25 Christmas Ham Recipes That Steal the Show

Christmas dinner calls for a centerpiece that brings everyone together, and a beautifully glazed ham delivers every time. These show-stopping ham recipes transform a simple spiral-cut ham into the star of your holiday table.

From classic honey glazes to adventurous flavor combinations, each recipe creates that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and festive that makes Christmas dinner memorable. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or looking for something special, these glazes and crusts will have your guests raving about your ham long after the holidays end.

Honey Glazed Christmas Ham

This timeless classic creates a beautiful golden crust with sweet, caramelized edges that everyone loves. The honey glaze is simple yet elegant, requiring just a few pantry ingredients but delivering restaurant-quality results. It’s incredibly forgiving for first-time ham makers since honey naturally prevents burning while creating that gorgeous shine. The sweetness pairs perfectly with traditional holiday sides like roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. This is the perfect choice when you want something that looks impressive but won’t stress you out on Christmas morning.

Brown Sugar and Mustard Glazed Ham

The combination of sweet brown sugar and tangy Dijon mustard creates the perfect balance that cuts through the ham’s richness. This glaze caramelizes beautifully, forming a sticky, flavorful crust that’s both sweet and slightly sharp. It’s incredibly easy to make with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. The mustard adds sophistication without being overwhelming, making it appealing to both kids and adults. This recipe is practically foolproof and always gets compliments from guests who love that perfect sweet-tangy combination.

Pineapple Upside Down Glazed Ham

This playful take on the classic dessert brings tropical sweetness to your Christmas table with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries. The pineapple juice creates an incredibly moist glaze while the fruit caramelizes beautifully during baking. It’s surprisingly elegant despite its fun appearance, and the presentation always gets gasps of delight from guests. The prep is straightforward – just arrange the fruit and pour on the glaze. The tropical flavors provide a bright contrast to heavier holiday dishes, making it refreshing and different.

Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham

Rich maple syrup and smooth bourbon create a sophisticated glaze with deep, complex flavors that scream grown-up holiday elegance. The alcohol cooks off, leaving behind warm, smoky notes that complement the ham’s natural saltiness perfectly. This glaze develops an incredible caramelized crust that’s both sweet and slightly smoky. It’s surprisingly easy to make, though you’ll want to watch it carefully during the last bit of baking to prevent burning. Perfect for adult gatherings where you want something with a little more depth than basic sweet glazes.

Orange Marmalade Glazed Ham

Bright, citrusy marmalade creates a glaze that’s both familiar and special, with lovely orange flavor and beautiful color. The marmalade’s natural pectin helps create a glossy, professional-looking finish that photographs beautifully. It’s incredibly convenient since you’re essentially using a ready-made glaze base that just needs a few additions. The orange flavor is bright enough to cut through the ham’s richness without being overpowering. This is perfect when you want something that looks gourmet but requires minimal effort and ingredients you can find at any grocery store.

Cherry Cola Glazed Ham

This fun, unexpected glaze uses cola to create a sweet, slightly spiced coating with hints of vanilla and caramel. The cola reduces down to a thick, glossy glaze that’s both nostalgic and sophisticated. It’s incredibly easy to make and always sparks conversation at the dinner table. The flavor is familiar yet surprising – sweet like classic glazes but with unique depth from the cola’s spices. Kids love the novelty while adults appreciate the complex flavor it develops. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to mess up since cola is naturally sweet and flavorful.

Apple Cider Glazed Ham

Warm apple cider creates a glaze that tastes like autumn and winter had a delicious collaboration, with cozy spices and gentle sweetness. The cider reduces to concentrate those lovely apple and spice flavors while creating a beautiful amber coating. It pairs incredibly well with traditional holiday sides and creates that perfect seasonal aroma while baking. The glaze is straightforward to make, though it takes a bit longer to reduce the cider properly. This is ideal for people who love apple flavors and want something that feels both traditional and special.

Cranberry Orange Glazed Ham

Tart cranberries and bright orange create a beautiful ruby-red glaze that’s both festive looking and deliciously balanced. The cranberry tartness cuts through the ham’s richness while orange adds brightness and prevents the cranberries from being too sharp. This glaze photographs beautifully with its gorgeous color and creates an elegant presentation. It’s moderately easy to make, requiring some cooking down of cranberry sauce, but the results are stunning. Perfect for people who want something that looks as good as it tastes and incorporates classic holiday flavors.

Beer Glazed Christmas Ham

A rich, malty beer creates a unique glaze with deep, complex flavors that beer lovers will absolutely adore. The beer reduces down to eliminate alcohol while concentrating those lovely malty, slightly bitter notes that complement ham perfectly. It creates a beautiful dark, glossy finish that looks incredibly sophisticated. The prep is simple – just reduce beer with a few other ingredients – but the flavor is anything but basic. This is perfect for casual gatherings or when you want to try something different that still appeals to traditional tastes.

Pomegranate Molasses Glazed Ham

Exotic pomegranate molasses creates a glaze with incredible depth – sweet, tart, and slightly tangy with a beautiful deep red color. The molasses adds richness while pomegranate provides bright acidity that cuts through the ham’s saltiness perfectly. This glaze is definitely for adventurous eaters who appreciate Middle Eastern flavors. It’s moderately challenging to find pomegranate molasses, but the unique flavor makes it worth seeking out. The result is sophisticated and unlike anything else on typical holiday tables, making it a real conversation starter.

Coca-Cola Glazed Ham

Classic Coca-Cola creates a surprisingly sophisticated glaze with vanilla and caramel notes that complement ham beautifully. The soda reduces to a thick, glossy coating that’s both nostalgic and elegant. It’s incredibly easy to make since Coke already has the perfect balance of sweetness and spices. The flavor is familiar yet special, and it always gets people guessing about the secret ingredient. Kids love the fun factor while adults appreciate how well it actually works. Plus, it’s nearly foolproof since the soda provides both sweetness and moisture.

Dijon and Brown Sugar Crusted Ham

This recipe creates a textured crust rather than a smooth glaze, combining tangy Dijon mustard with sweet brown sugar and breadcrumbs. The crust becomes golden and slightly crispy while keeping the ham incredibly moist underneath. It’s easy to prepare and creates beautiful texture contrast that’s both visually appealing and delicious. The mustard adds sophisticated flavor while brown sugar provides sweetness and caramelization. This is perfect for people who want something different from typical sticky glazes but still familiar enough for traditional tastes.

Peach Preserves Glazed Ham

Sweet peach preserves create a lovely glaze with gentle fruit flavor and beautiful peachy-golden color. The preserves’ natural texture adds visual interest while creating a glossy, professional-looking finish. It’s incredibly convenient since preserves are essentially a ready-made glaze base. The peach flavor is mild and appealing to almost everyone, including kids who might be hesitant about stronger flavors. This is perfect when you want something that looks elegant but requires minimal effort and uses ingredients you might already have in your pantry.

Rum Glazed Christmas Ham

Dark rum creates a glaze with warm, tropical notes that add sophistication and depth to your holiday ham. The alcohol cooks off completely, leaving behind rich, slightly sweet flavors with hints of vanilla and spice. It develops a beautiful dark, glossy finish that looks incredibly professional. The prep is straightforward, though you’ll want to monitor it carefully to prevent burning. This is ideal for adult gatherings where you want something with more complexity than basic sweet glazes, and it pairs beautifully with both traditional and Caribbean-inspired sides.

Apricot Glazed Ham with Rosemary

Sweet apricot preserves combined with fresh rosemary creates an elegant glaze that’s both fruity and herbaceous. The apricot provides gentle sweetness while rosemary adds sophisticated, pine-like notes that complement ham perfectly. This combination feels both traditional and modern, making it perfect for upscale holiday gatherings. The rosemary needs to be used carefully to avoid overpowering the delicate apricot, but when balanced correctly, it’s absolutely stunning. The glaze is moderately easy to make and creates a beautiful presentation that looks restaurant-quality.

Coffee Bourbon Glazed Ham

Rich coffee and smooth bourbon create a bold, sophisticated glaze that’s definitely for adults who love intense flavors. The coffee adds earthy bitterness that balances the ham’s saltiness while bourbon provides warmth and depth. This glaze develops an incredibly dark, glossy finish that’s visually striking. It’s moderately challenging to balance the flavors correctly, but the result is unique and memorable. Perfect for coffee lovers or when you want something completely different from traditional sweet glazes. The combination is bold enough to make your ham the talk of the dinner.

Spiced Ginger Glazed Ham

This succulent glazed ham combines warming spices with the bright heat of fresh ginger for a show-stopping centerpiece. The glaze features a perfect balance of sweet brown sugar, tangy Dijon mustard, and aromatic spices like cinnamon and cloves, while freshly grated ginger adds a zesty kick that cuts through the ham’s richness.

Slow-baked until caramelized and golden, this ham develops a beautiful lacquered exterior while staying tender and juicy inside. Perfect for holiday gatherings or special occasions when you want to impress guests with bold, comforting flavors.

Red Wine Glazed Ham

Rich red wine reduces to create a deep, complex glaze with sophisticated flavors that wine lovers will appreciate. The wine’s tannins and acidity cut through the ham’s richness while providing beautiful color and depth. This glaze definitely feels elegant and adult, perfect for formal holiday dinners. It requires patience to reduce the wine properly, but the technique isn’t difficult. The result is sophisticated and pairs beautifully with other wine-based dishes. This is ideal when you want something that feels gourmet and complements a wine-focused holiday meal.

Balsamic Honey Glazed Ham

The combination of tangy balsamic vinegar and sweet honey creates a perfectly balanced glaze with sophisticated sweet-tart flavors. The balsamic adds depth and complexity while honey provides sweetness and helps create a beautiful caramelized finish. This glaze is surprisingly easy to make but tastes incredibly gourmet. The flavor profile is sophisticated enough for upscale gatherings but approachable enough for family dinners. It develops a gorgeous dark, glossy coating that photographs beautifully and always impresses guests with its perfect balance of flavors.

Spiced Apple Butter Glazed Ham

Rich, concentrated apple butter with warm spices creates a glaze that tastes like cozy autumn comfort. The apple butter is naturally thick and flavorful, making it an ideal glaze base that requires minimal additions. It creates a beautiful rustic appearance with deep flavor that’s both familiar and special. The prep is incredibly simple since apple butter is essentially a ready-made glaze. This is perfect for people who love apple flavors and want something that feels homemade and comforting while still being elegant enough for company.

Champagne Glazed Ham

Elegant champagne creates a sophisticated glaze that’s perfect for New Year’s celebrations or upscale holiday gatherings. The champagne reduces to concentrate its delicate flavors while creating a beautiful golden finish. This glaze feels incredibly special and luxurious, making your ham worthy of the fanciest occasions. It’s moderately easy to make, though champagne can reduce quickly so it needs attention. The flavor is subtle and elegant, letting the ham’s natural taste shine while adding just enough sophistication to make it feel truly special.

Fig and Port Wine Glazed Ham

Rich figs and deep port wine create an incredibly sophisticated glaze with complex, wine-country flavors. The figs provide natural sweetness and beautiful texture while port adds depth and richness. This combination is definitely for adventurous eaters who appreciate gourmet flavors and sophisticated presentations. It’s more challenging to make than basic glazes, requiring careful balance of the wine and fig flavors. The result is restaurant-quality and perfect for impressing foodie friends or creating a truly memorable holiday centerpiece that feels luxurious and special.

Smoky Paprika Glazed Ham

Smoky paprika creates a unique glaze with beautiful color and warm, slightly spicy flavors that add excitement to traditional ham. The paprika provides gorgeous reddish color while adding smoky depth without being overwhelming. This glaze is perfect for people who want something different but not too adventurous. It’s easy to make and creates a beautiful presentation that photographs wonderfully. The smoky flavor pairs excellently with both traditional holiday sides and more modern accompaniments. This is ideal when you want to add some personality to your ham without straying too far from familiar territory.

Honey Citrus Glazed Ham

This succulent ham features a beautiful golden glaze made with honey and fresh citrus juices that caramelizes during baking, creating an irresistible sweet-tangy coating. The combination of orange and lemon zest adds bright, aromatic notes that perfectly complement the rich, smoky ham. Slow-roasted to tender perfection, each slice delivers a balance of savory meat with the glossy, flavorful glaze that makes this dish a showstopper for holiday gatherings and special occasions.

Baked Ham with Maple Caramelized Onion and Mustard Sauce

This glazed baked ham features a sweet and savory maple caramelized onion topping with tangy mustard sauce that elevates any holiday meal. The ham is slow-roasted until tender and juicy, while onions are caramelized in maple syrup until golden and sweet. A creamy mustard sauce balances the richness with bright acidity. The combination creates layers of flavor – smoky ham, sweet caramelized onions, and zesty mustard – making it perfect for festive gatherings where you want an impressive centerpiece that’s both comforting and sophisticated.