Honey Butter Ham

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 04/12/22
honey ham hero shot

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 75 mins
Total: 85 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
571 Calories
20g Fat
36g Carbs
63g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 571
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 197mg 66%
Sodium 2973mg 129%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 35g
Protein 63g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 31mg 2%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 1021mg 22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Honey butter ham is the recipe my mom used whenever we'd have ham when I was little. I did add some Dijon mustard to the basic recipe to give it a little bit of a kick. This is a delicious and simple way to turn a plain cooked ham into something special for Easter or Christmas.

Make sure that the ham you buy is labeled "fully cooked." It can then be cooked to 145 F. If the ham is labeled "cook before eating," you must heat it to 160 F for food safety reasons. Always read package labels carefully when you buy any product, especially any type of meat.

You can add more ingredients to this simple glaze if you'd like. Some sautéed onions or crushed garlic would be good or use herbs such as thyme or marjoram in place of the whole cloves. And when you make a change and you like it, be sure to write it down so you can make it again! Many good recipes are lost because it's so easy to forget how a dish was made.

I love to serve this ham with some scalloped potatoes, sautéed or steamed green beans or asparagus, and some dinner rolls. Add a fruit salad or a cool gelatin salad for a great holiday meal. For dessert, serve Christmas cookies at Christmas, or a lemon pie at Easter.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/2 cup honey

  • 2/3 cup brown sugar

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

  • Whole cloves

  • 3 to 5 pounds fully cooked half ham

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 325 F.

    honey ham ingredients gathered

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Stir the melted butter, honey, brown sugar, and mustard until smooth; set aside.

    honey and butter mixture in bowl

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Place the ham in a roasting pan large enough to hold it with room on the sides.

    ham in baking dish

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Score the top surface of the ham in a diamond pattern, making the cuts about 3/4-inch apart.

    ham in pan with cuts

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. Push a whole clove, point side down, into the center of each diamond in the ham. Omit this step if you are adding herbs to the brown sugar glaze.

    cloves in ham

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. Spoon half of the butter mixture over the ham.

    honey butter on ham

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. Roast the ham, uncovered, for 20 minutes, then spoon over the rest of the butter mixture.

    ham in pan with honey butter mixture

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  8. Roast for another 20 minutes, then baste the ham with the pan drippings.

    basting ham as it cooks in pan

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  9. Roast for another 20 minutes (for a 3-pound ham), 40 minutes (for a 4-pound ham), or 60 minutes (for a 5-pound ham) until the ham reaches 145 F and is glazed. Baste every 20 minutes.

    ham in pan with thermometer to check for doneness

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi