If you love the sweet smell of warm honey, the cozy flavor of ginger, and the rich taste of baked ham, then you are probably wondering how to make the perfect Honey Glazed Ham at home. Many people feel ham is difficult or needs fancy cooking skills, but that is not true at all. If you are making this Honey Glazed Ham recipe for the first time, you will feel confident from the beginning to the end.
What Is a Honey Glazed Ham?
A Honey Glazed Ham is a cooked ham coated with a mixture of honey, spices, and sometimes butter. This glaze is brushed over the ham while baking so it becomes shiny, sticky, sweet, and full of flavor. It is often served during Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or family gatherings, but honestly—you can make it anytime you want a comforting meal.
In our version, we add fresh or powdered ginger to the glaze. This gives the ham a warm and slightly spicy aroma that makes your kitchen smell wonderful.
How To Make Ginger Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
Recipe Card – Quick Details
Cuisine: American / Holiday
Course: Main Course
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1.5 to 2 hours (depends on ham size)
Total Time: 2 hours
Servings: 10–12
Difficulty: Very easy
Taste: Sweet, warm, gently spiced
Ingredients for Honey Glazed Ham
You may be wondering if you need special ingredients for this Honey Glazed Ham recipe. The answer is no. Everything is simple and available in most kitchens.
For the Ham:
- 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (about 8–10 lbs)
For the Ginger Honey Glaze:
- 1 cup honey
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger (or 1 tablespoon powdered ginger)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (optional but great for balance)
- 2 tablespoons lemon or orange juice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2–3 garlic cloves, crushed
How to Make Ginger Honey Glazed Ham – Step-by-Step
Cooking a glazed ham is easier than it looks. If you can mix a glaze and use a brush, you can make this dish perfectly. Here is a very clear and simple guide.
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare the Ham
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
Remove the ham from its package and place it in a roasting pan. If the ham has a thick fat layer, gently score it in a crisscross pattern. This helps the glaze seep inside and gives the ham a beautiful pattern after baking.
Step 2: Make the Ginger Honey Glaze
In a small saucepan, melt your butter on low heat. Add honey, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, pepper, and lemon juice. Stir slowly until everything blends into a golden, sticky glaze. The ginger smell will already feel warm and cozy.
Step 3: Brush the Ham Generously
Pour one-third of the glaze over the ham. Brush it all around the surface so the sweetness covers every part.
Step 4: Bake Slowly
Cover the ham lightly with foil and bake for about 1 hour. The slow heat warms the ham through and helps the glaze hold onto the surface.
Step 5: Add More Glaze and Caramelize
After the first hour, remove the foil. Brush more glaze on top. Bake again for 20–30 minutes until the glaze becomes thick, glossy, and caramelized. If you want a deeper golden color, brush glaze two or three more times in the last 20 minutes.
Step 6: Rest and Serve
Let the ham rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. This keeps the juices inside and makes every bite soft and tender. Your Ginger Honey Glazed Ham is now ready to serve!
What Makes This Honey Glazed Ham So Good?
The magic is in the glaze. Honey brings sweetness, ginger adds warmth, brown sugar adds richness, and butter helps everything melt smoothly. When these ingredients cook together on a warm ham, they form a shiny coat that is both delicious and comforting.
If you have ever wondered why restaurant hams taste so glossy, it is because of repeated glazing. So don’t skip brushing extra glaze toward the end.
Tips for the Best Honey Glazed Ham
Here are some simple but helpful tips to make your Honey Glazed Ham recipe even better:
1. Use fresh ginger if possible.
It gives a more lively flavor compared to powdered ginger.
2. Don’t skip scoring the ham.
Those little cuts help the glaze soak deeper.
3. Keep basting.
The more glaze you brush, the shinier and more flavorful the ham becomes.
4. Let the ham rest.
This makes it juicy and soft.
5. Use a roasting pan that fits well.
Too big a pan will dry the ham faster.
Variations You Can Try
If you love experimenting in the kitchen, here are easy variations:
Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham
Add crushed pineapple or pineapple juice to your glaze. The sweetness pairs beautifully with ginger.
Spicy Honey Glazed Ham
Add a little chili powder or red pepper flakes to make it sweet-and-spicy.
Maple Ginger Ham
Replace honey with maple syrup for a deeper flavor.
Orange Honey Ham
Use orange zest and more orange juice for a citrus twist.
Nutrition Information (Approx.)
Per serving (without sides):
- Calories: 380–420
- Protein: 22g
- Fat: 14g
- Carbs: 34g
- Sugar: 26g
These numbers can change depending on glaze thickness and ham size.
Making a Honey Glazed Ham at home does not need to be complicated. With simple ingredients like honey, ginger, butter, and brown sugar, you can create a beautiful centerpiece dish that tastes sweet, warm, comforting, and festive. This guide is written to help even first-time home cooks feel confident while making a delicious Honey Glazed Ham recipe that looks and tastes impressive.
The next time you want to make something special for your family or during holidays, try this Ginger Honey Glazed Ham. The aroma, the shine, and the flavor will make everyone ask, “How did you make this so good?”
And you can smile knowing it was actually very simple.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why is my honey glaze not sticking to the ham?
This usually happens if the ham is too wet or not scored. Pat the ham dry before glazing and make small cuts on the surface so the honey glaze can hold better. Brushing the glaze multiple times during baking also helps build a sticky layer.
2. Can I make this Honey Glazed Ham recipe without ginger?
Yes, you can skip ginger if you want a simple honey glaze. But ginger adds warmth and balance to the sweetness, so the ham tastes richer and more interesting.
3. Should I cover the ham while baking?
During the first part of baking, keeping the ham covered prevents it from drying. Later, removing the foil allows the glaze to caramelize. This gives the ham the classic golden look.
4. Can I use boneless ham instead of bone-in?
Yes, boneless ham works well too. Bone-in ham has more flavor, but boneless is easier to slice. Cooking time may be slightly shorter, so keep an eye on it.
5. How do I know the ham is ready?
Since most store-bought hams are pre-cooked, you only need to heat it until it reaches around 140°F (60°C) inside. The glaze should look shiny and sticky.
