Maple Glazed Ham

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Remove ham from packaging and place cut-side down in a roasting pan with a rack. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pan to prevent drying.

2. 2

   Cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour, allowing it to warm through gradually.

3. 3

   While the ham is baking, prepare the maple glaze. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, and ground cloves.

4. 4

   Add the butter to the saucepan and whisk continuously until the mixture is smooth and the butter is fully melted. Bring to a gentle simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add black pepper to taste.

5. 5

   After the initial hour of baking, remove the ham from the oven and carefully remove the foil. Increase oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).

6. 6

   Brush half of the maple glaze generously over the entire surface of the ham, making sure to get between the slices of the spiral cut.

7. 7

   Return the ham to the oven uncovered and bake for 30 minutes, basting with additional glaze every 10 minutes.

8. 8

   For the final 15 minutes, brush the remaining glaze over the ham and continue baking until the surface is beautifully caramelized and sticky, with an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C).

9. 9

   Remove from oven and let the ham rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. The glaze will set slightly and make slicing easier.

10. 10

    Serve warm, drizzling any pan juices over the sliced ham.