Whiskey Glazed Ham Recipe

It goes without saying that a ham makes for a lovely dinner, whether you're preparing it for a special occasion, Easter, the holidays, or just a typical Tuesday night. There's so much you can pair with a succulent ham, from mashed or scalloped potatoes to rice and vegetables. And the leftovers are great for sandwiches, pizza toppings, and more.

Another great way to take ham to the next level? Dressing it up with a whiskey glaze — and food photographer and recipe developer Petar Marshall has the perfect recipe to pull it off. "Whiskey glazed ham makes for such a great dish," he says. "It adds a sweetness and smokiness that complements the ham beautifully. It can't be beat."

It may seem tricky to pull off whiskey glazed ham, but rest assured, it's not. With just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps, you'll be well on your way to baking a beautiful whiskey glazed ham in no time.

First things first, you'll want to grab all of your ingredients and set them out on the counter. For this whiskey glazed ham recipe, you'll need one Black Forest ham (about six pounds), three-quarters of a cup of brown sugar, a cup of whiskey, 15 cloves, five cinnamon sticks, and one peeled orange.

According to Marshall, if you don't have whole cloves, you can utilize ground cloves as well. You can also switch up the ham. "We chose Black Forest ham for this recipe, but another type of ham would work in its place," he says. 

Get ready to prep your ham by turning on the oven first. Preheat the oven to 325 F to ensure it comes up to the proper temperature while you're preparing the glaze.

To make the whiskey glaze, grab a small pot. Add in the brown sugar, cloves, and cinnamon sticks, and mix to combine. Next up, pour the cup of whiskey into the pot and stir the liquid with the sugar and spices. Peel the orange and add in the orange peel slices.

With the mixture ready, put the pot on the stove. Turn the temperature to high heat, and bring the mixture up to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to medium and allow the glaze to simmer without stirring it for 10 minutes. "You'll know the glaze is forming once the liquid starts to thicken and bubble," says Marshall.

Once the glaze starts to come together, turn the temperature down to low and stir the mixture.

When the whiskey glaze is ready, place your ham in a baking dish. Pour the glaze, including the spices and orange peel, straight onto the top and sides of the ham. Be sure the glaze covers the entire ham. Use a brush to dab the front to fully cover the meat. Once the ham is ready, put it in the oven for at least 30 minutes until it's warm throughout.

"As the ham is cooking with the whiskey glaze, it brings out the sweet and smoky flavor of the brown sugar and whiskey even more," says Marshall. "And it makes for the perfect flavor pairing with the ham."

When it's done in the oven, take it out, slice, and serve! You've got a gorgeous entree to share with family and friends.