Easy Amish Ham Recipe

This Easy Amish Ham Recipe uses a simple, sweet glaze to transform a basic smoked ham into a deliciously tender, moist, and unforgettable centerpiece for any holiday meal. With minimal prep time and simple ingredients, this is the perfect no-fuss recipe to feed a crowd and bring traditional comfort food to your table.

Forget stressing over the holiday centerpiece; this Easy Amish Ham Recipe is the perfect solution for serving a tender, flavorful, and unforgettable meal with minimal effort.

This recipe focuses on a simple, sweet glaze made with basic pantry ingredients that bakes directly onto a pre-smoked ham, locking in moisture and creating a beautifully caramelized crust.

Whether you’re planning for Easter, Christmas, or just a large family dinner, this no-fuss approach ensures you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the delicious results of this traditional comfort food.

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

• Ultimate Easy Glaze: The simple, sweet Amish glaze uses basic pantry ingredients and requires virtually no measuring or complex steps, making the prep effortless.
• Unbeatable Moisture and Tenderness: The slow baking time combined with the buttery glaze guarantees a moist, tender, and juicy ham that carves beautifully every time.
• Perfect Holiday Centerpiece: This ham requires minimal fuss but delivers maximum visual appeal and flavor, making it the ideal, stress-free centerpiece for Easter, Christmas, or Sunday dinner.
• Feeds a Crowd Effortlessly: Ham is one of the most cost-effective and easiest proteins for feeding a large group, freeing up your oven and time for other side dishes.
• Amazing Leftover Potential: The sweet and savory flavor is excellent in leftovers, perfect for sandwiches, omelets, or adding to hearty soups for days after the meal.

Ingredients Needed

• Smoked Ham: Pre-cooked protein; provides a tender, savory, holiday centerpiece.
• Brown Sugar: Creates a deep, caramelized, sweet crust over the ham.
• Pineapple Juice: Adds essential moisture and a bright, tangy balance to sweetness.
• Dry Mustard: Offers a savory, tangy counterpoint, balancing the sugar perfectly.
• Whole Cloves: Aromatic spice; stud the ham for deep, traditional flavor.
• Butter: Enriches the glaze, ensuring a rich, moist, and sticky coating.

How To Make Easy Amish Ham Recipe

Step One: Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Unwrap the ham and place it cut-side down in a large roasting pan. If desired, lightly score the fat with a knife in a diamond pattern, and insert whole cloves into the ham at the corners of the diamonds.

Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, pineapple juice, melted butter, and dry mustard until the mixture is smooth. This is your simple Amish glaze.

Step 3: Initial Bake: Pour about half of the glaze evenly over the ham. Bake for approximately 15 minutes per pound. (A 6-pound ham bakes for about 1.5 hours.) After the first hour of baking, begin basting the ham with the pan juices every 15–20 minutes to keep it moist and allow the glaze to caramelize. During the last 20 minutes of baking, pour the remaining glaze over the ham to create a thick, sticky crust.

Step 4: The ham is fully cooked and ready when the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C). Carefully remove the ham from the oven and cover it loosely with foil. Let the ham rest for 15–20 minutes before carving. This step is essential to keep all the juices locked inside!

💡 Easy Amish Ham Recipe Tips

• Bring Ham to Room Temp: For the most even cooking, remove the ham from the refrigerator about one hour before you plan to bake it. This prevents the outside from drying out before the center is warm.
• Score the Fat: Use a sharp knife to lightly score the ham’s fatty exterior in a simple diamond pattern before applying the glaze. This allows the glaze to penetrate deeper and creates a beautiful, caramelized crust.
• Baseless Basting: Wait until the last 30-45 minutes of the total baking time to apply the majority of the glaze. Applying too much glaze too early can cause the sugars to burn before the ham is fully heated through.
• Cover Loosely: During the initial baking (before glazing), cover the ham loosely with foil. This traps moisture and heat, ensuring the meat stays tender and juicy. Remove the foil only for the final glazing step.
• The Critical Rest: Once the ham reaches 140°F (60°C), remove it from the oven and let it rest, loosely tented with foil, for 15–20 minutes before carving. This mandatory rest allows the juices to redistribute, guaranteeing every slice is incredibly moist.

Storing, Freezing & Reheating Instructions

• Storing (Refrigeration): Cool the carved ham completely before transferring it to an airtight container. The leftover ham will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
• Freezing: For long-term storage, slice the ham and wrap the portions tightly in freezer paper or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Frozen ham is best used within 2 months for optimal flavor and texture.
• Reheating: To prevent drying out, reheat slices of ham in the oven or air fryer at 300°F (150°C), covered with a splash of water or broth. Only reheat until just warmed through.

Easy Amish Ham Recipe Faqs

Do I need a fully cooked ham for this recipe? Yes, this recipe is designed for a fully cooked, pre-smoked ham. The cooking time is dedicated to heating the ham through and allowing the glaze to caramelize, not cooking the pork from raw.

Can I substitute dry mustard with something else? The dry mustard is key to balancing the sweetness of the brown sugar and pineapple juice. If absolutely necessary, you can use a small amount of Dijon mustard, but the dry version provides a clean, tangy counterpoint.

What is the best way to get the perfect sticky glaze? To achieve the ideal sticky, caramelized crust, wait until the last 30 minutes of baking to apply the majority of the glaze. Basting frequently during this final period locks in the flavor without causing the sugar to burn too early.

Is it necessary to use whole cloves? No, the whole cloves are optional. They provide a traditional, warm holiday aroma and flavor, but they can be skipped if you prefer. Alternatively, you can mix a pinch of ground clove into the glaze.

How long should I rest the ham after baking? Always let the ham rest for 15–20 minutes after removing it from the oven, loosely tented with foil. This is the most crucial step for ensuring the meat is incredibly tender and moist.

More Easy Amish Recipes

Easy Amish Salad Dressing Recipe

Easy Amish Apple Cake Recipe

Easy Amish Whole Chicken Recipe

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