Root Beer Glazed Ham

Ham has always been a centerpiece dish. Whether it’s a holiday spread, a Sunday family dinner, or just a meal meant to impress, there’s something about bringing a glazed ham to the table that feels festive and satisfying. The glossy, sticky exterior, the smoky-sweet slices, and the way it fills the house with savory aromas — it’s tradition you can taste.

But tradition doesn’t have to mean boring. This Root Beer Glazed Ham takes the classic and adds a playful twist: root beer. The soda’s natural caramel notes, vanilla, and spices reduce into a glaze that clings to the ham and turns sticky in the oven. Every slice carries that sweet, smoky flavor you expect, but with an extra depth that makes people stop mid-bite and ask, “What’s in this?”

This isn’t a novelty dish — it’s a serious upgrade. Root beer glaze balances perfectly with the saltiness of the ham, caramelizing into a lacquered crust that looks as good as it tastes. And it’s not just for show. The glaze locks in moisture, so the meat stays juicy even after hours in the oven.

Serve it at Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or your next big family meal. The flavor is festive, but it’s easy enough to pull off any weekend you want a true centerpiece. Plus, the leftovers? Legendary. Think sandwiches, breakfast scrambles, or ham fried rice with that root beer tang carrying through.

Yield: Serves 10–12, depending on appetite.

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Quick Recipe Summary

A bone-in ham slow-baked and basted with a sticky root beer reduction glaze made with brown sugar, mustard, and spice. Sweet, smoky, tangy — a true showstopper.

Ingredients

• 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (8–10 pounds, spiral cut or whole)
• 2 cups root beer (not diet)
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves (or 6–8 whole cloves for studding, optional)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Set to 325°F (160°C). Place ham in a large roasting pan, cut side down. Score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern if not already spiral cut. Tent loosely with foil.
2. Make the glaze: In a saucepan, combine root beer, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, paprika, cloves, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until reduced to about 1 cup, 12–15 minutes. The glaze should be glossy and syrupy.
3. Bake ham: Pour 1 cup water into the roasting pan to keep the ham moist. Bake for 1 ½ hours (about 10 minutes per pound), basting with pan juices occasionally.
4. Glaze the ham: Uncover, brush ham generously with glaze, and continue baking, brushing every 20 minutes, until the ham is glossy and caramelized — about 45–60 minutes more.
5. Finish strong: For extra sticky edges, brush with a final coat of glaze and broil on high for 2–3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
6. Rest and serve: Remove ham from oven, tent with foil, and rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with extra glaze on the side.

Notes & Tips

• Root Beer Choice: Pick one with bold vanilla-spice notes (Barq’s or A&W work beautifully). Avoid diet sodas — they won’t reduce properly.
• Ham Type: Spiral-cut hams make carving easy, but whole hams stay juicier. Either works with this glaze.
• Make Ahead: You can prepare the glaze up to 3 days in advance. Reheat gently before brushing on.
• Serving Suggestion: Garnish with fresh herbs or orange slices for presentation. The citrus complements the sweetness of the glaze.
• Leftovers: Slice thick for sandwiches, dice for omelets, or cube into fried rice. The glaze flavor holds up beautifully.
• Helpful Tools: A sturdy roasting pan with rack ensures even cooking, a silicone basting brush makes glazing simple.

Closing Thoughts

Root Beer Glazed Ham is proof that sometimes the simplest twists deliver the biggest impact. It keeps everything people love about a holiday ham — the smoky meat, the shiny glaze, the wow-factor presentation — but adds a layer of flavor that feels new without straying too far from tradition.

If you’ve ever wanted a showpiece dish that balances playful creativity with serious flavor, this is it. One bite and you’ll see why root beer deserves a permanent place in the holiday kitchen. From the first glossy slice to the last leftover sandwich, it’s a recipe that delivers comfort and surprise in every bite.