Baked Honey-Glazed Ham with Clove and Orange Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A tender, oven-baked ham crusted with a sweet honey glaze accented by warm cloves and fresh orange zest, perfect for a festive Christmas centerpiece. This American Christmas recipe, ready in about 105 minutes, pairs bone-in ham, honey, and whole cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 90 min Serves 8 American cuisine 480 cal/serving

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Ingredients

5 pounds bone-in ham
1/2 cup honey
20 whole cloves
2 teaspoons orange zest
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 325°F. Score the surface of the 5-pound bone-in ham in a diamond pattern about 1/8 inch deep and stud it with 20 whole cloves evenly spaced.
Step 2: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup honey, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons orange zest, and 1/2 cup water. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan and brush generously with half of the honey glaze. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 1 hour.
Step 4: Remove the foil and baste the ham every 15 minutes with the remaining glaze, continuing to bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F and the glaze is caramelized and fragrant.