Orange-Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

What You’ll Need

The ingredient list for this orange-brown sugar ham glaze is short and sweet! Scroll down to the printable recipe card to find the exact ingredient quantities and full recipe instructions.

• Brown sugar – I use light brown sugar, which has a lighter molasses flavor that lets the other ingredients share the spotlight.
• Orange – I incorporate both the juice and the zest, for maximum fresh orange flavor.
• Honey – This adds a soft, naturally flavored sweetness, plus a sticky texture.
• Dijon mustard – This offers an earthiness with a pleasantly sharp taste that grounds the sweetness.
• Balsamic vinegar – A good balsamic vinegar is rich, tangy, sweet, and balanced — it’s so lovely in this glaze!
• Spices – Ground cinnamon and cloves add warm, cozy flavor that is perfect for the holidays.
• Cornstarch – This thickens the glaze so it clings to the ham, making every bite delectable!

How to Make Orange-Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

Making this ham glaze is a cinch! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

• Combine. Add all of the ingredients except the cornstarch to a saucepan set over medium heat. 
• Heat. Bring to a low boil and cook until the brown sugar dissolves into the glaze.
• Thicken. Transfer 1/4 cup of glaze to a small bowl or cup and whisk it with the cornstarch to create a slurry. Slowly whisk the slurry back into the pan with the rest of the glaze, cooking 5 minutes more to thicken.

My Tips & Variations

I have a few more notes on this orange-brown sugar ham glaze before you get started.

• Make sure it’s thickened. While sauces made with cornstarch do thicken as they cool, this glaze is meant to be used hot and on hot ham, so you want it to be sufficiently thick before you remove it from the heat or it will drip right off the ham.
• Brush some glaze on earlier. If you’re making a baked ham, you can brush some of the glaze onto the ham 30 minutes before the cooking time is over, then brush the rest on before slicing. This will make the glaze thicker, stickier, and caramelized.
• Brush Generously. To get the utmost flavor impact, don’t skimp on the glaze. If you’re serving a spiral-cut ham, the glaze will drip down into the slices and add flavor throughout.
• Prepare it in advance. This recipe is great for making up to a few days prior to your holiday dinner. Just store the cooled glaze in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to use, warm up the glaze gently on the stovetop until it’s brushable again. If it’s too thick, you can loosen it up with a bit more orange juice or some water. If it’s too thin, create a bit more slurry with cornstarch again, and whisk it back into the warmed glaze on the stovetop until it’s thickened to your liking.
• Swap the honey for maple syrup. Like honey, maple syrup is sweet and it also has a distinctive flavor, giving this ham glaze a different spin. Be sure to use pure maple syrup, not a pancake syrup that includes other ingredients.
• Try a different vinegar. If you don’t like balsamic vinegar, try apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar. These will have a lighter, less jammy flavor.

What to Serve With Glazed Ham

Use this orange-brown sugar ham glaze on any ham, whether it’s spiral-cut, baked in the oven, cooked in the slow cooker, whatever! And then serve it with your favorite holiday dishes. My family is partial to soft homemade Rhodes Rolls, my aunt’s fresh Cranberry Coleslaw, a bowl of steaming Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, and from-scratch Green Bean Casserole!

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can make this orange-brown sugar ham glaze up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate it in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. Warm it gently in a small saucepan on the stovetop before using – see my Notes at the end of recipe card, for how to adjust the thickness if you need to.