Copycat Honey Baked Ham Recipe
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| Bring home that holiday ham flavor with a copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe packed with warm honey, brown sugar, and a crackly spiced crust. |
If you love that sweet, glossy, lightly spiced holiday ham from Honey Baked Ham Co., you are going to love this easy homemade version. This copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe gives you that warm honey flavor, a caramelized sugary coating, and tender slices without having to leave the house.
It’s perfect for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sunday dinner, or anytime you want a special main dish that feels a little fancy but is actually very doable. The best part? You can make it in a regular home kitchen with simple ingredients and clear step-by-step instructions.
Why People Love Honey Baked Ham Co. and Its Famous Ham
Honey Baked Ham Co. has been a holiday favorite in the USA for years. The brand is known for its spiral-sliced hams with that beautiful shiny glaze and crackly sweet crust. When people think of a big family gathering, there’s a good chance this style of ham comes to mind.
What makes it so iconic? It’s the mix of flavors and textures. The ham is salty, smoky, juicy, sweet, and lightly spiced all at once. The outside has a glazed finish with hints of honey, brown sugar, and warm spices, while the inside stays moist and tender. Every slice has that sweet-and-savory balance that keeps people going back for “just one more piece.”
This recipe is inspired by that well-known style of ham. It is not the original recipe and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Honey Baked Ham Co. It’s simply a homemade version designed to bring those familiar flavors to your table.
Why This Copycat Honey Baked Ham Recipe Works
A good honey baked ham copycat recipe needs two things: moist ham and a flavorful crust. Since most spiral hams are already cooked, the goal is not to fully cook the meat from scratch. Instead, you gently warm it so it stays juicy, then add layers of flavor with a honey glaze and a sugary spice coating.
Think of it like giving a plain ham a holiday sweater. The ham is already good. The glaze and crust make it special.
This version uses easy-to-find ingredients and a simple oven method. No torch required. No complicated tools. Just a little patience and a lot of delicious payoff.
Ingredients
Serves: 12 to 16
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on size
Total time: About 2 hours
For the ham:
- 1 fully cooked, bone-in spiral sliced ham, about 8 to 10 pounds
- 1 cup apple juice or pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup water
For the honey glaze:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
For the sugary topping:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Pinch of ground cloves
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
- Roasting pan or large baking dish
- Aluminum foil
- Small saucepan
- Basting brush or spoon
- Instant-read meat thermometer
If you have ever felt nervous about making a holiday ham, don’t worry. A thermometer does most of the hard work here. It helps you warm the ham safely without drying it out.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven.
Preheat your oven to 275°F. A lower oven temperature helps warm the ham gently. This matters because spiral ham can dry out fast if it gets too hot too quickly.
Step 2: Prepare the ham for baking.
Take the ham out of its packaging and place it cut-side down in a roasting pan or large baking dish. Pour the apple juice and water into the bottom of the pan. This adds moisture to the oven environment and helps keep the ham tender.
Tightly cover the pan with foil. You want to trap in the steam, almost like creating a little warm blanket around the ham.
Step 3: Warm the ham.
Bake the covered ham for about 10 to 12 minutes per pound, or until the center reaches 140°F on an instant-read thermometer. Since the ham is already fully cooked, you are reheating it to a safe serving temperature.
Food safety tip: For a fully cooked ham that is being reheated, the USDA recommends heating it to 140°F. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part without touching the bone for the most accurate reading.
Step 4: Make the honey glaze.
While the ham warms, add the honey, brown sugar, butter, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, paprika, cloves, and nutmeg to a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
Do not let it boil hard. You just want everything smooth and blended. The glaze should smell warm, sweet, and a little spiced.
Step 5: Make the sugar topping.
In a small bowl, stir together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, paprika, and pinch of cloves. Set it aside. This mixture helps create that signature sweet crust on the outside.
Step 6: Glaze the ham.
When the ham is warmed through, carefully remove it from the oven and uncover it. Be cautious of the hot steam.
Brush or spoon the honey glaze all over the outside of the ham, letting some of it drip down into the slices. Try to coat the surface evenly. Then sprinkle the sugar topping over the glazed ham, pressing lightly where needed so it sticks.
Step 7: Caramelize the outside.
Increase the oven temperature to 425°F. Return the ham to the oven, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes. Watch it closely. You want the topping to melt and bubble, not burn.
If your oven runs hot, check at 4 or 5 minutes. Sugar can go from perfect to too dark in a hurry.
Step 8: Rest before serving.
Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. This short rest gives the glaze a chance to settle and makes slicing easier.
Step 9: Serve.
Carefully separate the spiral slices and transfer them to a serving platter. Spoon a little pan glaze over the top if you like. Serve warm.
Approximate Nutrition Per Serving
Based on 16 servings. These are rough estimates and can vary by brand and ham size.
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 24g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fat: 16g
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 1250mg
Tips for the Best Homemade Honey Baked Ham
- Start with a good spiral ham. Since the ham is the main ingredient, quality matters.
- Don’t skip the foil. It helps prevent the meat from drying out.
- Use a thermometer. Guessing can lead to overcooked ham.
- Glaze near the end. If added too early, the sugars can burn.
- Let it rest. This keeps the slices juicy and easier to separate.
One year, I rushed the glazing step because everyone was already hungry. The ham still tasted good, but the crust did not have that same shiny, lightly crackly finish. A few extra minutes really make a difference here.
Easy Time-Saving Options for Home Cooks
Need an even easier way? Here are a few simple shortcuts.
Slow cooker option:
- Use a smaller spiral ham that fits your slow cooker.
- Add 1 cup apple juice to the bottom.
- Brush with the glaze and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours until heated through to 140°F.
- Transfer to a baking dish, add the sugar topping, and broil for 1 to 3 minutes to caramelize.
Shortcut glaze option:
- Use bottled honey mustard plus brown sugar and a little melted butter if you’re short on time.
No roasting pan?
- A deep 9x13-inch baking dish works for many ham sizes. Just cover it tightly with foil.
Allergy-Friendly and Diet Preference Modifications
This dish is naturally centered around ham, so it will not fit vegetarian or vegan diets in its original form. Still, there are plenty of ways to adjust the glaze and serving style for different needs.
Gluten-free:
- Most plain spiral hams are gluten-free, but always read the package label carefully.
- Check your Dijon mustard and spices to make sure there are no hidden gluten ingredients.
- Use certified gluten-free ingredients if serving someone with celiac disease.
Dairy-free:
- Replace the butter with vegan butter or a neutral oil.
- The glaze will still be rich and glossy.
Lower sugar:
- Reduce the brown sugar in the glaze by half.
- Use only a light sprinkle of the sugar topping instead of the full amount.
- The final ham will still have sweet flavor, just less candy-like on the outside.
Paleo-inspired:
- Choose an uncured ham with minimal additives if possible.
- Use honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
- Skip the granulated sugar topping and brush on extra honey glaze near the end.
- Just note that many store-bought hams are processed, so labels matter here.
Mustard-free:
- Leave out the Dijon mustard if needed.
- Add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar for balance so the glaze is not overly sweet.
Lower sodium:
- Ham is naturally high in sodium, so this one is hard to change dramatically.
- Look for a lower-sodium ham if available.
- Serve smaller portions with low-salt side dishes like mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, or roasted carrots.
For guests who don’t eat pork:
- You can use this same honey-spice glaze on a fully cooked turkey breast.
- The flavor profile works surprisingly well and gives a similar holiday feel.
What to Serve with Copycat Honey Baked Ham
Wondering what goes with this sweet and savory ham? Here are a few classic pairings:
- Scalloped potatoes
- Mac and cheese
- Green bean casserole
- Sweet potato casserole
- Dinner rolls
- Deviled eggs
- Roasted carrots
- Pineapple stuffing
If you ask me, ham and cheesy potatoes belong together like peanut butter and jelly. They just work.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Refrigerator: Store leftover ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Wrap portions well and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating:
- Place slices in a baking dish with a splash of water, broth, or apple juice.
- Cover with foil and warm at 275°F until hot.
- For best quality, avoid overheating, which can dry the meat out.
Food safety reminder: Reheat leftovers to 165°F.
Ways to Use Leftover Honey Baked Ham
If you somehow have leftovers, you’re in luck. This ham is amazing in:
- Ham biscuits
- Ham and cheese sliders
- Breakfast casserole
- Omelets
- Split pea soup
- Ham salad
- Scalloped potatoes with ham
Leftover ham might be one of the best parts of making a big holiday meal. It’s like cooking once and getting several easy meals after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to cook the ham from raw?
No. This recipe uses a fully cooked spiral ham. You are reheating it and adding glaze.
Can I make this copycat honey baked ham ahead of time?
Yes. You can warm the ham and make the glaze earlier in the day, then do the final glaze and caramelizing step right before serving.
Can I use a boneless ham?
Yes, but bone-in ham usually gives better flavor and stays juicier. If using boneless, watch the reheating time carefully.
Can I broil the top instead of baking at high heat?
Yes, but watch it very closely. Broilers can brown sugar very fast.
Final Thoughts
This homemade Honey Baked Ham copycat recipe is a great way to bring a restaurant favorite to your own table. It looks impressive, tastes festive, and is much easier than many people expect. Whether you’re planning a holiday dinner or just craving that sweet, spiced ham flavor, this recipe gives you a delicious result with simple steps.
If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turned out. Did you keep it classic, or try one of the modifications? Share your experience in the comments and pass this recipe along to friends and family who love a good holiday ham.
Disclaimer
This recipe is a copycat recipe inspired by the style and flavor of Honey Baked Ham Co. It is not the original recipe, and no affiliation with or endorsement by the restaurant or brand is claimed. No knowledge of the actual proprietary recipe is implied.
Simply Copycat Recipes is also an Amazon affiliate. This means we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links, at no extra cost to you.
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