Glazed ham is probably one of the easiest, festive, and cost effective roasts one can serve for a large gathering. The ham is already cooked when you buy it, so all you really have to do is heat it and glaze it. For this cranberry glazed ham, we are making a cranberry glaze with jellied cranberry sauce, orange juice, and whole grain mustard. It’s sweet and tart, and with hints of orange and bursts of mustard. A perfect taste combination for ham! When you are buying a ham, you have a couple choices to make. “Spiral cut” means the ham is already pre sliced around the bone, making it easier when it comes time to serving. We are using a spiral cut ham for this recipe, but you could easily use a non-pre-cut ham. Hams are sold as halves. The ham halves come in either the upper rear leg cut—the “butt” or sirloin, or the lower leg cut—the “shank” end. The “butt” half includes the hip joint bones which can be a little awkward to cut around, but is a little fattier and thus a little more flavorful. The “shank” cut has just one straight bone, and slightly leaner meat. If you are at the market trying to figure out which is which, the “butt” cut will have a more rounded end to it, while the “shank” cut will be more tapered with a more pointed end. Look for a ham without added water, or with just natural juices. These hams will be the most flavorful. If using a non-pre-sliced ham, score the outside skin and fat in a diamond pattern as described in our glazed baked ham with honey mustard recipe.
7 ounces jellied cranberry sauce (1/2 of a 14-ounce can)
1/4 cup orange juice
2 strips orange zest
2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
Ham:
1/2 spiral-cut ham (about 9 pounds, plus or minus), bone-in, natural juices or no added water
Make sure to save the bone for ham soup! Pork cuts: A Visual Guide from Cooks Illustrated Glazed Baked Ham with Honey Mustard or Honey Thyme Glaze - here on Simply Recipes Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze from Spicy Perspective Ham 101: What to Know Before Buying a Ham from Kitchen Parade
