First Step: Take the ham out of the fridge and let it sit for 1 hour to reach room temperature, which helps it cook evenly and stay juicy.

Second Step: Heat your oven to 160°C/320°F for a standard setup or 140°C/285°F if using a fan oven, getting everything ready for that perfect bake.

Third Step: Carefully remove the rind from the ham, keeping the fat layer intact, then score the fat in 2.5 cm/1-inch diamond patterns without cutting into the meat for better glaze absorption.

Fourth Step: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, mix together 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup), 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and the optional spices like 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon allspice, and 3/4 teaspoon mustard powder; simmer and stir until the sugar fully dissolves to make the glaze. brown sugar ham glaze recipe can offer more ideas if you want to explore.

Fifth Step: Put the ham on a rack in a baking pan to allow air to circulate and catch those tasty drippings.

Sixth Step: Brush the glaze all over the ham, including the underside and cut face, but save some for later basting to build up that flavorful layer.

Seventh Step: Bake the ham for 1.5 hours, basting it every 20 minutes with the reserved glaze and pan juices until it’s nicely caramelized and hits an internal temperature of 60°C/140°F.

Eighth Step: If any parts start browning too fast, cover them with foil patches to keep everything even and prevent burning.

Ninth Step: Once done, let the ham rest for 15-30 minutes and baste it generously with the pan drippings to form a thick, glossy glaze.

Final Step: For a yummy sauce, whisk water into the pan juices until it thickens to a honey-like consistency, ready to serve alongside your ham.