THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY
ALDI, who I’m so excited to partner with & share with you all throughout 2020. I’m a lifelong ALDI fan, & the Appleton Farms Bone-In Ham featured in this recipe is a holiday dinner staple at my house. (It always has been!) All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Times of celebration & togetherness look a little bit different in every home.
Especially as of late, with everything that’s happening in the world, quality time looks a little bit different for everyone right now. Chris & I have spent nearly every moment together for the past several weeks. I, of course, love being home with him, but I’ve also found myself especially longing for my family. Things feel a little nostalgic & bittersweet, & I cannot wait until we’re all under the same roof again.
In my family, at the Reilly home, our times of togetherness look a lot like this: my older brother, Micah, carving into the gorgeous glazed ham he spent the afternoon tending to, my mom standing next to him stirring a saucepan of pineapple sauce, my niece & nephew helping their beloved Uncle Chris set the dinner table, & my sister-in-law & dad contently sitting back into the sofa while he strums away on his guitar.
For me, this is home in the deepest sense of the word, & there’s no place I’d rather be.
Ham means celebration, simply because we’re together.
Serving baked ham is the longest standing Reilly family tradition I can remember. We always have ham at family dinners & special Sunday Suppers (…like when the Packers played the Broncos in the ’98 Super Bowl…& I’m not even joking!).
I’m thrilled to finally share this Maple Glazed Ham recipe. It’s my treasured family recipe (with a couple of PWWB twists, of course). Even though I can’t physically be with my family right now, the aromas & flavors that this recipe creates take me straight home. If you’re in need of a comforting home-cooked meal…this is it!
If you don’t already know how to bake a ham or how to glaze a ham, this delicious maple glazed ham is the perfect place to start! It…
- uses very minimal, simple ingredients, all designed to complement the naturally smoky-sweet flavor of ham.
- is seriously easy to prepare…ham is the most approachable holiday roast there is!
- couldn’t be any more festive. A gorgeous, studded ham glistening with the best ham glaze made from brown sugar, mustard, & pure maple syrup…there’s nothing better!
& best yet, you can get everything you need to make it at ALDI!
As you probably already know, I have such a crush on all things ALDI!
I have shopped at ALDI ever since I was a little kid &, to this day, ALDI is the first place I turn to when I plan out my family’s special dinners. The quality of ALDI products is worthy of the most special occasions & the amazing prices at ALDI keep things totally affordable. (…Don’t you love it when that happens??)
You can get everything you need to make this maple glazed ham recipe at ALDI, including the best ham, Appleton Farms Bone-In Ham. It’s hardwood smoked, so it’s got the best smoky-sweet flavor, & it stays totally juicy & tender once baked. A total staple at my family’s dinner table!
From the Reilly family kitchen to yours, I cannot wait for you to try this special baked ham recipe. It’s citrusy, smoky-sweet, & pretty much perfect. ♡ Read on to learn more about this Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham recipe, or jump straight to the recipe & get cookin’!
What you need to make this simple Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham recipe:
One of my favorite things about this maple glazed ham recipe is the ingredients are very minimal & simple, but they work so powerfully together to create a harmonious zesty-sweet flavor.
You need just 6 ingredients (& many of them are probably already in your pantry!)… (Note: full ingredients list & measurements provided in the Recipe Card, below):
- bone-in, fully cooked ham
- oranges
- whole cloves
- brown sugar
- mustard
- & pure maple syrup
So simple, right??
A couple notes on what kind of ham is best to use in this recipe:
- Size: When it comes to baked ham, I think an 8-10 pound ham is ideal: small enough to not require a ton of time in the oven (& therefore the risk of completely drying out is very low) & large enough to feed a crowd of 6-8 adults generously. If you’re serving a larger crowd, I suggest baking 2 smaller hams vs going for 1 very large ham.
- Butt vs Shank: The Appleton Farms Hardwood Smoked Bone-In Ham used in this recipe comes in butt & shank portions. Both work perfectly well for this recipe! The shank portions make for an especially gorgeous presentation. I have a slight preference for the butt portions, as they’re a little meatier & a little easier to carve. Use whatever you love most!
- Will spiral-cut ham work? It’s admittedly not my favorite. I tested this maple glazed ham recipe using a spiral-cut ham & found it was much more susceptible to drying out. Go for the Appleton Farms Hardwood Smoked Bone-In Ham – it is beautiful to serve & stays totally juicy & tender through baking…all great things when it comes to a baked ham dinner!
How to make glaze for ham & prep a ham for baking:
When it comes to holiday roasts, baked ham is seriously as easy as it gets! Because ham is an already fully-cooked product (the Appleton Farms hams from ALDI are smoked), the ultimate goal in baking it is to simply warm it through for serving.
…& since we’re all about creating BIG flavors here at PWWB, this Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham recipe is all about making the ham even tastier by enhancing its natural smoky-sweet flavor.
We accomplish this by doing 3 things as we prepare the ham for baking (note: the full Recipe Directions are provided in the Recipe Card, below):
- Scoring the exterior of the ham.
- Coating the ham, in both a simple maple mustard ham glaze & the most fabulous armor of oranges & cloves.
- Basting the ham as it bakes.
Pretty simple, right?!
First up, prep the ham glaze with brown sugar & maple syrup.
Combine brown sugar, whole grain mustard, maple syrup, & some orange zest in a small bowl & simply whisk to combine.
It’s worth noting that many recipes detailing how to make glaze for ham call for simmering this mixture into a syrupy consistency on the stovetop before brushing it on the ham. My family has never done it that way. Our maple brown sugar ham glaze is very thick & clings to the ham well without the added step…so, why dirty another dish, ya know??
Next, prepare the ham for baking.
First, score the ham, which allows the citrusy-sweet flavors of the ham glaze to actually penetrate into the flesh of the ham, rather than just accumulate on top of the ham. To score the ham, simply use a paring knife to create a set of 1/4-inch thick score lines 1-inch apart across the length of the ham. Turn the ham 45 degrees & create a second set of score lines, which will create the iconic glazed ham diamond pattern.
Next, glaze the ham. Spoon a little bit of the maple brown sugar glaze on the ham, using your hands to work it across the entire surface of the ham.
Stud the ham with oranges & whole cloves: Place thinly sliced orange around the surface of the ham, & tack them into place with whole cloves. This coating not only gives the ham a gorgeously festive appearance, but it also acts as protective armor for the ham, keeping it from becoming overexposed to the heat & drying out as it bakes. (Nothing’s sadder than dry pork!)
Transfer the ham to your fave baking dish. I like to add in some freshly squeezed OJ & extra whole cloves to the bottom of the dish to help perfume the ham even more as it bakes. Slather the rest of the maple brown sugar glaze over the ham, wrap it in foil, & you’re ready to rock!
At this point, your gorgeous ham is ready for the oven!
A couple of quick baked ham dinner meal prep tips: If you like to do a little bit of prep ahead of time, you can either…
- Make the glaze up to 5 days in advance, storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to prepare your ham, OR…
- Go ahead & prepare the ham for baking up to 3 days in advance, storing it right in its baking dish, wrapped in foil, in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it off.
How to bake a fully-cooked ham:
If you’ve never made a ham before or you’re just learning how to bake a ham, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. Ham is the most approachable holiday roast there is: since ham is a fully-cooked product, the goal in baking it is to simply warm it in gentle heat to its final serving temperature.
How long to bake a ham in the oven depends on how large your ham is. As a general rule of thumb:
- A good baking temperature for ham is 325 degrees F.
- Bake your ham for 15 minutes per pound. For example, you’ll want to bake a 10-pound ham for 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes).
PWWB tips for juicy & tender baked ham:
Despite the simplicity in its preparation, the tricky part about making any baked ham recipe is ensuring the ham stays juicy & tender. Since the ham is already fully-cooked, it’s especially at risk for drying out with further exposure to heat.
There are a few precautions you can take to ensure that your ham doesn’t dry out as it cooks:
- Cover the ham in foil. I like to keep my maple glazed ham covered in foil for the first hour of its baking time. The steam created by the warm air in the oven stays locked in the baking dish, circulating around the ham. It’s like a ham sauna!
- Baste generously. Once you remove the foil after the first hour of baking, baste the ham with its maple glaze drippings very frequently – every 15 minutes, or so. Basting ham does double duty: it lets you keep getting moisture across the surface of the ham & into those score marks, & it allows the citrusy-sweet flavors of the maple glaze to penetrate into the flesh of the ham, rather than just accumulate on the surface.
- Finish with high heat. In the last 30 minutes of baking, I increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees F, which helps the maple glaze set up & adhere to the ham beautifully.
What to serve with baked ham: Pineapple sauce & a holiday spread!
It’s not a holiday dinner without all of the fixings!
First & foremost, my family always serves our maple glazed ham with pineapple sauce, which is so easy to whip up while the ham rests. Made with crushed pineapple, ham drippings, Dijon mustard, & a hint of orange zest & cinnamon, my family’s pineapple sauce is sweet, zesty, & tangy. It’s the perfect accompaniment for smoky-sweet maple glazed ham! The full how-to is in the Recipe Card, below.
Some of our other go-to ham dinner accompaniments include:
- Potatoes, obviously! Keep things super simple & whip up a batch of Chris’ Kinda-Famous Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes (they’re so good!), or make it a little bit more special with scalloped potatoes or cheesy au gratin potatoes…you really can’t go wrong!
- Some veggies: Try lemon roasted asparagus or green beans! Toss ’em with some EVOO, garlic, lemon zest, & plenty of salt, & roast at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes. So simple, & always perfect.
- A simple green salad, made with the PWWB All-Purpose Vinaigrette, of course.
- & no holiday dinner is complete without dinner rolls. Rather than making them from scratch, I like to let the store do the work. ALDI has amazing brioche dinner rolls that are tender, buttery, & perfect for the holidays!
Have leftover ham you don’t know what to do with? That’s a great problem to have! Whip up a Cheesy Ham & Potato Casserole to enjoy this maple glazed ham all over again!
I cannot wait for you to have your hand at trying this Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham Recipe. It’s the perfect stunning centerpiece to any special dinner table – Easter, Christmas, Sunday dinner, you name it.
If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know!: Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡
More Recipes Like This:
Impressive Special-Occasion Meals
Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: serves 8
- Category: Main dishes
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This simple Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham recipe is a treasured family recipe that creates the most perfect citrusy & smoky-sweet oven baked ham! The perfect holiday roast for Easter, Christmas, or any celebratory dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 8-10 pound Appleton Farms Hardwood Smoked Bone-In Ham
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup whole grain mustard (see Recipe Notes)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 orange, zested & juiced
- 2 oranges, thinly sliced
- whole cloves, for studding the ham
pineapple sauce (optional, for serving):
- Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham drippings, strained & skimmed of excess fat
- 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 orange, zested
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Mix the maple brown sugar ham glaze: Add the brown sugar, whole grain mustard, maple syrup & orange zest to a small bowl. Mix to combine; the glaze will have the consistency of a thick paste. Set aside.
- Prepare the ham for baking: Add the fresh squeezed orange juice to the bottom of an 8×12 baking dish, sprinkling in a couple of whole cloves. Set aside.
- Score the ham: Using a paring knife, score the ham with a set of lines, approximately 1-inch apart & approximately 1/4-inch deep. Rotate the ham 45 degrees, and score the ham with a second set of lines, approximately 1-inch apart & approximately 1/4-inch deep, creating a cross-hatch or diamond pattern of scorelines across the entire ham.
- Glaze the ham: Spoon half of the prepared glaze on the ham, using your hands to rub it over the entire surface of the ham.
- Stud the ham with oranges: Arrange the thinly sliced orange over the entire surface of the ham, using whole cloves to tack the oranges in place.
- Glaze the ham: Spoon the remaining maple glaze over the ham & orange slices, again using your hands to rub it over the entire surface of the ham.
- Transfer the ham to the prepared baking dish, covering with aluminum foil.
- Bake the ham until a thermometer inserted into the center of the ham registers 145 degrees F, about 15 minutes per pound (so, a 10 pound ham will bake for 150 minutes, or 2 hours 30 minutes). Halfway through the total bake time, remove the foil from the baking dish & use a baster to baste the liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the baking dish back over the surface of the ham. Return the ham to the oven (uncovered), basting every 15 minutes of the remaining baking time. With 30 minutes left in the total baking time, increase the heat to 375 degrees F to help the oranges caramelize.
- Rest & carve: Remove the ham from the oven & carefully transfer to a cutting board. Set aside to rest for 15 minutes before carving the ham into 1/4-1/2-inch thick slices as desired.
- Optional: Make the pineapple sauce: Meanwhile, as the ham rests, make the pineapple sauce. Carefully strain the ham drippings through a fine mesh sieve into a liquid measuring cup, using a spoon to remove any excess fat. You will need 1/2 cup of liquid for the pineapple sauce, so if you have a little less than 1/2 cup of drippings, simply add in some water (or broth/stock) into the liquid measuring cup to reach the 1/2 cup measure line. Transfer the drippings to a medium saucepan with the crushed pineapple, orange zest & mustard. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low & continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced slightly, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish.
- Serve: Transfer the carved ham to a serving dish. Serve immediately, with pineapple sauce, as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Ingredients Notes:
- Ham: You can use a bone-in butt or shank portion for this maple glazed ham recipe! Shank portions make for an especially gorgeous presentation. I have a slight preference for the butt portions, as they’re a little meatier & a little easier to carve. Use whatever you love most!
- Will spiral-cut ham work? While especially convenient, I tested this recipe with spiral-cut and found it was much more susceptible to drying out. Go for the Appleton Farms Hardwood Smoked Bone-In Ham – it is beautiful to serve & stays totally juicy & tender through baking…all great things when it comes to a baked ham dinner!
- Mustard for the ham glaze: I opt for whole grain mustard. If you cannot find whole grain mustard, you can certainly swap it out with your mustard of choice (yellow, Dijon, brown, etc.). Because whole grain has a milder taste, start with just a couple tablespoons, taste & add more as desired.
- Storing leftovers: Half the fun of ham dinner is enjoying leftovers for a few days afterward! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat ham in the microwave or oven, or do like the Reillys and toss a slab or two in a skillet to caramelize for a hearty breakfast!
- Freezing instructions: Baked ham is also incredibly freezer-friendly. To freeze, transfer any leftover ham to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw by refrigerating overnight. Reheat as described above.
- 20-Minute Meal Prep: This Citrus & Maple Glazed Ham can be prepared up to 3 days in advance. Mix the glaze & prepare the ham for baking according to Steps 2-3 of Recipe Directions. Store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. Allow the ham to come up to room temperature for about 1 hour before proceeding with baking as detailed in Steps 4-5 of Recipe Directions.
More Easy Holiday Recipes to try!
- A festive & easy holiday app for any occasion: Bejeweled Marinated Goat Cheese
- & another…Easy Marinated Olive with Citrus, Rosemary & Garlic
- The BEST brussels sprouts you’ll ever eat: Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Pine Nuts & Parm
- The go-to mashed potato recipe you’ve been searching for: Chris’ Kinda-Famous Roasted Garlic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- & the best turkey you’ll ever eat: Maple Gazed Spatchcock Turkey OR Lemon Herb Spatchcock Turkey
Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest for more unfussy recipes that pack a big punch of flavor!
