‘Best ham we have ever had’: the 4-ingredient glaze recipe every Christmas cook needs

There’s a reason why this easy maple sticky glazed ham is Australia’s #1 glazed ham recipe.

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Christmas in our house just wouldn’t be the same without a beautifully glazed leg of ham on the dining table. Because the ham is always such a star attraction, I like to get in early and plan, so choosing the perfect glaze is my number-one priority.

But it seems I’m not the only one who likes to get the jump on planning the Christmas ham. We might be weeks out from the Big Day, but searches for all things Christmas on taste.com.au are steadily rising. Just last week there was a 32 per cent jump in searches for ham glazes alone, and that just tells me that there are going to be an awful lot of Christmas hams taking centre stage this year (cue the angels singing!)

The glazed ham you should be making this Christmas

Thankfully, taste.com.au is the perfect place to find the best-ever Christmas glazed ham recipe. There are more than 300 fabulous glazed hams to try on site, but there is one that stands out from the rest: maple honey mustard glazed ham. 

Maple honey mustard glazed ham

This recipe has been tested the most by our taste team and the community – it’s simple to prep (the glaze has just 4 ingredients), and it’s off-the-charts delicious! With more 5-star ratings than Santa’s most sought-after toys, you’ll be struggling to have enough leftovers for Boxing Day sandwiches.

“Everyone knows how important it is to get your festive ham right,” says food writer Alison Adams. “So, when it comes to picking the perfect ham for Christmas (and one that will please everyone), I’ve found the easiest recipes are often the best.” 

The taste community agrees…

“I’ve been making this for the last 8 years and it is such a hit every single time! I change absolutely nothing and it’s always perfect.” ~ guli63

“We decided this year that I will cook my own ham, and this recipe turned out a treat. Best ham we have ever had.” ~ Mick

“Absolutely love the glaze for this ham. It’s sweet but also savoury with the mustard. I have done it the last two years and everyone loves it. Nothing left…” ~ Julie N Tim

The best glazed ham is simple yet sensational

This maple honey mustard glazed ham is wonderfully simple and fail-safe, but it looks beautiful, too. “It can be tempting to go for a holiday ham with lots of fancy ingredients but, trust me, you don’t need to,” says Alison. “The combination of the natural sugars in the maple syrup and the honey gives the baked ham a beautifully golden, glossy top, and the tangy mustard really offsets the sweetness, so it’s caramelised without being too sweet.”

If you really want leftovers (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) start with roughly 8kg of ham on the bone. This will also be big enough to create a showstopping table centrepiece. 

Giving your ham that amazing glaze

When you first make your 4-ingredient glaze, it will look like a lot, but remember you’ll need it all to brush over your ham while it cooks to build up that deliciously sticky coating.

This glazed ham recipe calls for you to pour one-third of the glaze over the ham after prepping it, but it’s important to save the rest of the glaze for brushing over the ham during baking. This will ensure you get the thickest, stickiest, most caramelised glaze all over your ham.

Maple honey mustard glazed ham recipe

To achieve the best canvas for your glaze, you will need a nice smooth fat surface. To do this, read how to prepare your ham by carefully removing the fat in one piece. 

I really love how this ham recipe uses the classic method of studding the ham with cloves. It’s so easy to do, the cloves stay put while you brush the glaze over the ham and, you’ve got to admit, the end result always looks incredible.

Maple honey mustard glazed ham recipe

Going out in a glaze of glory

Sure, you can make this maple honey mustard glaze for your Christmas ham year after year as some of our taste community above have said they love to do (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!), but I can understand if you like a little variety on your Christmas menu each year. 

The traditional glazed ham might come from the Northern Hemisphere where it’s icy cold at Christmas, but Australians have embraced this festive staple and made it their own. Take a look at how we’ve adapted the recipe for our hotter climate with 22 glazed ham recipes that are popular in Australia. They feature summer mangoes, lime, cherries and even barbecue sauce for a fully Aussie experience.

You could also try a ham decorated with pineapple rings (retro!), this super easy 3-ingredient one (with added cola for the most incredible sweetness!) or add a boozy twist with a gin-glazed ham.

So, what glazed ham have I settled on for my Christmas ham this year? It will most likely be Alison Adams’s maple honey mustard glazed ham, as I know it will be a definite crowd-pleaser and I can’t wait to share it with my family. But next year? Watch this space! 

Originally published as ‘Best ham we have ever had’: the 4-ingredient glaze recipe every Christmas cook needs