Easter Ham with Cherry Chipotle Glaze
Easter Ham with Cherry Chipotle Glaze
Why you’ll love this ham
- Uses a fully cooked, bone-in 7–8 lb ham — makes timing straightforward for a holiday main.
- The cherry chipotle glaze is made on the stovetop with pantry-friendly ingredients.
- You can make the glaze ahead of time or while the ham roasts.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the glaze to serve with the finished ham.
- A step-by-step video demonstration is included.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Note: You can make the glaze ahead of time or while your ham is in the oven. The recipe is below.
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
- Use a sharp paring knife to score the fat of the ham. Make your slices ½ inch apart. Then create a crisscross pattern.
- Add your chicken stock into a roasting pan fitted with a rack. Place your ham in the roaster and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Put your ham in the oven for 40 minutes. Baste every 10 to 12 minutes. When the timer goes off, remove the ham from the oven. Discard the aluminum foil.
- Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees.
- Reserve ½ C of the glaze to serve. Brush half of the remaining glaze over the ham. Place the ham back into the oven for 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, take the ham out of the oven and brush with the remaining glaze. Bake for another 15 minutes or until caramelized and glossy. Take the ham out of the oven and place it on a serving platter. Let it rest 10 minutes before serving.
- Put all the above ingredients into a small saucepan. Place onto your stovetop. Whisk till combined. Cook over medium heat until the sauce comes to a low boil. Lower the heat to a simmer. Reduce the sauce till you have about 1cup. This will take 20-30 minutes. The glaze will be just a bit thicker than maple syrup.
- Note: This sauce would also be great on a pork tenderloin, pork chops or chicken.
Video
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Make the glaze ahead or while the ham roasts
The cherry chipotle glaze reduces on the stovetop to about 1 cup in 20–30 minutes and will be slightly thicker than maple syrup. Because the ham initially roasts for 40 minutes, you can either make the glaze ahead of time or prepare it while the ham is in the oven. Reserve ½ cup of the finished glaze to serve with the carved ham.
Why the two-step cooking method works for this Easter ham with cherry chipotle glaze
Starting a fully cooked, bone-in ham at a lower temperature gently brings it through to serving temperature without aggressively drying the interior. The high-temperature finish concentrates heat at the surface so the sugars in the cherry chipotle glaze caramelize, producing a glossy, slightly crisp exterior.
Scoring and glazing — practical tips
Scoring the fat (the recipe directs ½-inch spacing in a crisscross pattern) increases surface area so the glaze adheres and lets some fat render, which contributes to a more flavorful crust. The recipe’s two-stage glazing—brushing, returning the ham to the oven, then brushing again—builds layers of glaze so the surface becomes sticky and caramelized.
What type of ham to buy for this recipe
This recipe is written for a bone-in, fully cooked 7–8 lb ham. “Fully cooked” means the ham has been cured and cooked by the processor and only needs reheating. Bone-in hams commonly retain moisture and add a bit of flavor from the bone, and the specified size range keeps the recipe’s timing straightforward for a holiday main.
Watch Dr. J Make Easter Ham with Cherry Chipotle Glaze
Watch Dr. J make Easter Ham with Cherry Chipotle Glaze and see how it comes together.
