Cola and Bourbon Glazed Ham is an oven baked ham with just a few easy ingredients for an incredibly flavorful and simple ham glaze! A scrumptious recipe for your special holiday meals!
Confession time, I am guilty tossing my ham in a roasting pan and warming it for said period of time, then whipping together the gold packet of “glaze” ingredients, quickly slathering on top. Ever done that?
There is nothing wrong with that, but I typically only make ham for special occasions, like Christmas and Easter. Last year I was on a quest to find a ham glaze that was easy, tasted great and did not take much time to prepare.
Ding-Ding-Ding! Winner, winner, we are having (the best) ham for dinner! This is a slight modification from my friend Nikki’s, Cola and Mustard Glazed Ham recipe.
In a matter of about 5 minutes you will have the glaze made, slathered over the ham and ready for the oven. Super simple, with little more to do than rub it on, pour in a few ingredients and you are all set.
How to Make Bourbon and Cola Glazed Ham
- Gather ingredients (below).
- Mix brown sugar, mustard and garlic powder for glaze
- Trim excess fat, score ham (in a criss-cross or diamond pattern)
- Place ham in roasting pan or baking dish at least 2 inch inches deep
- Pour glaze over top of ham, rubbing (using a spoon, spatula or your hands) into the cuts, crevices etc.
- Pour Coca-Cola into bottom of roasting pan (you don’t want to wash off the glaze)
- Pour whiskey or bourbon into bottom of pan.
All Natural Glaze Ingredients for Cola Glazed Ham
- 8 – 10 lb bone in ham, spiral or regular cut (if making a larger ham, increase ingredients accordingly, if smaller, reduce slightly)
- ½ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup mustard (yellow, dijon, grainy, country, brown — whatever mustard you like! – I actually used a combo of dijon and yellow as I ran out of dijon)
- ½ – 1 teaspoon organic garlic powder
- ½ cup bourbon (or whiskey)
- 1 16 oz bottle Coca-Cola (the glass bottled kind, from Mexico, made with pure cane sugar, please no diet coke)
Do I Have to Use Bourbon or Whiskey in the Glaze?
While bourbon adds a beautiful, oaky, smooth flavor, you do not need to use it in this recipe. But so you know, the alcohol cooks out in the roasting; leaving behind the aroma and smoky flavors of the whiskey. Feel free to omit the bourbon all together or swap out with equal portions unfiltered apple juice. A delicious combo!
Common Questions About Cooking a Ham
What does basting a ham mean?
Basting, by definition means; to pour juices or melted fat over meat during cooking in order to keep it moist. This works on any meat, not just ham. But for our ham glaze, since we don’t want all those great flavors to be washed away, it is an unbasted ham, though please pour some of those amazing juices over the top and over sliced meat during serving.
How Long Does it Take to Cook a Ham in a Roaster or How Do I cook a precooked ham
The general rule of thumb for cooking a precooked ham (and I have yet to meet an uncooked ham) is 15 minutes per pound in a 350 degree oven. So for a 10 lb ham you will cook it for 150 minutes, which is about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Recipes for Leftover Ham
Great ways to use leftover ham!
- Hammy Sammies – my personal favorite!
- Try this delicious Ham & Smoked Gouda Quiche (from my friend Michaela at An Affair From the Heart)
- Or this Ham & Potato Supreme! (from my friend, Michelle at West Via Midwest)
- Make a delicious ham sandwich using other leftovers from your holiday meal, sourdough bread, ham, a little mayo, maybe a little cranberry relish and a slice of cheese (gouda, swiss, pepperjack). Eat cold or grill between a panini press! WOWZA!
- How about this Creamy Pasta with Ham & Peas from A Dish of Daily Life
Whether you are making this beautiful ham for Christmas, Easter or just have a ham hankering, I hope you enjoy it! And I would love it if you would rate the recipe and comment below!
Looking for a delicious, tender turkey to compliment your ham? Try this Herbed Butter Turkey. This Cranberry Spritzer is perfect for kids and adults alike!
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star rating in the recipe below!
Bourbon and Cola Glazed Ham
Cola and Bourbon Glazed Ham is an oven baked ham with just a few easy ingredients for an incredibly flavorful and simple ham glaze! A beautiful recipe for your special holiday meals!
Ingredients
- 8 - 10 lb bone in ham, spiral or regular cut (if making a larger ham, increase ingredients accordingly; if smaller, reduce slightly)
- ½ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup mustard (yellow, dijon, grainy, country, brown -- whatever mustard you like! - I actually used a combo of dijon and yellow as I ran out of dijon)
- ½ - 1 teaspoon organic garlic powder
- ½ cup bourbon (or whiskey)
- 1 - 12 oz bottle Coca-Cola (the glass bottled kind, from Mexico, made with pure cane sugar, please no diet coke)
Instructions
- Place rack in middle of oven, adjust rack to enough room for ham in roasting pan. Preheat oven to 350°F
- Mix brown sugar, mustard and garlic powder for glaze, set aside.
- Trim excess fat, using a knife score ham in a criss-cross or diamond pattern over the top, flat side down.
- Place ham in roasting pan or baking dish at least 2 inch inches deep.
- Pour glaze over top of ham, rubbing (using a spoon, spatula or your hands) into the cuts, crevices etc. Pour Coca-Cola into bottom of roasting pan (you don't want to wash off the glaze). Pour whiskey or bourbon into bottom of pan.
- Cover loosely with foil or lid, cooking for 15 minutes per pound (e.g. 10 lb ham, 150 minutes = 2 hours 30 minutes).
- Important! Allow ham to rest 15-30 minutes before slicing. Pour juices over sliced meats and serve warm.
Notes
Substitute unfiltered apple juice for bourbon if desired, or omit entirely.
If making a larger ham, increase glaze ingredients accordingly, but keep the Cola and Bourbon to same amounts.
Recipe adapted from Soulfully Made.
Recommended Products
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Granite Ware 6106-2 F6106-2 Covered Oval Roaster, 13 inches, Black -
Pampered Chef Small Batter Bowl - 32 ounces -
Cuisinart 7117-16UR Chef's Classic Stainless 16-Inch Rectangular Roaster with Rack, Roaster Rack -
Oster Roaster Oven with Self-Basting Lid | 22 Qt, Stainless Steel -
Wusthof Santoku knife 5 inch; Black
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ABOUT KATHLEEN
I enjoy sharing easy recipes that are wholesome and delicious. I am fed by my faith, family, friends & food! Welcome to my kitchen! Read more...
Lynn Spencer
Friday 1st of May 2020
It is 9:15 in the morning and I am Jonesing for some of this ham! Truth...I've never cooked a ham before, but think the fam would love one. Going to give it a try.
Thanks friend.
Paula@SweetPea
Saturday 11th of April 2020
I am hoping that Kroger will have a ham when I go shopping today. If they do, I'll be making this recipe today.
Brianna
Thursday 19th of December 2019
Is there a way I could make this ahead of time? We will be with my in-laws out of state until the evening of Christmas Eve so I'd love to come home to a meal that doesn't involve a lot of prep time so my hubby and I can just enjoy the night after we put the baby to bed. Thanks!
Kathleen
Thursday 19th of December 2019
Hi Brianna, I do not see why not, you would rewarm the ham anyway if you were eating leftovers and we did eat leftovers, the ham was delicious. I would definitely save some of the juices that it cooks in so that you can rewarm with the juices. That would be perfect though to sit down to after a long drive back home!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
Monday 16th of December 2019
This recipe looks perfect for making a delicious ham!! We've got a couple hams from our hog in the freezer and I will definitely be giving this a try!
Kathleen
Tuesday 17th of December 2019
LOL, not every day you read "our hog in the freezer"! Love it!! Thanks Tasia!
Michele
Monday 16th of December 2019
Nothing beats a great ham... and I had to try this as soon as I saw the word cola in the glaze! Along with the bourbon it made this ham so delicious! Even my picky picky brother-in- law said it was a recipe keeper! Thank You!
Kathleen
Monday 16th of December 2019
Awe, thank you Michele!! Love this!