Maple-Glazed Spiral Ham

A classic roast ham with a sweet-spicy glaze, perfect for Easter, Christmas, or any time.

Updated April 05, 2023

Why It Works

This recipe is incredibly simple to make and uses a bone-in, already-spiral-sliced ham.
The rich, sweet glaze perfectly complements the salty ham.

This tender, moist city ham is finished off with a simple, sweet-spicy glaze of maple syrup, molasses, and mustard. You'll get the best results if you look for a bone-in, shank-end, spiral-sliced ham with no added water.

20171201-holiday-city-ham-vicky-wasik-4 — Photograph: Vicky Wasik. Video: Natalie Holt

December 2010

Recipe Details

Maple-Glazed Spiral Ham Recipe

Active 20 mins

Total 3 hrs

Serves 12 to 16 servings

Ingredients

1 shank-end, spiral-sliced, bone-in ham (see notes), 6 to 8 pounds (2.7 to 3.6kg)
1/2 cup (120ml) maple syrup
1/2 cup (120ml) dark molasses
2 tablespoons (30ml) whole grain mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Adjust oven rack to lower position and preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Place ham in an oven bag or wrap tightly with foil and place on a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to oven and cook until ham reaches 120°F (49°C) in the center, about 2 1/2 hours.
Meanwhile, combine maple syrup, molasses, mustard, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and syrupy, about 15 minutes.
When ham has reached 120°F, remove from oven and unwrap. Paint with 1/3 of sauce, increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C), and bake 5 minutes. Paint with 1/3 more glaze and bake until crisp and shiny, 10 minutes longer. Remove from oven and paint with remaining glaze. Tent with foil and allow to rest 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Special Equipment

Wire rack, rimmed baking sheet, instant-read thermometer

Notes

For best results, look for a bone-in, shank-end, spiral-sliced ham with no added water.

The Food Lab's Definitive Guide to Buying and Cooking Hams

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
177	Calories
4g	Fat
16g	Carbs
19g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories	177
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g	6%
Saturated Fat 1g	4%
Cholesterol 54mg	18%
Sodium 857mg	37%
Total Carbohydrate 16g	6%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 37mg	3%
Iron 1mg	7%
Potassium 474mg	10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.