Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

Instructions

1. Prepare the ham
   Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Remove ham from packaging and discard any plastic disk covering the bone. Place ham in a large roasting pan with the flat side down (cut-side down).
2. Add moisture
   Pour 1/4 cup of water into the bottom of the roasting pan. Cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out during baking.
3. Initial baking
   Bake the ham for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 130°F (54°C) when measured with a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the ham.
4. Prepare the glaze
   While the ham is baking, prepare the glaze by combining brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pineapple juice, orange zest, and melted butter in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Apply the glaze
   Remove the ham from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C). Carefully remove the foil from the ham. Using a pastry brush, generously coat the ham with about half of the glaze, making sure to get some between the slices.
6. Final baking
   Return the ham to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 30 minutes, basting with the remaining glaze every 10 minutes, until the glaze is caramelized and the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C).
7. Rest and serve
   Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a juicier ham. Transfer to a serving platter and spoon any remaining glaze from the pan over the ham before serving.