Moist Oven-Baked Ham with Spiced Rum + Brown Sugar Glaze
Whether it’s Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, or Christmas dinner, baked ham is a classic and tried-and-true meal that I think every family loves (even my Hispanic family!). It really is the best of the best when done correctly.
I took a page out of my Brown Sugar Glazed Kielbasa Bites recipe and got inspired to make a brown sugar glaze that would be perfect for baked ham.
I added rum to spice things up. Baked ham made with rum and Coke? Imagine that. It’s like a baked ham a la Cuba Libre cocktail. This delicious brown sugar-glazed baked ham is moist and tender with a hint of caramelized sweetness from the glaze.
Let me show you how to bring this beauty to life.
How To Make Baked Ham
I let the ham sit out while I throw together the glaze. Just Coke, brown sugar, Dijon, lime, and a pinch of salt. It simmers until slightly thick, then I stir in the rum at the end so it doesn’t cook off.
The ham bakes low and slow, covered in foil with a splash of Coke in the pan to keep it juicy. During the last bit, I glaze it up and let it finish uncovered so the outside gets all caramelized and sticky. SO GOOD.
Recommended For This Recipe
Roasting Pan
I highly recommend this nonstick roasting pan! It features a removable chrome-plated rack that raises meats up to allow fats to drip away.
You’ll want about half a pound of ham per person, so a 5-pounder feeds around 10 people. As for cooking time, the rule is 15 minutes per pound at 325°F. Just make sure it hits 145°F inside.
To keep things juicy, I pour a cup of Coke in the pan and wrap the whole thing tightly in foil. That steam really helps. For sides, go with whatever you’re craving. I love it with mashed potatoes or mac and cheese.
Moist Oven-Baked Ham with Spiced Rum + Brown Sugar Glaze
Ingredients
- 5 lbs bone-in fully smoked half ham butt, skin trimmed (not the spiral one)
- 3 cups Coca-Cola, divided
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup spiced rum, or bourbon
- Lemon slices and fresh sage leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Remove the ham from the fridge and bring it to room temperature.
- Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until the glaze has slightly thickened and reduced. Remove from the heat and stir in the rum. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Place the ham, flat side down, in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup of Coca-Cola into the pan. This will help to keep the steam in so the ham is super moist.
- Cover completely in aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 130ºF.
- In the last 25 minutes of baking time, remove the foil from the ham and brush the brown sugar glaze all over.
- Place the ham back in the oven (without the foil) and continue baking until golden brown. The ham is fully cooked when a food thermometer reads 145°F internal temp. Careful not to overcook it, or you will end up drying it out.
- Remove ham from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Slice the ham and serve with the leftover brown sugar glaze. Enjoy!
