Classic French Baked Ham with Spiced Apples and Pears

baked ham
Baked Ham. Paul Poplis Getty Images
  • Total: 115 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 100 mins
  • Yield: Serves 10 or 12

By Rebecca Franklin

Updated 04/06/19

This baked ham with spiced apples and pears recipe is the essence of Christmas and holiday food. It is substantial enough for frosty nights and made with maple syrup and orchard fruits.

The recipe fills the house with an irresistible aroma as it bakes and browns. This maple baked ham is the full holiday experience in one dish: sweet, smoky, salty, and spicy flavors blend to make an intoxicating and unforgettable winter meal.

Serve the ham on the Christmas or Thanksgiving table and expect guests to be wowed because they will be and you will be so proud. The ham can be served as a main meal, or as a sandwich, or on the buffet table for guests to help themselves. 

France was not always renowned for baking hams at Christmas, blond (boiled) ham is more common but it seems the British and American custom has also started to take hold and not to be dismissed. 

What You'll Need

  • 1 8-lb smoked, fully-cooked, spiral-cut ham
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 4 sweet-tart baking apples, cored and halved
  • 4 pears, cored and halved

How to Make It

How to make baked ham with spiced apples and pears:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325F.
  2. Using kitchen twine, wrap the ham first vertically, and then once on each diagonal, making sure to loop around the bottom of the ham, to hold it together.
  3. Place the ham in a large, deep roasting pan, cut side down.
  4. Dissolve the dry mustard in the 1/4 cup water. Stir the mustard mixture into the brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Brush the maple glaze over the surface of the ham.
  1. Arrange the apples and pears around the ham and bake it, uncovered, for 1 hour and 40 minutes, basting the ham and fruit every 20 minutes. Loosely tent foil over the ham if it appears to be browning too quickly.
  2. Allow the ham and fruit to cool down slightly before removing the twine and serving warm or at room temperature.

The baked is lovely on a lunch buffet and can also make a substantial dinner (see serving options below). Any leftover ham is also delicious sliced and popped into a baguette as in the Jambon Beurre famous French sandwich. You may want to not put the fruit on in this case. 

Follow these serving suggestions to make th most of your ham:

Option 1: Serve maple glazed ham with sautéed green beans, potatoes sauted in butter, known as Chateau Potatoes, 

Option 2: Serve maple glazed ham with steamed or roasted asparagus spears, potato and onion gratin, sautéed carrots, and a country loaf, cut on the diagonal.ars, potato and onion gratin, sautéed carrots, and a country loaf, cut on the diagonal.

This baked ham with maple glaze and spiced fruit recipe makes 10 to 12 servings.

Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
712 Calories
25g Fat
68g Carbs
54g Protein
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)