The Fool-Proof Guide To The Perfect Spiral Ham (2024)

When it comes to holiday centerpieces, a spiral ham is an absolute classic (for very good reason). It’s difficult to find a more impressive main for your Easter dinner than this recipe, complete with a homemade bourbon glaze that makes for the perfect tangy-sweet compliment to our moist ham. While this centerpiece may seem daunting, don't worry—with our top tips, you'll have a perfectly moist ham with caramelized edges ready to go in on time. Serve this Easter ham with your favorite holiday sides (we're looking at you, creamy mashed potatoes) for a complete, classic dinner everyone will remember.

Baking a ham for the first time? Check out our top tips on perfecting this centerpiece:

How long should I cook my spiral ham?
Since spiral hams are already cooked, you’re really just warming it through, infusing it with flavor and crisping the edges. You're going to want to bake until it’s 140° in the center (this should take 10 to 12 minutes per pound).

Here are a few of our other top tips for cooking your spiral ham:
— How to cook your spiral ham without drying it out. To avoid drying it out, add water to the bottom of your roasting pan, place the ham on a baking rack above the water, and cover it with foil. You'll also want to use a meat thermometer to check your ham's temperature to avoid overcooking.
— How to get caramelized edges. Uncover your ham in the last 30 minutes when you’re glazing it so that those edges get nice and caramelized.
— Make it in the slow cooker. Another option for an extra-moist ham is to cook it in a slow cooker. Simply cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, basting with the marinade every 45 minutes.

How to glaze a spiral ham:
Making your own glaze is super easy, and so much more delicious than a store-bought packet. Our recipe below only requires a handful of pantry ingredients and a mixing bowl. We love to use bourbon in our recipe—use your favorite, our checkout our list of the best bourbon brands. If you’re not a fan of bourbon, feel free to omit it, or try this classic brown sugar glaze instead.

How to cut a spiral ham:
It might sound tough to cut into a bone-in ham, but it’s actually very easy. Just turn the ham on its bottom and cut around the bone. The ham on the outside will fall away in slices. Check out our guide on how to carve a ham for step-by-step instructions.

Spiral ham serving ideas:
If you're serving this as the main to your Easter dinner, you can't go wrong with a classic potato side, from garlic smashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, or even mashed potato casserole. Pair with garlic-Parmesan roasted carrots, fluffy potato rolls, cheesy baked asparagus, and a spring Cobb salad for the ultimate spread.

Storage & leftover ideas:
Leftover ham is basically refrigerator gold. Try making a croque madame for your next brunch, use it to amp up a batch of crescent rolls with our ham and cheese pinwheels, or chop it up and throw it in your next batch of scalloped potatoes and ham. Whatever you do, save that bone! It’s great for flavoring broths, soups, or a big pot of collard greens. Still hungry? Here's our favorite leftover ham recipes.

Ingredients

1
(8 to 10-lb.) whole cured, smoked, bone-in ham
1/2 c.
apricot jam
1/4 c.
light brown sugar
2 Tbsp.
bourbon (optional)
1 Tbsp.
Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp.
crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

1. Step1Remove ham from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
2. Step2Preheat oven to 350°. Place a rack in a large roasting pan and cover the rack with foil. Pour 2 cups water in the bottom of roasting pan and place ham on the foil on the rack.
3. Step3In a small bowl, stir together jam,brown sugar, bourbon, Dijon, and red pepper flakes. Brush ham with some of the glaze and roast, basting with more glaze every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 140°, about 1 ½ to 2 hours.
4. Step4Let rest 15 minutes before carving.