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You are going to love how easy it is to make my easy Bourbon Glaze for ham recipe! This simple glaze for ham comes together in minutes: simply mix the ingredients together, cook for just 10 minutes, and pour them over the ham. Bourbon glaze is the perfect complement to a beautiful holiday ham!
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Best Bourbon Glaze Recipe
If you know me, you know how much I love preparing ham. It is truly one of my favorite main dishes to make for my family, especially over the holidays! I've cooked ham on the grill, in the oven, and I've even made smoked ham.
In fact, my smoked ham recipe is where this amazing bourbon ham glaze all began. Smoking a ham with the incredible flavor of this bourbon maple glaze is beyond compare. It is so delicious!
But bourbon glaze is delicious on more than just smoked ham; it pairs well with ham of all kinds, including classic oven-baked ham! Give it a try, and I promise… you will want to make this glaze every time you cook a ham.
Bourbon Ham Glaze Ingredients
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Bourbon
My bourbon ham glaze recipe uses a super simple combination of brown sugar, maple syrup, and bourbon. Cooked into the perfect glaze consistency, this easy sauce recipe is ideal for pairing with ham!
How to Make Bourbon Ham Glaze
- 15 to 20 minutes before your holiday ham is done cooking, place brown sugar, maple syrup, and bourbon in a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes.
- Once thickened to a nice, syrupy consistency, pour it over your ham and brush it between each slice. Serve, and enjoy your amazing ham glaze!
Bourbon Glaze Recipe Tips
- Make sure you allow the glaze to simmer long enough to completely melt the brown sugar; otherwise, your glaze will have a gritty texture.
- Use a higher-quality bourbon for a better quality finish on the glaze.
- You can look at the "mash", or ingredients used in the mixture of the bourbon, to see what the flavor notes are. This will change the flavor of your glaze. I recommend lemon and orange flavors for pairing with ham, or any of the variations listed above!
Making Ham Glaze Ahead of Time
To make ham glaze ahead of time, cook it according to the recipe instructions, then leave it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Give it a good mix before using.
When it comes to holiday cooking, anything I can make ahead of time helps things run more smoothly! Bourbon ham glaze is a great make-ahead ham glaze recipe you can whip up beforehand and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
Bourbon Glaze FAQs
When you add your ham glaze depends on the cooking method used for your ham. If you are smoking a ham, add the completed glaze in the last 15-20 minutes of the cooking process. For other methods of cooking ham, you can add some glaze during the cooking process, and the rest later, brushed over the top and between each slice of ham.
If you fully glaze the ham from the start of the cooking process and do not cover it, it may dry out as it cooks. However, if you add the glaze gradually or at the end of the cooking process, it will keep the ham deliciously moist rather than drying it out.
If cooking in an oven, you generally want the heat to slightly caramelize the outside of the ham and help the glaze stick. When adding glaze at the end of the cooking process, you do not need to cover the ham with foil.
Bourbon is gluten-free, as are the other ingredients used in this easy ham glaze recipe, making it suitable for a gluten-free meal plan.
What bourbon should I use for a simple glaze for ham?
Like wine, every bottle of bourbon has a different flavor. Bourbon is made from a mixture of corn, spices, fruits, and even herbs, and finishes similarly to molasses.
When choosing a bourbon for ham glaze, either pick the one you know you enjoy already or look at the description on the label to see what flavors were used to make the bourbon.
A smokier bourbon works nicely, as well as any bourbon with orange or lemon peel as these flavors pair deliciously with ham. Here are some more great options:
- Apple flavored bourbon: Fresh apple flavor adds the perfect sweet and tangy bite to ham glaze.
- "Fire" bourbon (cinnamon-spiced flavor): Cinnamon and warming spices add the perfect spicy kick.
- Holiday spice: These bourbons usually consist of anise flavors, orange zest, nutmeg, and clove - perfect for a holiday ham!
- Caribbean reserve: These bourbons are finished in Caribbean casks, or wooden barrels flavored with vanilla-scented rum.
- Ginger spice bourbon: Warming spices and ginger come together perfectly with maple and brown sugar for the sweet glaze and spicy glaze you've been craving.
- Cold-brew coffee whiskey: Coffee, brown sugar and ham are a fantastic flavor combination with all the deep, wonderful notes of cold brew!
How to Freeze Ham Glaze
- Cook your bourbon ham glaze according to the recipe instructions, then allow cooling.
- Once cooled, store in an airtight container or freezer bag and place it in the freezer for up to 6 months. Label with the freezing date.
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Cooking for the holidays? Make sure to try my Best Turkey Gravy Recipe!
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Amazing Bourbon Glaze for Ham
Equipment
- basting brush for basting ham
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ Cup Maple Syrup
- ¼ Cup Bourbon
Instructions
- 15 to 20 minutes before your holiday ham is done cooking, place brown sugar, maple syrup, and bourbon in a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes.¾ Cup Brown Sugar, ¼ Cup Maple Syrup, ¼ Cup Bourbon
- Once thickened to a nice, syrupy consistency, pour it over your ham and brush it between each slice. Serve, and enjoy your amazing ham glaze!
Notes
- Make sure you allow the glaze to simmer long enough to completely melt the brown sugar; otherwise, your glaze will have a gritty texture.
- Use a higher quality bourbon for a better quality finish on the glaze.
- You can look at the "mash", or ingredients used in the mixture of the bourbon, to see what the flavor notes are. This will change the flavor of your glaze. I recommend lemon and orange flavors for pairing with ham.
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