This Coca Cola Ham recipe with a bourbon and brown sugar glaze uses only 6 ingredients for an impressive main course that’s incredibly flavorful. With minimal prep time, it’s oven-baked to golden brown perfection and is a beautiful recipe for Easter or any holiday menu!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One reader raved: “How great to have a method of cooking ham that diabetics can eat. I used brown sugar “Swerve” in the glaze and it was perfect.” -Karen
This recipe was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2024 and 2026 with new photos, clearer step-by-step instructions, and additional helpful tips
Truth be told, I am guilty of 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.
While there is nothing wrong with that, I typically only make ham for a special occasion, like Christmas or Easter, and it just feels like it should be a bit more special! That’s when this Coca Cola Ham recipe was born. Ever since I developed this dish a handful of years ago, it’s been requested by my family on our holiday menu year after year.
It’s so simple to assemble with just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes prep. I remember the first time I served it my son said, “Wow! This is even more delicious than one of those Honey Baked Hams.” Ever since, I’ve been sold. I add bourbon to my version for it’s rich and oaky flavor that adds so much depth to the glaze.
Serve with Scalloped Potatoes or Corn Casserole for a meal that’s sure to be remembered. This is a slight modification from my friend Nikki’s, Cola and Mustard Glazed Ham recipe.
Why you will love this Recipe
- 5 minute prep time! How easy is that? Truly, this ham tastes so gourmet you would think it takes hours to prepare, when all you need is a couple of minutes. Then the oven does the rest of the work for you.
- Perfect as the star dish of the show. Whether it’s Easter or the holidays, this bourbon glazed ham is a gorgeous centerpiece for all of those delicious sides.
- Versatile for the slow cooker too. I’ve even made it in the crockpot to free up some oven space for side dishes. I give you all the details below!
Ingredients
- Bone In Ham | Preferably a spiral ham cut, bone-in ham to help keep the flavor and moisture in the ham. I try and buy an uncured ham without nitrates and nitrites. If you buy a whole ham, just score it with a sharp knife create diamond cuts so the glaze soaks in.
- Brown Sugar | Use your preference light or dark, you could also swap in pure maple syrup. Increase or decrease based on desired sweetness. You may also swap a brown sugar replacement.
- Mustard | any kind works here, I love the bite of Dijon mustard, but yellow, grainy, or even honey mustard would work
- Garlic Powder | Add’s a bit of zing to the glaze
- Whiskey or Bourbon | this is optional, feel free to substitute with apple juice
- Coca-Cola | the secret ingredient! But please use the bottled kind from Mexico as they are made with pure cane sugar, unlike a can of Coca-Cola which has high fructose corn syrup. You could also use any dark soda, such as root beer, Pepsi, but please do not use Diet Coke. I haven’t tried with natural soda’s such as Zevia, but let me know if you try it.
- Optional | add some fresh ground black pepper and fresh squeezed orange juice to the glaze if desired.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Coca Cola Ham
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165° C) and allow your ham to sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
In a small bowl whisk together the brown sugar, mustard and garlic powder for the easy no-cook thick glaze.
Trim excess fat, remove the little plastic disc that covers the bone and score ham (in a criss-cross or diamond pattern). Place ham cut-side down in roasting pan or baking dish at least 2-inches deep.
Pour the glaze over top of ham, rubbing (using a spoon, spatula or your hands) into the cuts, crevices etc.
Then, pour Coca-Cola on top of the ham, careful not to wash any of the glaze off. Reserve ½ cup of Coca-Cola to baste.
Pour bourbon (whiskey) carefully over the ham, not too fast, you don’t want it to wash the glaze off or just pour into bottom of pan.
Cover the ham with aluminum foil tented or with a lid to the roaster and bake in preheated oven according to the size of your ham.
Move the oven rack to the lower third of the oven, place your covered ham into the oven and bake at 325°F for 10-14 minutes per pound. Baking time will vary, but once warmed through, remove from the oven and keep ham tented and resting for 15-20 minutes. For fully cooked hams, cook until internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C).
Cutting around the bone, remove slices and serve with pan juices*.
*See variations below for a way to use up those ham juices for a Coca-Cola glaze.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Allow the ham to sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting. This helps to promote even cooking in the oven.
- Don’t forget to score the ham before adding the glaze. Scoring is key to insanely delicious flavor. The glaze caramelizes into all of the cracks and crevices as it bakes – yum!
- Omit the bourbon or whiskey if you’d like. We love adding bourbon for it’s rich, oaky flavor that it creates in the glaze (the alcohol cooks out completely). If desired, you can swap it for unfiltered apple juice, also delicious!
- You will want to bake your ham at 325ºF for 10 to 14 minutes per pound until it reaches 145ºF on a meat thermometer. Timing may vary depending on the size of the ham as well as your oven, so using an instant read thermometer is your best bet.
- Always rest your ham when it’s finished cooking. Like any big roast or piece of quality meat, after cooking you need to let it rest. This allows all of those delicious, flavorful juices to redistribute in the meat leaving for a moist and tasty bite.
- Diabetic Friendly: Swap the brown sugar for a brown sugar cup-for-cup replacement, such as Swerve or my favorite monk fruit. Omit the coke, it will still be so tasty. To keep moisture, be sure to add about ½ cup of water to the bottom of the pan.
What to Serve with Coca Cola Ham
Try these reader and family favorites recipes that compliment the cola ham so nicely:
Variations & Substitutions
- If desired, make a ham glaze. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat pour the liquid from the bottom of the pan. Once simmering, reduce heat to medium heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until reduced and slightly thickened. Pour the remaining glaze over the sliced ham.
- Try a different cola. For this recipe, I’ve only used real Coca-Cola (Mexico), but you could try other natural cola drinks as well. Like Root Beer, Pepsi, etc.
- If you’re out of mustard, you can use 1 teaspoon of mustard powder in place of the prepared mustard.
- Make the bourbon glazed ham in the slow cooker. If you want to save oven space for some fabulous side dishes, use your crock pot!
- Follow the recipe as outlined, then place everything in your crockpot instead of a large roasting pan. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-8 hours until ham is warmed through.
Storage
Store any leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of water or stock in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
You can also freeze slices of ham as well, just be sure they are wrapped tightly in plastic wrap then place in airtight baggie or container and freeze for up to 3-4 months.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight then heat through in the oven or microwave as explained above.
Recipes for Leftover Ham
In our house, we always seem to have extra ham the day after a holiday meal. I’ve developed so many recipes over the years to reinvent the wheel on ham leftovers. Here are some you should try!
- Ham and Cheese Soup
- Leftover Ham Pot Pie
- Ham & Smoked Gouda Quiche
- Cheesy Ham and Hash Brown Casserole
- 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, pepper jack). Eat cold or grill between a panini press! WOWZA!
- Creamy Pasta with Ham & Peas
- More Leftover Ham recipes
FAQs
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 un-basted ham, though please pour some of those amazing juices over the top and over sliced meat during serving.
The ham will take between 15-20 per pound in a 350°F oven. So for a 10 lb ham you will cook it for 150 minutes, which is about 2 hours 30 minutes.
For bone-in hams, use ¾ pound per person as your estimate. For a boneless ham, use ½ pound of ham per person.
More Delicious Ham Side Dishes:
Whether you are making this beautiful Coca-Cola Ham recipe for Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, Easter or just have a ham hankering, I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to check out this Copycat Honeybaked Ham.
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
This recipe was retested, updated with new photos, and improved step-by-step instructions in 2026.
Video
Equipment
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 brown sugar packed, light or dark
- ⅓ cup Dijon mustard or yellow, grainy, country, brown — whatever mustard you like!
- ½ – 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup bourbon or whiskey (optional) Replace with Apple Juice if desired
- 12 oz Coca-cola 1 bottle. The glass bottled kind, from Mexico, made with pure cane sugar, please no diet coke. Any dark soda should work.
Instructions
- Adjust rack to lower middle of oven, enough room for ham to fit in roasting pan. Preheat oven to 325°F (165° C)
- Mix brown sugar, mustard and garlic powder for glaze, set aside.½ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup Dijon mustard, ½ – 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Trim excess fat, using a knife score ham in a criss-cross or diamond pattern over the top, flat side down.8 – 10 lb bone-in ham
- Place ham in roasting pan or baking dish at least 2 inch inches deep.
- Pour glaze over top of ham, brushing or rubbing into the cuts and crevices. Pour Coca-Cola gently over the top of the ham, careful not to wash of the glaze. Pour whiskey or bourbon slowly over the top of the ham or into the bottom.12 oz Coca-cola, ½ cup bourbon
- 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 15-20 minutes before slicing. Make a bourbon glaze by pouring the juices from the ham pan into a medium sauce pan and heat over medium-heat simmering until thickened and reduced. Pour juices over sliced ham and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Karen L Tennant
How great to have a method of cooking ham that diabetics can eat. I used brown sugar “Swerve” in the glaze and it was perfect.
That is so perfect Karen, love all of the great sugar substitutes!!
Janie Roos
Where do you get coke from Mexico?
I can get it at our local King Soopers. It’s with the natural sodas.
Merry Christmas ????!!
Lynn Spencer
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
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
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!
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
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!
LOL, not every day you read “our hog in the freezer”! Love it!! Thanks Tasia!
Michele
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!
Awe, thank you Michele!! Love this!