Description
This Christmas Ham recipe features a succulent spiral-sliced bone-in ham perfectly glazed with a sweet and tangy mixture of orange juice, brown sugar, honey, and cinnamon. Enhanced with bright notes of orange zest, pomegranate seeds, and fresh parsley, this dish offers a festive centerpiece that’s both flavorful and visually appealing, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham
- 1 spiral sliced bone-in ham (9 to 12 pounds)
Glaze
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Zest of one orange
Garnish
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for roasting the ham evenly.
- Prepare Ham: Remove the ham from its packaging, discarding most of the liquid but reserving about 1 cup to enhance moisture during cooking.
- Place Ham in Roasting Pan: Position the ham cut side down in a large roasting pan or baking dish and pour the reserved 1 cup of liquid into the dish to keep the ham moist.
- Make Initial Glaze Mixture: In a large bowl, combine orange juice, brown sugar, honey, and cinnamon, mixing until well blended.
- Apply Half of Glaze: Pour half of this mixture evenly over the ham, reserving the rest for thickening later.
- Roast Ham: Place the ham in the preheated oven and bake for 2 to 2½ hours, roughly 20 minutes per pound, allowing the flavors to infuse and the ham to heat through.
- Prepare Glaze: During the last hour of baking, pour the remaining orange juice mixture into a large pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
- Thicken Glaze: Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk constantly, preventing boiling over, simmering for 10 to 15 minutes until the glaze thickens to a syrupy consistency.
- Remove Ham from Oven: Once cooked, take the ham out of the oven and transfer it to a serving dish to prepare for glazing and garnishing.
- Glaze Ham: Pour the thickened glaze all over the ham, ensuring an even coating to enhance sweetness and moisture.
- Garnish: Sprinkle the ham with freshly grated orange zest, vibrant pomegranate seeds, and chopped parsley for added flavor and festive appearance.
- Carve and Serve: Carve the ham into slices and serve warm, making it the centerpiece of your holiday feast.
Notes
- Cooking time is approximately 20 minutes per pound; adjust accordingly if your ham is lighter or heavier.
- Reserve some of the juices from the ham packaging for added moisture during roasting.
- The glaze can be made ahead and reheated gently before glazing the ham.
- Use a roasting pan with a rack if possible to allow even heat circulation.
- Leftover ham pairs well with mustard or cranberry sauce for added flavor.
