You'll love this classic Canadian dish that pairs pure maple syrup with a succulent ham for an unforgettable holiday centerpiece. Dating back to the 1800s, this recipe celebrates Canada's maple heritage by combining sweet syrup, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and warm spices into a glossy glaze. Score your ham in a diamond pattern, brush with the maple mixture, and baste every 15-20 minutes until it reaches 140°F internally. After an essential 15-minute rest, you'll reveal a perfectly moist, amber-glazed masterpiece that'll have everyone gathered around your table asking for your secret.
Key Takeaways
- A traditional Canadian dish combining pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and ground cloves glazed over a bone-in ham.
- Score ham in diamond pattern, brush with maple glaze mixture, and baste every 15-20 minutes while cooking.
- Cook until internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C), removing at 135°F (57°C) to allow for temperature rise during rest.
- Let ham rest for 15-20 minutes after cooking to ensure juices redistribute and create perfectly moist, tender slices.
- Recipe originated in early Canadian settlements during maple syrup harvests, becoming a cherished holiday tradition since the 1800s.
History
Pioneers in Canada's early settlements discovered the perfect marriage between locally harvested maple syrup and cured hams, creating what would become the Canadian Maple Glazed Ham.
You'll find that this cherished tradition dates back to the 1800s, when families would tap their maple trees in early spring and preserve their hams for special occasions.
In those days, you'd see communities coming together during the maple syrup harvest, sharing both the work and the rewards of their labor.
They'd often celebrate successful harvests with festive meals where maple-glazed ham took center stage.
You've probably noticed how this tradition has been passed down through generations, with each family adding their own special touch to the recipe.
Recipe
Canadian Maple Glazed Ham transforms an ordinary ham into a stunning holiday centerpiece with its glistening, caramelized exterior and rich maple flavor. The combination of pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and warm spices creates a perfect balance of sweet and savory that penetrates deep into the meat. As the ham roasts, the enchanting aroma fills the kitchen, inviting family and friends to gather around. This delightful dish not only elevates your holiday meal but also inspires other culinary creativity, such as the delectable maple mustard meatloaf recipe that can be made using leftover ham. With each bite, you’ll experience the warmth of the season, making every gathering a memorable celebration.
This classic recipe celebrates Canada's maple heritage while delivering a show-stopping main course that's surprisingly simple to prepare. The key lies in the careful glazing process, which builds layers of flavor and creates that signature sticky-sweet coating that makes this dish memorable.
- 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (8-10 pounds)
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup water
- Whole cloves for studding (optional)
Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham fat-side up in a roasting pan and score the surface in a diamond pattern. If desired, stud intersections with whole cloves. Pour water into the bottom of the pan.
In a bowl, whisk together maple syrup, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and ground cloves. Bake ham uncovered for 1.5 hours, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices. During the final 30 minutes of cooking, brush the ham with the maple glaze mixture every 10 minutes, allowing each layer to caramelize. The ham is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
Allow the ham to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing. For a thicker glaze, reduce the maple mixture in a saucepan until slightly thickened before applying.
Leftover ham can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and makes excellent sandwiches or additions to soups and casseroles. Always use pure maple syrup rather than artificial alternatives to achieve the authentic Canadian flavor profile.
Preparation Steps
You'll want to start by scoring your ham in a diamond pattern and checking that your meat thermometer is ready to monitor the internal temperature throughout cooking.
As you begin the glazing process, brush the maple mixture generously into those diamond-shaped cuts you've created, making sure to get the sweet syrup into all the nooks and crannies.
During cooking, don't forget to baste the ham every 15-20 minutes with the pan drippings, and once it's done, let it rest for that essential 15-minute period when all the flavorful juices redistribute throughout the meat.
Step 1. Checking Internal Meat Temperature
During the cooking process, checking your ham's internal temperature is essential for both safety and ideal texture.
You'll want to insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the ham, making sure you don't touch the bone, as this can give you an inaccurate reading.
Since your ham is pre-cooked, you're looking for an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C).
Don't be tempted to pull it out earlier – even though the ham is technically safe to eat, you won't get that wonderful caramelization from the maple glaze if you rush things.
If you're noticing the temperature rising too quickly, you can tent the ham with foil to prevent the glaze from burning while the inside continues to warm up.
Keep in mind that the temperature will continue to rise about 5-10 degrees during the resting period.
That's why you'll want to remove your ham from the oven when it reaches 135°F (57°C).
Trust me, your patience will be rewarded with perfectly heated meat and that irresistible maple-glazed exterior that Canada's famous for!
Step 2. Scoring Diamond Pattern Cuts
Scoring the ham's surface creates an eye-catching diamond pattern that allows the maple glaze to penetrate deeper into the meat.
You'll want to start by grabbing a sharp knife – and trust me, the sharper, the better for those clean, precise cuts you're after.
To create the perfect diamond pattern, position your knife at a 45-degree angle and make parallel cuts about 1 inch apart across the entire surface of your ham.
Once you've completed the first set of lines, rotate your ham (or your position) and make another set of parallel cuts going in the opposite direction.
You're aiming for cuts that are about ¼ inch deep – just enough to slice through the fat without digging into the meat itself.
Don't worry if your first few diamonds aren't perfect! The key is maintaining consistency in the spacing and depth of your cuts.
As you work your way around the ham, you'll develop a rhythm.
When you're done, you'll have created a beautiful crosshatch pattern that'll make your maple glaze look absolutely stunning as it pools and caramelizes in those little diamond-shaped wells.
Step 3. Applying Initial Maple Glaze
Before placing your ham in the oven, preparing the initial maple glaze is an essential step that sets the foundation for that signature sweet-savory finish. In a medium bowl, you'll want to whisk together the pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and ground cloves until they're perfectly combined. The aroma alone will make your kitchen smell absolutely heavenly!
Now comes the fun part – let's get that glaze on your ham. Using a pastry brush, generously coat the entire surface of your scored ham, making sure you're getting the glaze into all those diamond-shaped crevices you've created.
Don't worry if some of it pools at the bottom of the roasting pan; it'll create a delicious basting liquid as the ham cooks.
Make sure you've saved about half of your glaze mixture for later applications – you'll need it for those final layers of sticky, sweet goodness. If you're finding the glaze a bit too thick, warm it slightly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it easier to brush on smoothly and evenly.
Step 4. Basting With Drip Juices
Once your ham has been cooking for about 45 minutes, you'll need to start collecting those flavorful drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan.
These precious juices are liquid gold – a perfect blend of maple sweetness and the ham's natural savory essence that'll make your glaze even more incredible.
Using a basting bulb or large spoon, gather the drippings and generously baste the entire surface of your ham.
You'll want to repeat this process every 15 minutes, making sure to get into all those diamond-shaped cuts you created earlier.
As you baste, you'll notice the ham developing a gorgeous, glossy sheen that'll make your mouth water.
Don't worry if some of the drippings slide right off – that's exactly what you want!
They'll collect at the bottom of the pan, picking up more flavor before you use them again.
If you notice the drippings starting to caramelize too quickly in the pan, add a splash of water to prevent burning.
This basting technique is what transforms a good ham into an unforgettable holiday centerpiece that'll have everyone asking for seconds.
Step 5. Resting Before Serving
After all that careful basting and glazing, you'll need to give your maple-glazed ham proper time to rest. This vital 15-20 minute waiting period might test your patience, but trust me – it's worth every second.
During this time, the meat's natural juices redistribute throughout the ham, ensuring each slice stays wonderfully moist and flavorful when you serve it.
While your ham is resting, you'll notice the heavenly aroma of maple and cloves filling your kitchen. Don't worry if you hear some gentle sizzling – that's perfectly normal as the glaze continues to set.
You can use this time to gather your serving platters and carving tools, or simply take a moment to appreciate how beautifully that maple glaze has caramelized into a glistening amber coating.
If you're tempted to skip the resting period, remember that cutting too soon will cause those precious juices to run out onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat where they belong.
Your patience will be rewarded with perfectly moist, tender slices that'll make your guests' eyes light up with anticipation.
Final Thoughts
Creating this maple-glazed masterpiece takes your holiday dinner from ordinary to extraordinary.
You'll find that the combination of sweet Canadian maple syrup and savory ham creates an unforgettable centerpiece that'll have your guests reaching for seconds.
The secret lies in taking your time with the glazing process, letting each layer build upon the last to create that signature sticky-sweet exterior that's simply irresistible.
