Chef John's Honey-Glazed Ham

This whole ham recipe from Chef John is delicious and features a crispy, crusted honey mustard glaze that will impress everyone at your holiday table.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr 35 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 50 mins
• Calories: 455 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 whole star anise
• 12 whole cloves, or more to taste
• 1 (7 pound) country-style ham
• 0.5 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 0.25 cup honey
• 0.75 cup water, or as needed
• 1.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 2

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Step 3

Prepare ham: Add water, star anise, and cloves to the bottom of a roasting pan. Place a roasting rack into the pan; place ham on the rack. Cut 1/4-inch-deep slashes, 1/2-inch apart, lengthwise and crosswise across the top of ham.

Step 4

While ham is baking, make glaze: Whisk together brown sugar, honey, mustard, vinegar, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl until thick and smooth.

Step 5

Run a kitchen torch over ham until glaze is crispy and caramelized, 2 to 5 minutes.

Step 6

Brush glaze all over ham. Continue baking ham, brushing with glaze every 20 minutes, until glaze is deep golden and ham is heated through, about 2 hours 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of ham should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).