Ree's Dr Pepper-Glazed Ham Is the Only Recipe You'll Need This Easter (2024)

Easter is coming—the goose is getting fat!

Wait. That's Christmas.

And Christmas isn't coming. At least not for another 200+days.

Okay, now that I've both confused and depressed everyone: Here's the recipe for my yummy sweet-glazed ham—the same ham recipe I'll be making for Easter brunch with all the best ham side dishes. It's totally easy, exceedingly delicious, and results in a purty and glossy Easter ham that'll make your guests say "Oooooooh!" with wide, expectant eyes and, hopefully, hearty appetites because this ham could feed an army. If you're not feeding an army, you'll likely have some leftover ham. To me, that's one of the best parts of cooking a ham—just imagine all the possibilities!

What's the secret to the best holiday ham?

Let's get something straight: Is glazing a ham necessary? No. Is it worth it? Yes! Ham is just regular 'ol ham until you top it with a tangy, sweet, sticky, addictive glaze. For this one, all you have to do is pop open a can of Dr Pepper and mix it with mustard, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Since the ham comes from the grocery store pre-cooked, this is an easy extra step that results in major flavor. Plus, it gives it that gorgeous glossy, lacquered look that just screams holiday ham!

What kind of ham is best for Easter dinner?

Look for a fully-cooked, bone-in ham that isn't spiral cut—it stays juicier in the oven! Shank-end hams are the big, beautiful ones you're used to seeing for the holidays and those work great here. Just remember to do the math on how much ham per person is needed before you put in your order with the butcher!

When should I put my glaze on my ham?

The idea is to wait until the ham is almost fully heated, then add the glaze as one of the last steps. You don't want to add it too early or the sugars in the glaze could cause it to burn, and you don't want to add it too late or you won't get that caramelized coating. I usually bake the ham for about 2 hours before adding some of the glaze. Then I'll pop it back in the oven for 20 minutes, add more glaze, and repeat. The goal is to repeat this process until the ham is nice and glossy. The magic happens when you glaze it 2 or 3 or 4 times.

Do you cook a ham covered or uncovered?

Cover the ham to keep it moist! I've found that just tenting the ham with foil does the job. Keep it tented until you brush on the glaze. Once glaze in on the ham, remove the foil so the glaze has a chance to get all caramelized and yummy.

What can you do with leftover ham?

What can't you do is the real question. Since this is a bone-in ham, save the bone and make ham stock for future soups and stews! With leftover ham, make something breakfast-y like quiche, toss it into your favorite pasta dish or on top of a pizza, or just make a really good ham sandwich.

whole fully cooked bone-in ham (15 to 18 pounds)

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Yields:
18 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
3 hrs
Total Time:
3 hrs 20 mins

Ingredients

Directions

    1. Step1Preheat the oven to 325°F.
    2. Step2Score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern about 1/8-inch deep. Place cloves in the middle of each diamond. Place the ham in a large roasting pan with a rack, tent it with foil, and bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours—or longer, depending on the package directions. (Some hams may require 3 to 3 1/2 hours at a lower temperature; just check the package.)
    3. Step3In a small saucepan, heat the brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and sodauntil bubbly. Cook until reduced and a bit thicker, about 15 minutes.
    4. Step4After about 2 hours of baking time, remove the foil and brush the glaze on the ham in 20 minutes intervals (put the ham back in the oven, uncovered, in between) until it's nice and glossy. Remove from the oven and allow to rest 15 to20 minutes before carving.

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Get a big honkin’ bone-in ham. Fully cooked.

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Use a really sharp knife to score a diamond pattern all over the surface of the ham: First cut lines in one direction…

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Then cut in the other direction.

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Grab a handful of cloves and poke them into the center of each diamond…

And keep going until the whole surface is dotted. I do this for looks more than flavor: I just think it looks lovely and traditional when it’s all done baking.

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Cover the ham with foil, then put it into the oven to warm it up. I do 325 for at least 2 to 2 1/2 hours, but I’d say just look at the instructions on the package and follow those. Some hams say to go 3 to 4 hours, some at a lower temperature. The whole goal here is just to heat the ham slowly…and it takes awhile to do that.

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While the ham is in the oven, you can make the glaze: Throw 3 cups of brown sugar into a saucepan…

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Along with 1/2 cup of grainy, spicy mustard for a nice tang…

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3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar for a little bite…

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And the star of the show!

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A whole can of Dr Pepper.

You can use co*ke. Heck, you could probably even use root beer. But please, for the love of all things good and caramelized, do not use diet pop.

(It’s the sugar we’re after here.)

Amen.

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Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat…

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And simmer it for a good 15-20 minutes until it’s gotten darker and thicker.

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After the ham has cooked for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, brush the surface with some of the glaze. Then pop it back into the oven, uncovered, for another 20 minutes or so.

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Pull it out and brush on more glaze, then pop it back in the oven.

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Then pull it out and brush on more glaze! Keep doing this until the ham is fully heated and the glaze is really gorgeous and glossy.

Note: On my Food Network episode last weekend, I only glazed it once because I had been at church and didn’t want to add too much more time before we ate. It was still totally delicious, but glazing the ham 2 or 3 (or 4) times really results in more of a masterpiece in terms of gorgeous surface.

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Mmmm. Easter feast!

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Enjoy, guys. This ham’ll take you far in life.

Ree's Dr Pepper-Glazed Ham Is the Only Recipe You'll Need This Easter (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular ham for Easter? ›

What most American cooks procure for Easter dinner is a wet-cured, lightly smoked, prebaked ham, what neighborhood butchers called a city ham, when there were still neighborhood butchers. There is nothing particularly urban about city ham, the meat expert Bruce Aidells said, but the name took hold as shorthand.

How do you get glaze to stick to ham? ›

The glazing part is no different to brushing and basting anything that's marinated!
  1. Pour / brush the glaze onto the ham. ...
  2. Baste every 20 minutes as it bakes with reserved Glaze and pan juices.
  3. Initially, the glaze won't stick to the fat but the longer it's in the oven, the thicker the glaze gets.
Dec 9, 2019

Do you cook the ham before you glaze it? ›

You don't want to add it too early or the sugars in the glaze could cause it to burn, and you don't want to add it too late or you won't get that caramelized coating. I usually bake the ham for about 2 hours before adding some of the glaze. Then I'll pop it back in the oven for 20 minutes, add more glaze, and repeat.

Should Easter ham be served warm or cold? ›

Pre-cooked ham can be served directly from the refrigerator. If you'd like to serve it hot, heat in a 350° oven to an internal temperature of 140°. At 140°, the ham will be thoroughly warmed and moist.

What is the tastiest ham in the world? ›

Joselito | Declared the best ham in the world | Iberian acorn-fed ham. SINCE 1868 With more than 150 years of experience, Joselito holds the secrets of an ancestral tradition.

What type of ham has the best flavor? ›

Bone-in ham

The bone provides the meat with better flavor and texture. As a bonus, the leftover bone is great for making soups and stews, like this Old-Fashioned Split Pea Soup. Bone-in hams are sold as half hams. When you opt for bone-in ham, you'll also need to consider the part of the ham you buy.

How do you keep a glazed ham moist? ›

Roasting pan with a roasting rack: Ideally, use a large roasting pan with a rack. This will allow you to add water at the bottom of the pan to keep the ham moist as it bakes. Aluminum foil: To wrap the roasting pan tightly, and ensure that the steam does not escape. You want to keep the moisture trapped inside.

Do you put foil back on after glazing ham? ›

Remove foil from the ham and brush the glaze onto it. Make sure you get a nice even coating on the top and sides. Place ham back into the oven at 425°F for 10 minutes. Remove the ham from the oven and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Do you cook a ham face down or on its side? ›

Place ham, flat side down, on rack in shallow roasting pan; cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake approximately 13 to 18 minutes per pound until heated through. Remove ham from oven. Glaze as directed below or let stand, covered, 10 minutes before serving.

What are the secrets to the best ham? ›

1. Cook it low and slow. This ensures that the meat doesn't dry out as your ham spends at least a couple hours in the oven. The ideal temperature to cook at is 325°, and for a bone-in half ham it will take 20 to 25 minutes per pound to cook at that low of a temperature.

Should you cook a ham covered or uncovered? ›

If you don't cover your ham while cooking it will quickly dry out. Instead: Put some aluminum foil over your ham while it's cooking. It is recommended that the ham is covered for at least half of the cooking process and only removed during the last half when you glaze it.

Are you not supposed to eat ham on Easter? ›

“Easter ham is as ubiquitous to the American table as Thanksgiving turkey, but it wasn't always,” Hopwood says. For many, lamb was the main protein at Easter and Passover tables. Still, serving ham was always a popular choice, for seasonal reasons.

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham? ›

If the ham is labeled "fully cooked" (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F. If the ham is labeled "cook before eating," heat in an oven set no lower than 325 F to an internal temperature of at least 145 F.

Do you take the net off ham before cooking? ›

Should I remove the string before cooking? Leave the string alone! The shape of the ham before you boil it will determine how it looks after cooking.

What is the most popular meat eaten on Easter? ›

There's no question lamb is front and centre at the Easter table - and for good reason - but there are plenty of alternatives to choose from. This is our list of some of the best meats to have for your Easter dinner: Easter Lamb.

What is the most common type of ham? ›

The most popular ham is cured ham, which has been brined before cooking. The brine is a liquid of water and salt, and seasonings are sometimes added to the brine. Hams are soaked in brine for a few days or weeks before it is smoked.

What is the tastiest cut of ham? ›

Rump, Butt, Or Sirloin

The rump contains the femur and pelvic bone, which can be challenging to carve around. It is a more tender and flavorful cut of meat and can often be more expensive.

What is the tradition of ham on Easter? ›

Ham and the Spring Season

Before the advent of modern refrigeration, pigs were often slaughtered in the fall, and the meat was preserved through the winter months using salt and smoke. By the time spring arrived, the preserved ham was ready to be consumed, making it a natural choice for a celebratory Easter feast.

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