All recipes

Chef John's Ham with Honey Mustard Glaze

Chef John's Ham with Honey Mustard Glaze balances sweet honey and brown sugar with tangy Dijon and rice vinegar, creating a lacquered crust studded with cloves and perfumed by star anise. Juicy slices offer a gentle warmth from black pepper and a hint of cayenne. Serve it as a festive centerpiece for holidays or any special dinner where you want classic, crowd-pleasing flavors.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook2 hrs 35 mins
  • Serves16
  • DifficultyMedium
Chef John's Ham with Honey Mustard Glaze
  1. 1

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

  2. 2

    Prepare the ham: Pour water, star anise, and cloves into the bottom of a roasting pan. Set a roasting rack in the pan; set the ham on the rack. Score the top of the ham with 1/4-inch-deep cuts, 1/2-inch apart, making lengthwise and crosswise lines.

  3. 3

    Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

  4. 4

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

  5. 5

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

  6. 6

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