Description
A juicy baked ham with a sweet and tangy glaze made from apple cider, bourbon, and warm spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 to 10-pound / 3.5 to 4.5 kg) pre-cooked bone-in ham, whole or spiral-cut
- 3 large, firm apples (like Honeycrisp or Braeburn), cored and cut into thick slices
- 4 cups (1 L) apple cider, divided
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) bourbon
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a large roasting pan with heavy-duty foil for easier cleanup.
- Arrange the apple slices in a single layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place the ham, cut-side down, on top of the apples.
- Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of the apple cider into the bottom of the pan around the ham. This will create steam and keep the ham moist.
- Bake the ham for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- While the ham bakes, prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 3 cups (720 ml) of apple cider and the bourbon. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook until the liquid has reduced by about one-third, which should take 15-20 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the Dijon mustard, honey, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg until smooth.
- After the initial 90 minutes of baking, remove the ham from the oven. Brush it generously all over with the cider glaze.
- Return the ham to the oven and continue to bake, brushing with more glaze every 10 minutes, for another 30 minutes. The ham is ready when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part (not touching bone) reads 145°F (63°C).
- Carefully transfer the ham to a cutting board and let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing. Gently warm any remaining glaze and serve it alongside the ham.
Notes
- For food safety, the USDA recommends cooking whole cuts of pork like ham to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) and allowing it to rest for at least 3 minutes.
- Using a pre-cooked, spiral-cut ham makes carving and serving very simple. The glaze can get into all the slices.
- If your ham comes with a glaze packet, you can discard it and use this homemade version instead.
- The roasted apples from the bottom of the pan are delicious and can be served as a side dish with the ham.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American