You can also use the microwave or a skillet on the stove.

How to Carve

Spiral Cut Bone in Ham:

1. You’ll notice the bone running through the center of the ham. The slices will be spiraled around this bone.
2. Gently separate the slices from each other with your fingers. The slices should naturally separate as you work your way around the ham.
3. Carefully cut along the natural line where the slices end. This will allow you to access the interior slices more easily.
4. Using a carving knife or a sharp serrated knife, start slicing from the outer edge of the ham, following the spiral cut. Cut parallel to the bone or between the slices, depending on your preference.

Boneless Ham:

1. Boneless hams typically have natural separations between muscle groups. Look for these lines as they will guide your carving.
2. To ensure tender slices, always cut against the grain of the meat. The grain of the ham runs in the direction of the muscle fibers. Cutting against the grain will result in slices that are easier to chew and more tender.
3. Using a carving knife or a sharp chef’s knife, begin slicing the ham from the thicker end. Cut thin slices, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, depending on your preference.
4. Work your way along the natural separations of the ham, slicing as you go. If the ham is particularly large, you can remove a portion of the ham to make it easier to handle while slicing.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze leftovers tightly covered and sealed for 2-3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.

Pair With These Side Dish Recipes

Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Yam Casserole
Fried Green Tomatoes
She Crab Soup
Mashed Potatoes with Cheese

More Holiday Main Dishes

Baked Cornish Hens
Smoked Duck
Roasted Turkey Breast
Pork Neck Bones
Bone-In or Boneless Garlic Prime Rib
Slow Cooker Crockpot Oxtails

More Ham Recipes

Traeger Smoked Ham
Southern Baked Ham with Pineapple
Slow Cooker Crockpot Glazed Ham
Ham Hocks and Beans