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smoked spiral ham recipe on a cutting board

Smoked Spiral Ham with Brown Sugar Honey Glaze

Spiral-cut ham smoked at 300°F and glazed with brown sugar honey bourbon for sweet, sticky coating perfect for holidays.
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Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Ham:
  • 1 spiral-cut ham 8-10 lbs
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup sweet BBQ rub
  • Brown Sugar Honey Glaze:
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup bourbon optional
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons apricot or peach preserves optional

Method
 

  1. Place spiral ham in a disposable aluminum foil pan. Brush with Dijon mustard all over. Sprinkle sweet BBQ rub evenly over entire surface.
  2. Preheat smoker to 300°F with apple or cherry wood. Add 1/2 cup apple juice to bottom of pan.
  3. Make glaze by combining all glaze ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer 5-7 minutes until thick and glossy, stirring frequently. Set aside.
  4. Place pan with ham in smoker. Close lid and smoke for 1.5-2 hours until internal temperature reaches 135-140°F.
  5. When ham reaches 135-140°F, begin glazing. Brush generous coat of glaze all over ham. Continue smoking and glazing every 10 minutes for 3-4 total applications.
  6. Remove when internal temperature reaches 145°F. The glaze should be dark, glossy, and caramelized.
  7. Rest 10 minutes before serving. Pull apart spiral slices and arrange on platter. Drizzle with accumulated glaze from pan.

Notes

Use mild wood like apple or cherry for subtle smoke that doesn't overpower the sweet glaze. The ham is already cooked, so you're reheating to 145°F, not cooking from raw. Start glazing only when ham reaches 135-140°F internal temperature to prevent burning. Multiple thin glaze coats build better coating than one thick application. For holidays, this can be prepared alongside other dishes since it requires minimal attention during smoking. The spiral-cut makes serving effortless for large gatherings.

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