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Holiday Ham

By Matt Price

Nov 22, 2024, Updated Mar 15, 2026

Holiday Ham Recipe by Mr. Make It Happen

Introduction

Holiday Ham Recipe with Cherry Citrus Glaze

The holiday season is the perfect time to showcase a show-stopping main dish, and nothing says “celebration” quite like a succulent, tender ham. If you’re looking to impress your guests with a deliciously sweet and savory ham that features bright citrus flavors and a hint of warm cinnamon, this Spiral-Sliced Bone-In Ham with Cherry Cinnamon Glaze is just the recipe you need.

Let’s dive into this festive recipe that combines a rich, flavorful ham with an irresistible glaze and the natural sweetness of oranges, cherries, and a touch of spice.

Key Points to Remember:

• Spiral ham is pre-cooked, so you’re simply reheating it to serving temperature.
• Avoid overheating: Since the ham is already cooked, overcooking it can dry it out. Keep the reheating process gentle.
• Basting with glaze enhances flavor and gives the ham a beautiful finish.

Holiday Ham is something that I always wonder why I don’t eat more frequently…it’s INCREDIBLE. I know the Turkey tends to get all of the attention, but mannnnnn that HAM! Lol 

When it comes to Sprial Ham from the store, these are always already pre-cooked. Our goal here is to reheat the Ham slowly and retain its moisture/juiciness. I like to do this while infusing flavors and aromatics into the Ham as well. For that, we need a roast pan, fruit juice or broth, fresh herbs, onions, oranges, garlic, cinnamon, clove, etc. We only need to add a little bit of liquid to the pan to help create a steamy environment for the ham to heat in (this helps with moisture retention)

Once you’ve built your nest of flavor, add a wire rack on top so that the ham is not submerged in the liquid. Preheat the oven to 325.

Place the ham face down and season the exterior with BBQ Seasoning. I like BBQ seasoning for this because it adds some sweet/smokey flavor to the ham and the sugars caramelize beautifully during the cooking process, giving us a great presentation.

Remove the ham from its packaging and place it in a large roasting pan, fat side up. The spiral slices should be facing upward so that the glaze can seep into the meat as it cooks.

Rub the entire surface of the ham with your favorite BBQ seasoning. Don’t be shy—this will form a flavorful crust as it bakes.

Cover the roasting pan loosely with aluminum foil to retain moisture. Roast the ham in the preheated oven for about 15-18 minutes per pound. For a 6-pound ham, this would be approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

Every 30-45 minutes, spoon some of the pan juices over the ham to keep it moist and flavorful.

Make the Glaze:

• While the ham is roasting, it’s time to prepare the glaze.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the zest and juice of one orange, stirring to combine.
• Stir in the brown sugar, cherry preserves, and cinnamon. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes until the glaze thickens slightly. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
• Once the glaze has reached a syrupy consistency, remove it from the heat and set it aside.

Glaze the Ham:

• About 20-30 minutes before the ham is done, remove the foil and begin brushing the ham with the orange-cinnamon glaze. Use a pastry brush or spoon to coat the surface of the ham generously with the glaze.
• Return the ham to the oven (uncovered) and continue roasting, basting the ham every 10 minutes with more glaze until the ham is golden and caramelized, and the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C).

Serve and Enjoy:

• Once the ham is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This will allow the juices to redistribute and keep the ham juicy.
• Garnish with additional orange slices or cinnamon sticks for a festive touch.
• Serve the ham with the extra pan drippings or glaze on the side for an added burst of flavor.

Tips for Perfect Holiday Ham:

• Basting is Key: The more often you baste the ham with the glaze, the more flavorful and caramelized the crust will become. Don’t skip this step!
• Temperature Check: Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Overcooking can lead to a dry ham, so aim for an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) for a perfectly juicy result.
• Make Ahead: The glaze can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

Serving Suggestions:

This citrus-glazed ham pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes:

• Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes.
• Mashed potatoes with garlic or cheddar.
• A fresh salad with cranberries and candied pecans.
• Dinner rolls for sopping up any leftover glaze.

Whether you’re serving this dish for a cozy family dinner or a festive holiday gathering, this Spiral-Sliced Bone-In Ham with Orange Cinnamon Glaze is sure to become a favorite. The combination of tangy citrus, sweet cherries, and warming cinnamon makes this ham the perfect centerpiece for any holiday meal. Looking for more? Try my deep fried cajun honey turkey. You might also love my sweet potato casserole recipe in 1 hour.

Happy holidays, and enjoy your delicious ham!

Holiday Ham Print & Download Recipe

Holiday Ham

Matt Price

The holiday season is the perfect time to showcase a show-stopping main dish, and nothing says "celebration" quite like a succulent, tender ham. If you're looking to impress your guests with a deliciously sweet and savory ham that features bright citrus flavors and a hint of warm cinnamon, this Spiral-Sliced Bone-In Ham with Cherry-Cinnamon Glaze is just the recipe you need.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Favorites, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 1403 kcal

Ingredients

  

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For the Ham:

• ▢ * 1 spiral-sliced bone-in ham about 6-8 pounds
• ▢ * 2 oranges one for the glaze, one for the roasting
• ▢ * 1 onion peeled and halved
• ▢ * 2 cinnamon sticks
• ▢ * Rosemary and thyme
• ▢ * 3 tbsps clove
• ▢ * 1 cup broth chicken or vegetable or fruit juice (like apple or orange)
• ▢ * BBQ seasoning for seasoning the ham

For the Glaze:

• ▢ * ½ stick butter 4 tbsp
• ▢ * Zest and juice of 1 orange
• ▢ * ¼ cup honey
• ▢ * ¼ cup hot sauce
• ▢ * 1 cup brown sugar light or dark
• ▢ * ¼ cup cherry preserves or any fruit preserve you love
• ▢ * 2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ▢ * ½ teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

 

• Ham slowly and retain its moisture/juiciness. I like to do this while infusing flavors and aromatics into the Ham as well.
• For that, we need a roast pan, fruit juice or broth, fresh herbs, onions, oranges, garlic, cinnamon, clove, etc.
• We only need to add a little bit of liquid to the pan to help create a steamy environment for the ham to heat in (this helps with moisture retention)
• Once you’ve built your nest of flavor, add a wire rack on top so that the ham is not submerged in the liquid.

Preheat the oven to 325.

• Place the ham face down and season the exterior with BBQ Seasoning
• Remove the ham from its packaging and place it in a large roasting pan, fat side up
• The spiral slices should be facing upward so that the glaze can seep into the meat as it cooks.
• Rub the entire surface of the ham with your favorite BBQ seasoning.
• Cover the roasting pan loosely with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
• Roast the ham in the preheated oven for about 15-18 minutes per pound. For a 6-pound ham, this would be approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Every 30-45 minutes, spoon some of the pan juices over the ham to keep it moist and flavorful.

Make the Glaze:

• * While the ham is roasting, it’s time to prepare the glaze.
• * In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
• * Add the zest and juice of one orange, stirring to combine.
• * Stir in the brown sugar, cherry preserves, and cinnamon.
• * Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes until the glaze thickens slightly. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
• * Once the glaze has reached a syrupy consistency, remove it from the heat and set it aside.

Glaze the Ham:

• * About 20-30 minutes before the ham is done, remove the foil and begin brushing the ham with the orange-cinnamon glaze.
• * Use a pastry brush or spoon to coat the surface of the ham generously with the glaze.
• * Return the ham to the oven (uncovered) and continue roasting, basting the ham every 10 minutes with more glaze until the ham is golden and caramelized, and the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C).

Serve and Enjoy:

• * Once the ham is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This will allow the juices to redistribute and keep the ham juicy.
• * Garnish with additional orange slices or cinnamon sticks for a festive touch.
• * Serve the ham with the extra pan drippings or glaze on the side for an added burst of flavor.

Notes

Tips for Perfect Holiday Ham:

• Basting is Key: The more often you baste the ham with the glaze, the more flavorful and caramelized the crust will become. Don’t skip this step!
• Temperature Check: Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Overcooking can lead to a dry ham, so aim for an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) for a perfectly juicy result.
• Make Ahead: The glaze can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

Key Points to Remember:

• Spiral ham is pre-cooked, so you’re simply reheating it to serving temperature.
• Avoid overheating: Since the ham is already cooked, overcooking it can dry it out. Keep the reheating process gentle.
• Basting with glaze enhances flavor and gives the ham a beautiful finish.

Serving Suggestions:

This citrus-glazed ham pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes:

• Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes.
• Mashed potatoes with garlic or cheddar.
• A fresh salad with cranberries and candied pecans.
• Dinner rolls for sopping up any leftover glaze.

Nutrition

Calories: 1403kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 98gFat: 84gSaturated Fat: 32gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 38gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 302mgSodium: 5886mgPotassium: 1404mgFiber: 1gSugar: 55gVitamin A: 344IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 5mg

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