17 Glazed Ham Recipes Perfect for Thanksgiving Feasts
Nothing says Thanksgiving feast quite like a beautifully glazed ham as your centerpiece. These 17 incredible glazes transform a simple ham into something truly spectacular, offering flavors from classic sweet and savory combinations to bold international twists.
Whether you prefer traditional brown sugar, fruity glazes, or something more adventurous, there’s a perfect glaze here to complement your holiday table and create lasting memories for your family gathering.
Classic Brown Sugar and Mustard Glazed Ham
This timeless combination delivers the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors that never goes out of style. The brown sugar caramelizes beautifully during cooking, creating a gorgeous golden crust, while the mustard adds just enough sharpness to cut through the ham’s richness.
It’s incredibly forgiving for beginners and uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand. The glaze is simple to whisk together and brush on, making it an ideal choice for busy holiday cooks who want impressive results without stress.
Get the recipe here.
Honey Glazed Ham with Cloves
Sweet honey paired with aromatic whole cloves creates an absolutely heavenly combination that fills your kitchen with the most incredible holiday fragrance. The honey forms a glossy, amber coating that looks stunning on your table, while the cloves provide warm, spicy notes that complement the ham’s natural smokiness perfectly.
This recipe is wonderfully straightforward – just score the ham, stud with cloves, and brush with honey throughout cooking. The result is a show-stopping centerpiece that tastes as amazing as it looks and smells.
Get the recipe here.
Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham
For those who love a sophisticated flavor profile, this glaze combines the rich sweetness of pure maple syrup with the warm, oaky notes of bourbon whiskey. The alcohol cooks off during baking, leaving behind a complex, slightly smoky flavor that elevates your ham to gourmet status.
It’s surprisingly easy to prepare, requiring just a few quality ingredients mixed together. The glaze caramelizes beautifully, creating a deep mahogany color that’s absolutely gorgeous. Your guests will be impressed by the restaurant-quality flavors you’ve achieved at home.
Get the recipe here.
Pineapple Glazed Ham
This tropical-inspired glaze brings bright, sunny flavors to your Thanksgiving table with crushed pineapple and pineapple juice creating a sweet, tangy coating. The natural fruit acids help tenderize the ham while the sugars caramelize into a beautiful golden finish. It’s incredibly kid-friendly and pairs wonderfully with traditional Thanksgiving sides.
The glaze is foolproof to make – simply combine pineapple with a touch of brown sugar and spices. The fruity sweetness cuts through the ham’s saltiness perfectly, creating a balanced, crowd-pleasing dish that even picky eaters will love.
Get the recipe here.
Apple Cider Glazed Ham
Embrace autumn flavors with this warming glaze made from reduced apple cider, which concentrates the apple essence into a rich, complex coating. The natural sugars in the cider caramelize during cooking, creating layers of flavor from tart to sweet. It’s perfect for those who want something seasonal but not too adventurous.
The preparation is simple – reduce cider with spices until syrupy, then brush over ham. The result is a beautifully glazed ham with warm spice notes that complement traditional Thanksgiving flavors while adding something special and memorable.
Get the recipe here.
Orange Marmalade Glazed Ham
This bright, citrusy glaze uses store-bought orange marmalade as its base, making it incredibly convenient for busy holiday cooks. The bitter orange peel in the marmalade provides wonderful complexity, while the sweet preserve creates a glossy, professional-looking finish.
It’s virtually foolproof since the marmalade does most of the work for you – just thin it slightly and brush on during the last hour of cooking. The fresh citrus notes brighten the rich ham beautifully, and the little bits of orange peel add delightful texture and bursts of flavor.
Get the recipe here.
Coca-Cola Glazed Ham
This surprisingly delicious Southern favorite uses the beloved soda to create a unique, caramelized glaze with subtle spice notes from the Coca-Cola’s secret blend. The sugars in the soda reduce down to form a dark, glossy coating that’s both sweet and slightly complex.
It’s a fun conversation starter that always surprises guests with how incredibly good it tastes. The method couldn’t be easier – just reduce Coca-Cola with a few spices until syrupy. The result is tender, flavorful ham with a beautiful mahogany color that’s become a beloved tradition in many families.
Get the recipe here.
Cranberry Glazed Ham
Perfect for the holiday season, this festive glaze combines tart cranberries with sweet ingredients to create a beautiful ruby-red coating. The cranberries provide lovely acidity that balances the ham’s richness while adding gorgeous color to your table. It’s especially wonderful if you’re serving cranberry sauce as a side, creating a cohesive flavor theme throughout your meal.
The glaze is simple to make using either fresh or frozen cranberries, and the beautiful color photographs wonderfully. The sweet-tart flavor profile is distinctly American and perfectly suited for Thanksgiving celebrations.
Get the recipe here.
Apricot Glazed Ham
This elegant glaze uses apricot preserves to create a sophisticated, slightly floral flavor that’s both sweet and subtly tart. The apricots provide natural fruit acids that help tenderize the meat while the preserves create a beautiful amber coating. It’s wonderfully easy since you’re starting with prepared preserves – just add a touch of vinegar and spices to balance the sweetness.
The flavor is refined enough for special occasions but approachable enough for family dinners. The lovely golden color and delicate fruit flavor make this a particularly elegant choice for entertaining.
Get the recipe here.
Brown Butter and Sage Glazed Ham
This sophisticated glaze combines nutty brown butter with aromatic fresh sage for a savory-sweet coating that’s absolutely divine. The brown butter adds incredible depth and richness while the sage provides earthy, herbaceous notes that complement ham perfectly. It’s a bit more involved than fruit-based glazes but worth every minute for the complex flavors it delivers.
The combination tastes expensive and gourmet but uses simple ingredients. This glaze is perfect for adventurous cooks who want to impress guests with something unexpected and restaurant-quality delicious.
Get the recipe here.
Pomegranate Molasses Glazed Ham
This Middle Eastern-inspired glaze offers incredible complexity with its sweet-tart pomegranate molasses base that creates a gorgeous deep red coating. The pomegranate molasses provides wonderful acidity and fruity depth that complements ham beautifully while adding exotic flair to your table.
You can find pomegranate molasses at Middle Eastern markets or online, and a little goes a long way. The glaze is simple to prepare but delivers sophisticated flavors that will have guests asking for your secret. The stunning burgundy color and unique flavor profile make this a memorable choice.
Get the recipe here.
Cherry Balsamic Glazed Ham
Sweet cherries combined with tangy balsamic vinegar create an incredibly sophisticated glaze with restaurant-quality flavors. The balsamic adds depth and complexity while the cherries provide lovely sweetness and beautiful color. This glaze works wonderfully with both fresh and dried cherries, making it adaptable to what you have available.
The preparation is straightforward but the results are impressive, with the balsamic reducing to create a glossy, dark coating. The sweet-tart flavor profile is perfectly balanced and adds an elegant touch that elevates your holiday meal to special occasion status.
Get the recipe here.
Dijon and Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
This refined take on the classic mustard glaze uses smooth Dijon mustard for a more sophisticated flavor profile that’s both sweet and pleasantly sharp. The Dijon provides wonderful tang without being overwhelming, while brown sugar adds caramelized sweetness. It’s perfect for those who want something familiar but elevated, and it’s incredibly easy to prepare by simply whisking ingredients together.
The glaze creates a beautiful golden coating and the flavors are complex enough to impress dinner guests while remaining approachable for the whole family to enjoy.
Get the recipe here.
Peach Preserves Glazed Ham
This Southern-inspired glaze uses sweet peach preserves to create a lovely, fruity coating that’s perfect for those who prefer gentler flavors. The peaches add natural sweetness and beautiful color while their subtle flavor complements ham without competing. It’s wonderfully convenient since preserves do most of the work, and the glaze is virtually foolproof to prepare.
Just thin the preserves slightly and brush over the ham during the last hour of cooking. The result is a gorgeous, glossy finish with delicate fruit flavor that’s especially appealing to those who find other glazes too intense.
Get the recipe here.
Red Wine Glazed Ham
This elegant glaze reduces red wine with aromatics to create a sophisticated, deeply flavorful coating that’s perfect for special occasions. The wine adds incredible depth and complexity while the reduction process concentrates the flavors beautifully. It takes a bit more time than simpler glazes but the results are absolutely worth it for the restaurant-quality flavors achieved.
The glaze creates a beautiful dark coating and the wine flavors complement ham perfectly. This is ideal for wine lovers and those who want to serve something truly impressive for their holiday celebration.
Get the recipe here.
Ginger Soy Glazed Ham
This Asian-inspired glaze combines soy sauce, fresh ginger, and sweet elements for an incredibly flavorful, umami-rich coating that’s surprisingly delicious on ham. The ginger adds warming spice and freshness while the soy provides depth and saltiness that enhances the ham’s natural flavors.
It’s a wonderful fusion option that brings exciting new flavors to your table. The glaze is easy to prepare and creates a beautiful, glossy dark coating. This unique combination will surprise and delight guests who are looking for something different from traditional holiday flavors.
Get the recipe here.
Fig and Port Wine Glazed Ham
This luxurious glaze combines sweet figs with rich port wine for an incredibly elegant, sophisticated flavor that’s perfect for special celebrations. The figs add natural sweetness and lovely texture while the port provides deep, complex wine flavors that complement ham beautifully.
It’s definitely a more involved glaze but creates restaurant-quality results that will absolutely impress your guests. The combination is classically European and refined, with the figs breaking down to create a chunky, rustic-looking glaze. This is perfect for those who want to serve something truly special and memorable.
Get the recipe here.
