This easy Orange Glaze for ham uses orange juice, orange juice concentrate, orange zest, brown sugar and a touch of warm spices for a bright, festive finish. It’s sweet, citrusy, and makes a baked ham taste special for holidays or weeknight dinners.
Homemade orange ham glaze is simple to prepare and far fresher than store-bought packets. It pairs beautifully with classic sides like Old Fashioned Yeast Rolls and Honey Butter Spread, and is especially lovely for Easter or Christmas roasts.
Store any extra glaze in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for longer storage. A 3-pound spiral-cut ham will typically use about half of the glaze recipe below.
What to Expect
- Taste: Bright orange with a hint of cinnamon and warm cloves.
- Ease: Only a handful of ingredients and very quick to prepare.
- Time: Glaze takes under 5 minutes to make; roasting time for ham depends on size.
Key Ingredients
- Orange juice & concentrate: Fresh orange juice plus a bit of concentrate gives strong citrus flavor.
- Orange zest: Adds bright, aromatic orange oils.
- Brown sugar: Provides caramel color and depth; can swap for honey or maple for variation.
- Cornstarch: A small amount thickens the glaze so it clings to the ham.
- Warm spices: Cinnamon and ground cloves add a festive touch.
- Ham: Precooked spiral-cut hams are convenient; bone-in or larger hams require longer cooking to reach safe internal temperature.
See the recipe card below for specific ingredient amounts and serving information.
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap brown sugar for honey, coconut sugar, or pure maple syrup to change the sweetness profile — maple-orange glazed ham is especially delicious.
- If you prefer different spices, substitute or add ginger, nutmeg, or allspice in place of or alongside the cloves.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and position a roasting pan large enough for your ham. Follow the ham packaging directions for cooking times, and use a meat thermometer to ensure a final internal temperature of 160°F.
- Step 1: Cook the ham according to package directions (generally about 10 minutes per pound at 350°F for precooked ham), adding about ½ cup water to the bottom of the roasting pan if recommended.
Ensure the ham is fully thawed if frozen so cooking and reheating times are accurate.
- Step 2: About 30–40 minutes before the ham is done, make the glaze. In a small saucepan whisk together orange juice, orange concentrate, orange zest, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, and cook about 1 minute until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
- Step 3: During the last 30–40 minutes of cooking, brush or drizzle the glaze generously over the ham using a pastry brush or a meat injector for deeper flavor.
- Step 4: Return the ham to the oven, uncovered, for the remaining 30 minutes so the glaze can caramelize slightly. Reserve any leftover glaze to brush on the ham just before slicing. Garnish with orange slices or fresh herbs if desired and serve.
Top Tips & Hacks
- Leftover glaze keeps in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for about 3 months.
- A 3-pound spiral-cut ham typically uses about half of the glaze; scale the recipe as needed for larger hams.
- Keep the ham covered while most of the cooking time passes to prevent drying, then uncover for the final glazing period so the glaze can caramelize without burning.
- For slow cooker cooking, heat on low for 4–6 hours or high for 3–4 hours, checking that the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Frequently Asked Questions
Glaze near the end of baking—brush the glaze on during the last 30 minutes so the sugars caramelize without burning.
This recipe uses cornstarch to thicken the glaze. You can increase the cornstarch slightly or simmer the glaze 10–15 minutes to reduce and concentrate it.
Yes—substitute the brown sugar with honey for a honey-orange glaze.
Yes—leave it uncovered so the glaze can caramelize properly.
Yes—cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 3–4 hours, and verify the ham reaches 160°F before serving.
More Easy Holiday Recipes
-
Cornbread Pudding In Crock Pot
-
Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
-
Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
-
Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
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Printable Recipe
Orange Glaze for Ham
Ingredients
- 1 spiral cut ham (size as desired; 3 lb uses about half the glaze)
- For the glaze:
- 1 Tablespoon orange zest (from 1–2 oranges)
- 1 cup orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons orange juice concentrate
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- Optional: orange slices, fresh rosemary or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Cook ham according to package directions, typically about 10 minutes per pound at 350°F for precooked ham. Add ½ cup water to the roasting pan if recommended.
- About 30–40 minutes before the ham is done, combine all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and whisk to combine.
- Bring the glaze to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, and cook about 1 minute until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
- Brush or drizzle the glaze over the ham during the final 30–40 minutes of cooking. Use a pastry brush or meat injector if desired.
- Let the ham finish cooking uncovered so the glaze can caramelize. Reserve any remaining glaze to brush on the ham just before serving.
Notes
- Store leftover glaze in the refrigerator up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.
- Adjust glaze quantity for larger hams. A 3 lb spiral ham uses roughly half the glaze.
- Slow cooker option: cook low 4–6 hours or high 3–4 hours, until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 77 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Sugar: 17 g
- Vitamin C: 22 mg
Hi, I’m Sara!
Registered nurse by day and food blogger on weekends, I love testing recipes and sharing approachable, delicious food. Enjoy this glaze and tag your photos if you try it.