Apricot Glazed Ham is the ultimate holiday dinner recipe! A bone-in spiral ham is coated in a sweet and tangy homemade glaze of apricot preserves, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
This spiral cut ham bakes up juicy, flavorful with its sweet, caramelized glaze. Perfect for Christmas dinner, Easter dinner or any gathering or special occasion.
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Apricot Glazed Spiral Ham
If you’re looking for the perfect holiday centerpiece, look no further! This recipe is ideal for your Easter ham recipe, Christmas ham recipe or your next Sunday supper.
And if want to serve another option alongside your Thanksgiving turkey, this glazed ham will make a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving menu.
This spiral ham recipe with its sweet glaze is a show-stopper that’s both easy to make and bursting with flavor.
This is the easiest holiday ham glaze when you don’t want to fuss in the kitchen.
A bone-in spiral ham is coated in a sweet and tangy glaze made with apricot preserves, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder.
You are going to agree that this is the best ham glaze and so easy to make too!
It bakes into a tender, juicy ham with a golden caramelized crust that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday or a Sunday dinner, this spiral-sliced ham is a foolproof recipe that impresses every time so be sure to save this recipe for the holiday season. You'll be happy you did!
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How to cook a spiral ham with apricot glaze
This is a quick overview of how to make this holiday ham recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 325F. Place the ham, cut side down, in a roasting pan, cover with foil and bake.
- Step 2: While the ham is heating up, combine the glaze ingredients and simmer over medium-low heat.
- Step 3: Uncover, brush with two thirds of the glaze and cook an additional 20 minutes, basting with the remaining glaze halfway through.
- Step 4: Let the ham rest for about 10 minute before serving
Hint: This easy apricot glaze for ham isn’t just for ham and can also be used to glaze a roasting chicken or pork chops!
Expert recipe tips
- Use a roasting rack – This is optional and a personal preference. Place the ham on a wire rack to allow for even cooking. This also keeps the bottom of the ham from becoming soggy.
- Baste frequently - Brush the ham with the homemade glaze every 5 minutes for the best caramelization and flavor.
- Cover then uncover – When the ham first goes in the oven, cover it with foil. This helps to speed up the heating process. Then uncover, brush with the glaze and cook until the glaze is caramelized.
- Use a meat thermometer – Be sure to check the internal temperature of the ham and heat it until it reaches 140°F to ensure it’s warmed through without drying out.
Substitutions
- Apricot Preserves - You can replace apricot preserves with peach preserves, pineapple preserves, raspberry preserves or orange marmalade.
- Dijon Mustard - Spicy brown mustard or honey mustard can replace Dijon mustard.
- Brown Sugar – You can use honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar, however, both will give you a different flavor of sweetness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - White wine vinegar, lemon juice or white balsamic vinegar can easily replace the apple cider vinegar.
- Garlic Powder – Substitute onion powder for the garlic powder for a slightly different depth of flavor.
- Black Pepper - You can use white pepper in place of the black pepper
Variations
You can change up this easy glazed ham recipe with these variations:
- Bourbon – Add a shot of Bourbon to the glaze for a Bourbon glazed ham with added flavor.
- Citrus - Stir a tablespoon of grated orange zest or orange juice into the apricot glaze for a tangy citrus flavor.
- Herb - Add minced fresh rosemary or thyme to the glaze to add a savory, aromatic flavor.
- Pineapple-Apricot Ham – For a tropical touch, stir crushed pineapple into the glaze.
- Spicy - Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the glaze for a hint of spice.
Storage
- Refrigerate - Store leftover ham in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze - Wrap leftover ham slices tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil. You can freeze ham for up to 2 months.
- Reheat - Place your leftover ham in a baking pan and cover with foil then bake in the oven at 325°F until heated through. You can also reheat ham slices in a skillet.
FAQ
The best ham for this recipe is a bone-in spiral ham. It comes pre-sliced and fully cooked, making it easy to serve. The bone helps to keep the ham juicy and flavorful. If you prefer, you can use a boneless ham, but, in my opinion, the texture and flavor are usually better with a bone-in ham.
Yes, you can prepare and bake your apricot glazed spiral ham the day before. Let it cool slightly and then cover it tightly with foil that you have coated with cooking spray (so the glaze doesn’t stick to the foil) and refrigerate. You can reheat the ham at 325°F, covered with foil, until it is heated through. I recommend making extra glaze to brush on while reheating to keep it moist and flavorful.
For sure! If you don’t have apricot preserves, you can use peach preserves, pineapple preserves, or orange marmalade for a similar sweet and tangy flavor. Each fruit glaze adds its own delicious and flavorful twist to the glaze.
Ingredients
Ingredients for baked ham with glaze
- Bone-In Spiral Ham – A bone-in spiral ham comes fully cooked making it an easy meat to serve. You are just reheating the ham and adding a flavorful glaze.
- Apricot Preserves – The preserves add a fruity sweetness and make a sticky glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
- Dijon Mustard – Dijon adds a tangy note that balances the sweetness of the preserves.
- Brown Sugar – Brown sugar adds a rich, molasses-like sweetness to the glaze.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Vinegar adds both a brightness and an acidity that enhance the flavor of the glaze.
- Garlic Powder – Garlic powder brings subtle savory notes that balance the glaze.
- Black Pepper – Adds a savory note to the glaze and helps to balance out the sweetness of the preserves
What to serve with a spiral-cut ham
Apricot Glazed Spiral Ham Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 (8 – 10 pounds fully cooked bone-in spiral ham
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove the plastic disk and discard, if one came with your ham.
- Place the ham in a large roasting pan, cut side down.
- Cover the ham with foil and bake according to its weight, 12-15 minutes per pound, at least 1 ½ hours, or until the internal temperature registers 140F.
- While the ham is heating up in the oven, in a small saucepan combine the apricot preserves, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic powder and black pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and immediately reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine and the mixture to thicken slightly, stirring occasionally.
- Remove ham from oven, uncover and brush it generously with about two thirds of the glaze. Return the ham to the oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes, basting once more with the remaining glaze halfway through. You can stand the ham on its side at this point, if desired, with the cut side showing.
- Serve the ham with extra glaze if desired.
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