Festive Honey-Kissed Ham: A Crème Brûlée Christmas Delight! 🎄
Experience the magic of the holidays with this magnificent Crème Brûlée inspired ham. Featuring a sweet and spiced honey glaze, this ham is baked to perfection and then finished with a stunning, crackly caramelized sugar crust using a kitchen torch. A truly show-stopping center-piece for your Christmas dinner!
Equipment
- Roasting Rack
- Roasting Pan
- Kitchen Torch
- Rimmed Baking Sheet
Ingredients
Ham & Initial Glaze
- 1 half spiral cut ham about 7-8 pounds (fully cooked, bone-in recommended for best flavor)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Spice Rub & Candy Shell
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
For Roasting & Serving
- 1 cup water for roasting pan
- ham drippings about 1/3 cup, skimmed of excess fat, or use water for serving glaze
Instructions
- Getting Ready:
- 1. Preheat & Prepare: Begin by preheating your oven to a gentle 325°F (160°C). Position an oven rack in the lower third of your oven. Unwrap your ham, removing any netting or plastic. You can discard any pre-packaged glaze or bone caps, as we're crafting our own incredible flavors!
- 2. Roasting Set-Up: Place your ham, with its flat side down, onto a sturdy roasting rack within a roasting pan. If you don't have a roasting pan, simply use a metal cooling rack placed over a rimmed baking sheet. This setup ensures even cooking and prevents the ham from getting soggy.
- Making the Initial Glaze:
- 3. Simple Honey Glaze: In a small bowl, gently melt the 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the 1/3 cup of honey and 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard until you have a deliciously syrupy mixture.
- 4. Glaze the Ham: Use your hands to generously massage this honey mixture all over the ham, top, bottom, and sides. Be sure to work it deeply into those spiral cuts for maximum flavor penetration. Don't worry if some drips to the bottom; just scoop it back up and apply it again!
- 5. Moisture & Cover: Pour about 1 cup of water into the bottom of your roasting pan. This creates steam, helping to keep your ham wonderfully moist as it bakes. Cover the entire ham and pan tightly with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.
- 6. Gentle Bake: Bake your covered ham for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, or about 20 minutes for every pound of ham. Aim for an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) – remember, your ham is already cooked, we're just heating it through beautifully!
- 7. Rest & Cool: Once baked, remove the ham from the oven and let it rest, still covered with foil, for 15-20 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a tender result.
- Crafting the Candy Shell:
- 8. Spice Rub Magic: While the ham rests, in a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, paprika, ginger, and allspice to create your amazing spiced sugar rub.
- 9. Divide the Rub: Spoon about half of this sugar mixture (roughly 3/4 cup) onto a clean, rimmed baking sheet. Set the remaining half aside for making the serving glaze later.
- 10. Sugar Coat: Uncover your ham. If the surface appears a bit dry, lightly brush it with some pan juices to help the sugar adhere. Carefully transfer the ham to the baking sheet with the sugar. Gently roll the ham (excluding the flat bottom) in the sugar, using your hands to pat and press the sugar onto all surfaces until it forms a thick, uniform coating.
- 11. Torch for Perfection: Now for the exciting part! Grab your kitchen torch. Hold the flame about an inch away from the ham, moving it constantly in small circles. Watch as the sugar magically melts, bubbles, and then rapidly hardens into a stunning, crackly, caramel shell. Continue this process until the entire ham boasts a beautiful, hardened sugar coating.
- 12. Luscious Serving Glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the reserved 3/4 cup of sugar mixture with about 1/3 cup of ham drippings (make sure to skim off any excess fat) or simply use water. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat, then let it simmer for 2-5 minutes until it thickens into a delightful glaze. Serve this alongside your spectacular ham!
- 13. Serve & Savor: Your magnificent ham is ready to be enjoyed immediately! If you need to keep it warm, place it back in the oven on a low "keep warm" setting (around 170°F/75°C), making sure it's covered with foil to prevent drying.
Notes
Nutrition Information (per serving):
Calories: 631 kcal
Total Carbohydrates: 27g
Net Carbs: 26g
Fats: 37g
Protein: 46g
Calories: 631 kcal
Total Carbohydrates: 27g
Net Carbs: 26g
Fats: 37g
Protein: 46g
