Copycat Honey Baked Ham

Honey baked ham is a juicy spiral cut ham is smothered in a sweet honey glaze. It’s oven-baked until the meat is perfectly tender and the glaze turns sticky and delicious!

A spiral ham recipe is the perfect holiday ham for Christmas or Easter served with Scalloped Potatoes, Ambrosia Salad, and our favorite Sweet Potato Casserole!

This post, including the recipe, is in no way associated with nor endorsed by The Honey Baked Ham Company, LLC. This post is not for any product nor service. Honey baked ham in this post refers only to a copycat recipe for a ham baked with honey.

This copycat honey baked ham recipe starts with a spiral ham which allows all of the delicious glaze to add flavor to the slices of ham. While I do often make a brown sugar glaze, there really is nothing quite like a homemade honey baked ham recipe served with hashbrown casserole, roasted carrots, and homemade dinner rolls!

How to Prepare a Honey Baked Ham

Most hams (and spiral hams) are pre-cooked when you purchase them. Double check the package that it says fully cooked or pre-cooked.

Ham is easy to make since you’re really just heating it up. I use a spiral ham for this recipe because it’s very easy to cut but even more importantly, all of that yummy glaze gets into the meat. You can make copycat honeybaked ham without a spiral ham too, simply score the ham before adding the honey glaze.

Variations

Swap out the honey with maple syrup for a maple glazed ham.
Add a splash of orange juice or pineapple juice to the glaze if you’d like.
This recipe calls for a pinch of ground cloves (whole cloves won’t work), you can substitute other warm spices.

How much Spiral Ham per Person

When buying the spiral ham, you’ll want to account for 2-3 servings of ham per pound if you’re purchasing a bone in ham. I always lean towards 3 pounds so I have leftovers for soups and casseroles like my fave Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ham, ham sandwiches, and of course scalloped potatoes with ham!

How to Cook Honey Baked Ham

Copycat honey baked has a great ham glaze with both honey and a bit of brown sugar. The glaze gets beautifully caramelized! Since the glaze can be sticky, I like to line my pan with thick foil (or no stick foil) on the bottom for easy clean up.

Place the ham cut side down and bake uncovered. If there is a plastic disk on the ham, remove and discard it.
Bake until the ham reaches 135°F.
Brush with the glaze mixture and turn the oven up high caramelize the glaze.
Remove from the oven when the temperature reaches 140 degrees F.
Rest about 20 minutes before cutting and serving.

How long to Cook a Spiral Ham

A spiral ham is usually fully cooked and just needs heating (double check on the package you buy). A lower temperature allows the ham to cook through and become tender and juicy. If the temperature is higher, the edges can dry out before the center is warm.

A fully cooked spiral ham will take about 13-16 minutes per pound in a 250° F oven.
If making Crockpot Ham an 8-10 pound ham will slow cook for 4-5 hours.
A partially cooked ham needs longer, about 20 minutes per pound when roasting.

Be sure to check your label to make sure your ham is fully cooked for the copycat honey baked ham recipe below. Ham should be cooked to an internal temperature of 140° F, and just like Pork Tenderloin, use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s not over or under! To really make a perfect copycat honey baked ham at home, I suggest using a thermometer like this one.

Tips for a Juicy Ham

Don’t overcook the ham, use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
The glaze should be added towards the end or it will burn.
Turn up the heat while you glaze the entire ham cook until lightly caramelized.
The ham can be cooked under the broiler for a few minutes if needed.

Leftovers

You can buy ham well before you bake it! Check the best before date on the package but it’ll often keep in the fridge for a month or more before cooking if it’s sealed! This allows you to watch for coupons or sales.

You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. After that, you’ll want to freeze them.
Can you freeze honey-baked ham copycat? Yes! Cooked cubed or sliced ham will last in the freezer for 2 to 3 months if well sealed.
Leftover cooked ham is perfect to enjoy in soups, stews, casseroles, and sandwiches!
Save the leftover ham bone for Ham Bone Soup.
Find our favorite leftover ham recipes here.

More Ham Recipes You’ll Love

Crock Pot Ham – Set it and forget it!
Apple Glazed Baked Ham
Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup – easy comfort food.
Ham and Corn Chowder – the perfect soup for leftovers.
Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze – Classic perfection!