How To Cook A Ham For Christmas 2021 In 5 Easy Steps

Christmas celebrations will be a bit challenging this year, with some unsure of how to celebrate due to another new wave of potential COVID-19 infections, while others are hoping to re-embrace traditions they had abandoned in 2020 due to the pandemic. However celebrations play out this year, some elements will still likely stay the same—including making a ham for dinner.

Those who are cooking their own meal this Dec. 25 won’t have to worry about it being too difficult, because there are so many different recipes there that can make a ham easier to make than it looks. Check out this easy recipe that is perfect for anyone taking their first crack at making a ham, or even someone who is just trying to change things up for their dinner this time. (via A Pretty Life in the Suburbs).

If you prefer to make Turkey instead, you can find a recipe for that here.

What You Will Need:

Ingredients:

10-12 lb. Bone-in ham
½ cup water or ginger ale

For Honey Glaze:

½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. mustard
¼ cup orange juice

Step-By-Step Recipe.

1. Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees and placing the ham in a roasting pan.

2. Using a sharp knife, score the top of the ham diagonally, with lines about 1 inch apart, no more than ¼ inch deep. Add water or ginger ale to the bottom of the pan, cover with tin foil and bake for approximately 1 ½ hours.

3. To make the glaze, melt butter in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, honey, mustard and orange juice. Cook until the sugar dissolves, stirring often. The glaze should be slightly thick when it is done and will continue to thicken as it cools. Do not let the mixture boil.

4. After the ham is done cooking, remove it from the oven and drizzle the glaze over the top and in all the crevices. Continue baking, this time uncovered, for about 30 additional minutes.

5. Remove ham from the oven and spoon more glaze over the ham. Let it rest under tin foil for 15 minutes before carving.