There is one thing I have learned from photographing big hunks of meat. It is not easy! I can’t tell you how much I fought with this ham. It did not want to cooperate. Not that it can really help it. I mean, it is only a hunk of meat. I did my best though, and I really wanted to post a ham recipe this year, since I have yet to do that in this almost 3 years of sharing recipes. I think it was about time, don’t you? This brown sugar beer glazed ham is everything you crave in an Easter ham. It is super moist and delicious, with a glaze that is so sweet and decadent you’ll be slurping it up with a spoon!
I am so hit or miss when it come to ham. I was never one of those people that was like … “ohhhhh ham, that’s my favorite food everrrr!” No, I never have been excited over ham. Maybe it’s because ham tends to be boring. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I totally love ham IN things. It’s the ham by itself that doesn’t have me super excited. I always need it doused in sauce, gravy or glaze and topped with mashed potatoes or another vegetable of a creamy consistency.
Because of my aversions to ham on it’s own, I’ve decided to create a glaze that will make ham pop! I mean ham is SUPER salty. Like sooooooooo salty, but douse it with a glaze made of a robust coffee ale, a big old heaping cup (or cup and a half) of brown sugar, a healthy dollop of stone ground mustard, and some essential seasonings and spices and you have yourself heaven on a serving platter!
It’s all very simple.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place an oven-safe oven rack on top if you wish. I personally like for the ham to sit in it’s own glaze, but feel free to not do this. Place the ham, flat-side down, on the pan.
Score a grid-like pattern into the ham, cutting down about 1/2 inch.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the beer, brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, cornstarch, salt, allspice, cayenne pepper, Chinese five spice and black pepper. Taking about 1/3 of the mixture, brush the entire ham generously.
Place the ham in the oven, uncovered and bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and brush another 1/3 of the glaze on top and place back in the oven. Bake for an additional hour or until the top is brown and crisp. Remove from heat. In a small saucepan, add the remaining 1/3 of the glaze. Heat over medium-low heat until the alcohol has cooked out and the glaze is thick. Remove from heat and pour into a serving bowl. Slice the ham to your liking and serve warm with glaze.
So easy, right?! I blow my own mind sometimes. Full recipe and ingredients list is below! Have a wonderful Monday everyone! xo
Yields 10-12
10 minPrep Time
2 hrCook Time
2 hr, 10 Total Time
Save Recipe
Ingredients
- 7-8 pound smoked ham
- 12 ounces dark beer with coffee (I used a coffee porter)
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons allspice
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place an oven-safe oven rack on top if you wish.
- Place the ham on the rack and score a grid-like pattern, cutting down about 1/2 inch.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the beer, brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, cornstarch, salt, allspice, cayenne pepper, Chinese five spice and black pepper. Taking about 1/3 of the mixture, brush the entire ham generously.
- Place the ham in the oven, uncovered and bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and brush another 1/3 of the glaze on top and place back in the oven. Bake for an additional hour or until the top is brown and crisp. Remove from heat.
- In a small saucepan, add the remaining 1/3 of the glaze. Heat over medium-low heat until the alcohol has cooked out and the glaze is thick. Remove from heat and pour into a serving bowl.
- Slice the ham to your liking and serve warm with glaze.
