Though the global pandemic has made gathering with family more difficult during the holidays, it needn’t put a damper on your Easter this year. Depending on where you live, you may be allowed to safely have a small group over to your home to celebrate on April 4. If so, you will probably want to continue a steadfast tradition among those who celebrate Easter and bake a ham.
So, before you head to the grocery store and examine the meat bundles there in Alexandria, IN, you should check out these two recipes for baked Easter ham.
Cola-glazed ham (serves 18)
- 1 whole fully cooked bone-in ham (15-18 pounds)
- Whole cloves
- 3 cups brown sugar
- ½ cup spicy brown mustard
- 1 can Dr. Pepper or Coca-Cola
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Start by preheating the oven to 325℉. Cut or score the surface of the ham in a diamond-shaped pattern, only cutting about 1/8 inch deep. Place cloves in the middle of each diamond you’ve made. Then, put the ham in a large roasting pan equipped with a rack, tent it with tin foil and bake the ham for 2 to 2.5 hours or longer, depending on the directions provided on the package. The time and temperature are neither exact nor universal, and both could be different for your ham, so you should check the package and see what is recommended.
For the glaze, heat up the brown sugar, mustard, vinegar and soda in a small saucepan until it becomes bubbly. Then you should cook the mixture until it’s reduced and a bit thicker, which should take about 15 minutes.
After around two hours of baking time, take off the tin foil and brush the glaze onto the ham at 20-minute intervals. At each interval, you should put the ham back in the oven, uncovered, in between applying the glaze. Continue this process until the ham has a glossy appearance. Take the ham out of the oven and set it out to rest 15 to 20 minutes before carving.
Orange marmalade-glazed ham (serves 18)
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup orange marmalade
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- 1½ teaspoons whole cloves
- ½ fully cooked bone-in ham (6 to 8 pounds)
Begin by preheating the oven to 325℉. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and marmalade, then set aside.
Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham in diamond shapes ½ inch deep. Take a whole clove and insert it into the center of each diamond. Place the ham with its cut side down in a shallow roasting pan with a rack. Bake the ham uncovered until an internal thermometer reads 140℉, which should take around two hours
Apply the glaze to the ham with a brush. Continue cooking the ham for 45 minutes, taking it out every 15 minutes to apply more glaze. Any leftover glaze can be served with the ham.
Pick up a ham from Horner’s Midtown Market this Easter
This Easter, when you’re deciding on which grocery store to visit to pick up all your culinary goods in Alexandria, IN, consider Horner’s Midtown Market, where our people are friendly, our products are fresh and the meals you can make are delicious.