Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham

Embracing the warmth of the holiday season is all about creating memorable experiences with family and friends. A delicious glazed ham acts as the star of the feast, filling the dining room with a tantalizing aroma. Prepared with love and served with joy, this dish is more than just a meal - it's a shared moment that embodies the spirit of togetherness and celebration. This festive season, gather around the table, indulge in the rich flavours of this succulent ham, and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones.

Preparing The Ham

• Preheat the oven to 300°F | 150°C and arrange a rack in the lower third. Take off any packaging or netting from the ham, remove and discard the rind, and let it rest at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
• For easier cleanup, line a baking tray or dish with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Remove the skin from the ham, leaving the fat on. Score a diamond pattern (not more than 1/4 inch deep) all over the ham using a sharp knife. Place the ham in the baking tray; pour 1/3 cup of water into the base of the pan and cover the ham with two pieces of foil or parchment paper, and bake for 30 minutes.

Creating The Delicious Glaze

• In the meantime, add the butter in a small pot or saucepan over medium heat until golden browned. Add in the brown sugar, honey, mustard, cinnamon and cloves, stirring to mix together well until the brown sugar has completely dissolved; this should take approximately 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add garlic. Cook until fragrant, then simmer the glaze and let cool to lukewarm. Ideally, the glaze should be the consistency of room-temperature honey.

Making a Memorable Holiday Feast

• After 30 minutes of baking time, remove the ham from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 425°F | 220°C. Discard the foil or parchment paper and pour 1/3 of the glaze all over the ham, brushing in between the cuts to evenly cover. Return to the oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven; brush the ham with another third of the glaze and some of the pan juices, and repeat this process after 15 more minutes of baking until a dark golden-brown crust has formed; this should take about 30 minutes total. For added depth of flavour, mix some of the ham pan juices together with the glaze in the pot, which will help keep it runny enough for brushing. If your crust is still pink after the suggested baking time, turn on your broiler and allow it to broil for 2-5 minutes while keeping an eye on it so it doesn't burn the sugar. 
• It is recommended to allow the ham to rest for 10-20 minutes prior to slicing.

Notes

If your glaze has become too thick from over-simmering, try adding pan juices and heat on low until it reaches a honey-like consistency, making basting easier.

Original recipe by Cafe Delites