Easy Baked Ham with Dr Pepper Glaze

This easy recipe for baked ham with Dr Pepper glaze is a delicious addition to any holiday meal or special occasion. Glazed ham is perfect for Easter brunch or Christmas dinner!

Dr. Pepper Glazed Ham

We always have ham for Christmas and Easter dinner. I make ham in the slow cooker when it’s hot out or when I need oven space for side dishes. But, there is nothing else like a baked ham topped with a sweet and tangy glaze.

I make a simple glaze of pineapple and brown sugar and …. a bottle of Dr. Pepper! It may sound odd, but believe me, this combination works. The ham has so much flavor, and the meat is super tender. I made this ham recipe for Christmas dinner last year, and my family absolutely loves it!

You should be able to find the simple ingredients for this glazed ham recipe in your grocery store. Full amounts and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

Ingredients

• Fully cooked ham — Look for a pre-cooked ham. I used a bone-in spiral ham that was around 7 pounds.
• Dr. Pepper — Either a bottle or can of Dr. Pepper. You will only need a half cup Dr. Pepper. Don’t get diet since you want the sugar so the glaze will caramelize.
• Pineapple juice — I use a can of pure juice, but you can use juice from a can of pineapple. Or sub orange juice
• Brown sugar — for sweetness and to thicken the glaze
• Ground cloves — enhances the flavor

How to Bake Ham

First, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Then, remove the packaging and the plastic disk from the cut side of the ham.

Place the ham cut side down in the center of a large roasting pan. I usually line the bottom with foil for easier clean-up, but this is optional. Cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil, and place in the preheated oven.

Brush some of the glaze over the ham about halfway through the cooking process. Cover and return to the oven. Add more glaze during the last half hour of cooking — cook uncovered until the ham reaches 145 degrees, according to a meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer.

How to Make Dr. Pepper Glaze

While the ham cooks, you can make the ham glaze. Add the pop, pineapple juice, brown sugar and cloves to a small saucepan. Whisk together and bring to a boil over medium heat. Then, allow to simmer for a few minutes until the glaze thickens.

How Long to Bake a Ham in the Oven

You should follow the package directions for your ham, but the typical rule is to cook a ham for 12-15 minutes per pound. Since the ham is already cooked, you just need to heat it up until the internal temperature is 145 degrees. Since my ham was 7 pounds, it was done in just under 2 hours. A larger ham will take more time to cook.

When to Add the Glaze

This is kind of a personal preference. Some recipes say to cook it first and add the glaze during the last few minutes. I personally like to add some of the glaze about halfway through the cooking time and add the rest along with the cooking juices during the last 15 minutes for more flavor. I have also added some glaze at the beginning, which also works, but the ham will be a little darker.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate leftover ham within 2 hours of serving in an airtight container for 3-4 days. We like to remove ham from the bone, and save the bone for ham lentil soup. For longer storage, you can freeze ham for up to 3 months.

Use leftover ham for leftover ham sandwiches or tortellini with ham. And check out more recipes with leftover ham.

Substitutions and Variations

You can use Coke or your favorite soft drink here. The flavor will change slightly.

If you want more liquid, you can add more pop or about a half inch of water to the bottom of the pan before baking.

Cloves add a wonderful flavor, but you can skip this if you don’t like the taste.

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