Honey Baked ham is a nostalgic main usually seen on an
Easter dinner table. It’s grand, deliciously smoky, and has a signature caramelized crust all over. Sadly, it’s something you have to plan to order in advance and can be a little on the pricey side. If you didn’t have time to order your ham, want to save some money, or just try a homemade version of this classic centerpiece, this copycat recipe is for you.
It’s important to get a bone-in spiral sliced ham for this. The bone is pivotal for a juicy ham—it prevents the meat from drying out in the oven and adds extra depth of flavor. Having the ham pre-sliced makes it easy to get the sweet and warm flavor of the honey glaze permeated throughout the whole thing, not just on top.
The best part of a Honey Baked ham is the crackly crust. The way to achieve this is by patting on sugar all over the ham and roasting it at a high temperature right at the end of cooking. The sugar mixes with the glaze and ham juices to create an irresistible sweet and savory crust. When you get some of those crispy bits mixed in to your mashed potatoes? *chef’s kiss*
You may not have any leftover ham, but if you do, use them in ham sandwiches, chop and add to fried rice, or throw on top of pizza! Just remember not to throw out your bone; it still has lots of delicious flavor that can be used in soups and stews or just added to a bone broth for some smokey flavor.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!