Mom's Ham Glaze

My mom's a good cook.  Her's is the first kitchen I stood in & the first recipes I learned to make.  So saying that I have a great recipe from my mom is kind of no big deal.  However, with this ham glaze recipe she completely outdid herself. It's nothing for mom to make 4 or 5 or more hams during the holiday season because of special requests for her incredible hams. This recipe results in the greatest ham you will ever sink your teeth into.  Not to mention, the phenomenal smell in your house as it bakes.  The smell of this ham has become one of my family's favorite holiday smells.   

Mom's Ham Glaze

Before baking

After baked...

Brown sugar - approx. 1 cup
Pineapple juice (off pineapple slices) - enough to make a sauce with a brown sugar
1 tsp. cherry juice (off maraschino cherries)
1 tsp. spicy brown mustard
1/2 tsp. ground cloves


Combine all the above ingredients. Lay ham in pan with aluminum foil under it (enough to wrap and seal it).  Score ham lightly, lay pineapple
rings & cherries on top of ham (for decoration ... and because, according to Toby, they are super yummy after the ham is baked :)


Pour the above mixture over the ham.  Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pan (do not pour it over the ham). Seal aluminum foil over ham. 


Bake at 300 for at least 4 hours (I sometimes bake mine for 5-6 hours depending on the size of the ham).


Note: The above measurements are for enough glaze to glaze a 6-9 pound ham & all the measurements are approx. Use more or less for larger/smaller hams & to taste. 


Also of note:  We always use Kentucky Legend Hams.  These are our families favorite.  I've made other brands with this glaze & it's still good, but it's not the same.