2013 – Gluten Free Living

Apricot Glazed Ham has been a family favorite for years. For years and years John has made up his special apricot sauce every time we cooked a spiral-cut ham. It’s so easy! The sauce has only three ingredients. You bake the ham a few hours according to directions on the package, layer ham slices in a pan and brush with apricot sauce before heating the ham again slightly.

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Each layer of ham slices is slathered with this delicious apricot concoction and the outcome is quite amazing. It’s very simple and you end up with an enjoyable entree that is quite spectacular.

If you still eat pork (and a lot of people don’t these days) this is a great recipe for holiday dinners. We made this last week for company and it has always been a crowd-pleaser whenever we’ve served it. Additionally, this recipe is gluten free for those on a gluten free diet.

John has always been able to find a good deal (no matter what the product). Many times he would cruise the clearance aisles at Kroger and pick up spiral-cut hams and other choice cuts of meat for a song. We kept our freezer stocked this way and almost always had any kind of meat available.

This was especially helpful if I needed to make up a quick meal for someone or have company for dinner at a moment’s notice. Because each spiral-cut ham provides at least 20-25 servings of meat they were great to make up for church potlucks. Since we were always hosting some kind of party at our house this was usually on the menu three to four times a year.

Over labor day weekend of 2000 I was asked to cater meals for a youth event for our church for Friday through Monday which included making up meals for about 100-125 kids and adult staff at a retreat center in Falls Creek, Oklahoma. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it alone so John offered to come along and help (and he has always been a fabulous kitchen helper and cook since he first taught me how to cook).

Our youth minister also recruited one other person to come along and help us. John had been collecting spiral cut hams when they went on sale (usually about $5 a piece!) and we had several in our freezer. We hauled six frozen spiral-cut hams in coolers up to Falls Creek, Oklahoma, and guess what was on the menu?

Yes, John’s Apricot Glazed Ham. Our freezer was so well-stocked with frozen meats we ended up using a lot of it that weekend as our contribution toward this youth retreat and it cut the cost of the food bill tremendously.

John’s Apricot Glazed Ham is awesome. It takes only three ingredients but the taste is magnificent! We have served this recipe so many times over the years, and over and over again, our friends would just graze over the ham no matter what special desserts were being served!

We haven’t eaten much ham in the past few years but I asked John a couple of months ago to look for spiral cut hams on sale so we could make it up again. Normally, I can get several meals out of one spiral cut ham.  And that is the case with the one we served last Sunday after church.

The first meal is Apricot Glazed Ham, then I usually make at least one soup with the ham bone, one casserole from the leftover ham, and sometimes Creamy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham or a breakfast casserole with the last of the scraps. A lot depends, of course, on how many we are feeding for the initial meal, Apricot Glazed Ham.

This is a great recipe for holidays, family get-togethers, or special occasions like having your boss or minister over for family dinner. But it’s also a great recipe for potlucks, or when you’re hosting a crowd in your home because it goes a long way.

I’ve tried to show pictures of how John spreads the apricot sauce on the ham and how he cuts it down. We purchased some hams years ago that came with cutting stands and we saved two of them and use them all the time to place the ham for easy cutting. The pictures will show what I mean better than I can explain it.

If you’re looking for a new way to make up a spiral cut ham then consider trying John’s recipe for Apricot Glazed Ham. It’s really easy, not to mention tasty. His fantastic home made sauce is superb. All your guests will go away well satisfied after delighting themselves in this wonderful entree.

When I initially posted this recipe in March 2013 it was before I started using my new Canon camera. As a result the pictures were not as pleasing as I would have liked. I’ve been systematically going back through all my first year recipes in order to retake the pictures so they are more vibrant and beautiful.

To that end, I remade this recipe (December 2015) for a Christmas party for our Sunday school class. In short order, the ham was wolfed down by all there. I did have some leftovers thankfully. I used the ham bone to make Ham & Lima Bean Soup. Then I actually boiled off the bones again for more broth, and the second thing I made with the leftover ham was a batch of Canadian Cheese Soup. These spiral-cut hams are wonderful, can serve so many people and you can make so many things out of them. I love this recipe and believe you will too!

Apricot Glazed Ham is one of the best tasting ham recipes you’ll ever eat. I served it with Sweet Potato Casserole.

We serve Apricot Glazed Ham with extra Apricot sauce on the side.

We brush Apricot Glaze over the heated spiral-cut ham before slicing it down.

Here’s what I did.

I used this spiral-cut ham.

Place a spiral cut ham in baking pan and cover with foil. Cook at 325 for about an hour and a half to heat through. (Follow package directions and cook based on how many pounds the ham weighs–this is usually about 15 minutes per pound).

Place the ham on a stand. (Our stand was packed away in boxes, so we placed it over this cup to support the ham while slicing down.) The ham is already glazed at this point. With an electric knife, cut through the meat around the center bone.

Cut deep into the spiral-cut ham so that many slices will come off at once. 

The ham has 3 natural cutting lines. Cut along those lines. Cut along the top of the fat line and around the bone.

Cut almost straight down from the bone.

I used these ingredients to make the Apricot Glaze.

Place apricot preserves, brown sugar and dried mustard in a mixing bowl.

Whisk ingredients to combine.

This is what the meat looks like before it’s cut down.

Brush the apricot sauce over top of the ham slices.

He just kind of dollops the sauce on top. As it heats in the oven in spreads out a little.

Place individual ham slices on a platter. Dollop with additional apricot glaze if desired.

Here’s the recipe.

APRICOT GLAZED HAM

(my husband John’s creation)

Apricot Glazed Ham

Teresa Ambra

Apricot Glazed Ham is a fantastic way to glaze spiral-cut hams. This sumptuous and easy 4-ingredient recipe uses a tasty apricot glaze with apricot preserves, mustard powder and brown sugar. It's so easy to whip up and makes a delicious main dish entree for special occasions and holiday dinners like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Pork Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Servings 25

Calories 526 kcal

Equipment

• 1 large roaster pan
• 1 small mixing bowl
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 10x15" glass baking dish
• 1 electric knife or sharp knife to cut the ham into slices
• 1 pastry brush

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 10-12 lb. spiral cut ham cooked as directed
• 18 oz. jar apricot preserves
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. dry mustard

Instructions

 

• Cook spiral cut ham according to package directions.
• Cut spiral cut ham down into slices.
• Layer ham slices into 9x13” or 10x15” baking dish enough to cover the surface.
• Mix together preserves, brown sugar and mustard.
• Spread some of the glaze over top of the ham slices.
• Spread another layer of ham over top of preserves.
• Repeat with another layer of glaze.
• Layer again twice or as much as will fit in the pan.
• Cover with foil and place in 200° to 250° oven to keep warm until ready to serve--20 to 30 minutes.

Notes

NOTE: Peach jam can also be used.

 

 

NOTE: John rarely makes the glaze exactly the same way twice, so you don't have to be real strict with the measurements. This amount is more than sufficient for one spiral cut ham.

 

 

NOTE: This is a LOT of glaze. John likes to slather a lot of it on the ham before he cuts it and then more when we layer it in a pan and heat it the second time. You can cut the sauce ingredients in half if you're concerned about waste.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 39gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 2164mgPotassium: 549mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 42IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg

Keyword apricot sauce, gluten free, ham, main dish

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Apricot Glazed Ham is a wonderful entree for holiday menus.

If you enjoy ham, you’ll love spiral cut ham prepared this way. It’s fantastic served with Sweet Potato Casserole!

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Charcoal-Grilled Sugared Ham

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Creamy Ham, Veggie and Noodle Bake

Apricot Glazed Ham

Teresa Ambra

Apricot Glazed Ham is a fantastic way to glaze spiral-cut hams. This sumptuous and easy 4-ingredient recipe uses a tasty apricot glaze with apricot preserves, mustard powder and brown sugar. It's so easy to whip up and makes a delicious main dish entree for special occasions and holiday dinners like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Pork Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Servings 25

Calories 526 kcal

Equipment

• 1 large roaster pan
• 1 small mixing bowl
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 10×15" glass baking dish
• 1 electric knife or sharp knife to cut the ham into slices
• 1 pastry brush

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 10-12 lb. spiral cut ham cooked as directed
• 18 oz. jar apricot preserves
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. dry mustard

Instructions

 

• Cook spiral cut ham according to package directions.
• Cut spiral cut ham down into slices.
• Layer ham slices into 9×13” or 10×15” baking dish enough to cover the surface.
• Mix together preserves, brown sugar and mustard.
• Spread some of the glaze over top of the ham slices.
• Spread another layer of ham over top of preserves.
• Repeat with another layer of glaze.
• Layer again twice or as much as will fit in the pan.
• Cover with foil and place in 200° to 250° oven to keep warm until ready to serve–20 to 30 minutes.

Notes

NOTE: Peach jam can also be used.

 

 

NOTE: John rarely makes the glaze exactly the same way twice, so you don’t have to be real strict with the measurements. This amount is more than sufficient for one spiral cut ham.

 

 

NOTE: This is a LOT of glaze. John likes to slather a lot of it on the ham before he cuts it and then more when we layer it in a pan and heat it the second time. You can cut the sauce ingredients in half if you’re concerned about waste.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 39gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 2164mgPotassium: 549mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 42IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg

Keyword apricot sauce, gluten free, ham, main dish

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!