If you are looking for a special centerpiece for your holiday meal, try this homemade version of the beloved Honey-Baked Ham. This copycat recipe captures all the sweet, savory, and smoky flavors of the original without the hefty price tag or long lines at the store.
Honey-baked ham is rightfully famous for its perfect balance of flavors and irresistible, crispy glaze. But wow, is it expensive! Especially when every grocery store chain puts ham on sale right before holidays like Christmas and Easter!
The obvious solution is to make it at home with this copycat recipe. And don’t worry, you don’t need any fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients to pull it off. Once you learn the secret ingredient (ok, I’ll spill, it’s pumpkin spice!), you can make your own homemade masterpiece.
The glaze perfectly balances sweet and savory with a hint of warm spices. My favorite part is the edges, which are deliciously crispy and caramelized. This dish is a showstopper that’s sure to impress everyone at the table.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the easy step-by-step process. To make things even easier, I’ll include instructions for baking your ham in the oven or using a roaster pan. Of course, we’ll answer some of the most asked reader questions so you can confidently tackle this holiday classic.
Are you looking for ideas for using your leftover ham after the holiday? Try my recipes for slow cooker ham and potato soup, ham and cheese muffins, or air fryer ham and cheese sandwiches.
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Fully cooked spiral-sliced ham: To make things extra easy, I like to use a fully cooked, spiral-sliced ham. The spiral slicing allows the glaze to penetrate into all the nooks and crannies. An unsliced ham will also work, but you will need to cook it a bit longer.
- Honey
- Butter
- Pumpkin spice: Pumpkin spice is the secret ingredient in this recipe. The blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice perfectly complements the honey’s sweetness and the ham’s saltiness.
- Dijon mustard
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
🥣How to Make Honey Baked Ham
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, melt the butter and whisk in the honey and Dijon mustard.
- Place your ham in a large baking dish, cut side down. Brush the honey butter mixture all over the surface of the ham.
- Mix the onion powder, paprika, pumpkin spice, white sugar, and brown sugar in another bowl.
- Using your hands, pack about half of the sugar mixture all over the surface of the ham, pressing it gently to help it stick. Don’t worry if some falls off – we’ll add more later.
- Cover the ham tightly with foil and place it in the oven. Bake for about two hours or until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F.
- Remove the ham from the oven and carefully remove the foil. Be careful, as the steam will be hot! Coat the ham with the remaining sugar mixture, pressing it gently to help it adhere.
- Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F and return the ham to the uncovered oven for another 10-15 minutes. This high heat helps caramelize the sugars and create that signature crunchy exterior.
- Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
🍖Making Honey Baked Ham in a Roaster Oven
For holidays I like to make ham in my electric roaster oven. It means less juggling oven space on the holidays, which makes my life easier. And you can easily make this honey-baked ham in a roaster oven. See the recipe card below for the instructions.
🍴Serving Ideas
Now that you’ve got this gorgeous Copycat Honey Baked Ham, it’s time to make your holiday table extra special. For a classic Christmas or Easter dinner, serve slices of ham alongside your favorite holiday sides, like mashed potatoes, green beans, and dinner rolls.
Ham is also a great choice for a special brunch. Whether it is an Easter brunch or a Mother’s Day party, it makes a fabulous centerpiece. My family always loves potato salad and pistachio fluff with ham!
💭How to Store
Wrap leftover ham tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. If you have a large chunk of ham left, you can wrap it whole. If you have smaller pieces or slices, wrap them individually or place them in an airtight container.
Place the wrapped ham in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 5 days. If you want to freeze the ham, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. For best quality, use within 2-3 months.
To reheat the ham, place it in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake in a 325°F oven until heated through, about 10-15 minutes per pound. You can also reheat it in the air fryer.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Look for a fully cooked, bone-in, spiral-sliced ham for the best flavor and texture. Avoid hams labeled “water added” or “ham and water product,” as they may be too wet and not caramelize properly.
- This recipe’s cooking time is based on an 8-10 pound spiral-sliced ham. If your ham is larger or smaller, you must adjust the cooking time accordingly. A good rule of thumb is about 10 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F.
- If you cook a ham that is not spiral sliced, it will take longer. Assume 15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F, so 2 ½ hours for a 10-pound ham.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to ensure your ham is perfectly cooked. You’re looking for a temperature of 130 degrees F before adding the final sugar coating.
- It may be tempting to slice right into that gorgeous ham, but it is crucial to let it rest for a few minutes after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is perfectly tender and moist.
📝Reader Questions
Absolutely! You can bake the ham, let it cool completely, and then refrigerate it for up to 3 days before serving. Just reheat it in a 325°F oven until warmed through before slicing and serving.
You can make your own by combining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon allspice or cloves. You can substitute cinnamon, although the other spices add flavor to the ham.
If you don’t have Dijon mustard, use yellow or whole-grain mustard. It may slightly change the flavor of the glaze.
⭐Did You Make This? Leave a Star Rating!
Honey Baked Ham Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 fully cooked spiral sliced ham 8-10 pound
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, melt your butter and whisk in the honey and Dijon mustard until combined.1/2 cup honey, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Place your ham in a large baking dish.
- Coat the ham in the honey butter mixture.
- Combine the onion powder, paprika, pumpkin spice, and both sugars in another bowl.1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice, ¾ cup white sugar, ¾ cup brown sugar
- Using your hands, coat the outside of the ham with about half of the sugar mixture.1 fully cooked spiral sliced ham
- Cover with foil, place in the oven, and bake for about 2 hours or until 130 degrees.
- Remove the ham from the oven and carefully coat the ham with the rest of the sugar mixture.
- Turn the oven to 425 degrees F and place the ham back in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the sugars caramelize.
Notes
- This recipe’s cooking time is based on an 8-10 pound spiral-sliced ham. If your ham is larger or smaller, you must adjust the cooking time accordingly. A good rule of thumb is about 10 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F.
- If you cook a ham that is not spiral sliced, it will take longer. Assume 15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F, so 2 ½ hours for a 10-pound ham.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to ensure your ham is perfectly cooked. You’re looking for a temperature of 130 degrees F before adding the final sugar coating.
- You can make your own pumpkin spice by combining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon allspice or cloves. You can also just substitute cinnamon, although the other spice adds flavor to the ham.
- Substitute yellow or whole grain mustard if you don’t have Dijon mustard.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
Honey Baked Ham in Roaster Oven Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 fully cooked spiral sliced ham 8-10 pound
Instructions
- Preheat your roaster oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, melt the butter and whisk in the honey and Dijon mustard.1/2 cup honey, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Place your ham on a large piece of foil, cut side down. Brush the honey butter mixture all over the surface of the ham.1 fully cooked spiral sliced ham
- Mix the onion powder, paprika, pumpkin spice, white sugar, and brown sugar in another bowl.1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice, ¾ cup white sugar, ¾ cup brown sugar
- Using your hands, pack about half of the sugar mixture all over the surface of the ham, pressing it gently to help it stick. Don’t worry if some falls off – we’ll add more later.
- Wrap the foil around the ham to cover the top. Add 2 cups of water to the bottom of the roaster oven. Place the ham on the rack and put it in the roaster oven. Bake for about two hours or until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F.
- Carefully open the foil to expose the ham. Be careful, as the steam will be hot! Coat the ham with the remaining sugar mixture, pressing it gently to help it adhere.
- Increase the roaster oven temperature to 425 degrees F and cook uncovered ham for another 10-15 minutes. This high heat helps caramelize the sugars and create that signature crunchy exterior.
- Remove the ham from the roaster oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- This recipe’s cooking time is based on an 8-10 pound spiral-sliced ham. If your ham is larger or smaller, you must adjust the cooking time accordingly. A good rule of thumb is about 10 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F.
- If you cook a ham that is not spiral sliced, it will take longer. Assume 15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F, so 2 ½ hours for a 10-pound ham.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to ensure your ham is perfectly cooked. You’re looking for a temperature of 130 degrees F before adding the final sugar coating.
- You can make your own pumpkin spice by combining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon allspice or cloves. You can also just substitute cinnamon, although the other spice adds flavor to the ham.
- Substitute yellow or whole grain mustard if you don’t have Dijon mustard.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
