A beautifully decorated ham is the crowning jewel of any holiday table. While a savory glaze adds flavor, decorative touches give your ham visual appeal From fruit garnishes to edible flowers, creative toppings transform an ordinary baked ham into an extraordinary centerpiece.

Here are 8 festive ways to decorate your holiday ham

1. Pineapple and Maraschino Cherries

Pineapple rings studded with maraschino cherries is a classic ham decoration. The sweet juicy rings contrast nicely with the salty savory ham. To decorate

• Drain canned pineapple rings. Reserve the juice to use in the glaze.

• Press rings evenly over the ham, securing with toothpicks.

• Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each ring.

2. Citrus Fruits

Bright citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes and kumquats add sunshine and zest. Slice thinly and arrange over ham in patterns. Use thinly sliced lemon or lime as “leaves” around pineapple rings.

3. Fresh Herbs

Herbs give hams a fresh, garden appeal. Try rosemary, thyme, sage or oregano sprigs. Place them in gaps between fruit slices or arrange them around the base.

4. Edible Flowers

For stunning visual impact, decorate with colorful edible flowers like pansies, nasturtiums, violas, marigolds or orchids. Use sparingly since some flowers can have strong flavors.

5. Dried Fruits

For a jewel-toned look, stud ham with dried fruits. Try cranberries, apricots, currants, cherries, dates or prunes. Soak dried fruits in liqueur or fruit juice first for added flavor.

6. Seeds and Nuts

Toasted pecans, walnuts or pine nuts add crunch and texture. Press them into the glaze over the ham or place them attractively around the base.

7. Fresh or Dried Herbs

Fresh rosemary, thyme and sage add an earthy touch. For texture, crush dried herbs like lavender, oregano or parsley in your hands before sprinkling over the ham.

8. Sugared Fruit Slices or Flowers

Make fruit slices or edible flowers extra fancy by coating them with a light sugar glaze before decorating. Brush lightly with honey or maple syrup and sprinkle with fine white sugar.

When decorating your ham, be creative and use what’s in season! Combining 2-3 decorative elements creates a beautiful presentation. Just steer clear of poisonous or fuzzy, mold-prone fruits and stick to edible flowers.

A decorated ham is sure to dazzle your holiday guests. But don’t stop there – the glaze and garnishes also add delicious flavor!

Making a Flavorful Glaze for Ham

Aside from decorating your ham, an infused glaze is key for flavor. A good glaze has a glossy sheen, wonderfully complements the ham, and doubles as a sauce for serving.

Here are tips for making a stellar glaze:

• Use fruit juices. Pineapple, orange, apple, pomegranate and cherry juices lend sweetness and moisture. Use alone or combined.

• Sweeten with honey, brown sugar or maple syrup. Molasses, demerara or muscovado sugar also works.

• Add acid. Use citrus juice/zest, vinegar, wine or fruit-flavored sodas.

• Infuse with herbs and spices. Brown sugar hams love cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Try rosemary, mustard and ginger too.

• Use a thickener. Cornstarch, arrowroot or tapioca starch helps the glaze coat the ham.

• Simmer until thickened. Cook glaze down to get a sticky consistency that won’t run off the ham.

• Bring to room temperature before using. If glaze is too hot, it will melt decorative toppings.

• Brush over ham 20-30 minutes before done. Broil at the end for caramelization.

Getting creative with your ham glaze can take the flavor to the next level. Here are unique ideas:

• Citrus-Cranberry Glaze – Orange juice, cranberries, honey and cinnamon

• Cherry-Chipotle Glaze – Cherry preserves, adobo sauce, brown sugar

• Pineapple-Rum Glaze – Pineapple juice, brown sugar, dark rum

• Fig and Balsamic Glaze – Balsamic vinegar, fig jam, cloves

• Apple-Brandy Glaze – Apple cider, butter, brandy, thyme

Take your glaze up a notch by adding a splash of bourbon, wine or rum. Feel free to play with ingredients and flavors – the possibilities are endless!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Baked Ham

Now that you know how to make a showstopping decorated ham, let’s go over the baking process. Here is a simple step-by-step method:

Prep the Ham

• Select a boneless or bone-in cooked ham. Allow 1/3 to 1⁄2 pound per person.

• Remove skin and excess fat. Score fat in a diamond pattern.

• Place ham cut-side down on a rack in a roasting pan. Add 1 cup water to the bottom to prevent drying.

Glaze and Decorate

• Pat ham dry and brush with some glaze. Press decorations like pineapple rings into glaze.

• Repeat glazing and decorating until ham is nicely coated. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set glaze.

Bake the Ham

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake ham 20-30 minutes per pound until internal temperature reaches 140°F.

• Remove from oven, brush with more glaze, and return to oven for 15 minutes.

• Allow to rest 10-15 minutes before carving.

Serve and Store Leftovers

• Carve ham into thin slices. Serve warm with extra glaze.

• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Slices keep for 3-4 days refrigerated.

• Use leftovers in casseroles, sandwiches, omelets, fried rice, soups and more!

With this easy process, you’ll have a beautiful glazed and garnished ham ready for your holiday table. Impress your guests with your decorating and baking skills.

5 Creative Ways to Use Leftover Ham

Leftover holiday ham is a tasty bonus you can transform into other crowd-pleasing dishes. From soups to breakfast bakes, here are 5 creative ways to use up leftover ham:

1. Ham and Potato Soup

• Dice ham and add it to a potato soup with onions, carrots, celery, chicken broth, milk and seasonings.

• Garnish bowls with sour cream, scallions, shredded cheese or crispy bacon.

2. Ham, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches

• Fry ham slices along with eggs. Place on biscuits or rolls with cheese slices.

• Add condiments like mustard, mayo or hot sauce.

3. Ham and Pineapple Fried Rice

• Dice ham. Make fried rice with chilled white rice, veggies, pineapple chunks, soy sauce and eggs.

• Top with chopped peanuts and scallions.

4. Ham and Broccoli Pasta Bake

• Combine diced ham, broccoli florets, cooked pasta and cheese sauce.

• Top with breadcrumbs and more cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly.

5. Ham and Bean Soup

• Simmer diced ham in vegetable or chicken broth with onions, carrots, celery and beans like navy, great northern or cannellini. Season with bay leaves, thyme and pepper.

Get creative with leftovers! Ham’s versatility allows you to give tired leftovers new life in many dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Ham

Here are answers to some common questions about cooking and decorating holiday hams:

What’s the best kind of ham to bake?

Fully-cooked bone-in hams are most common. Look for “cooker” or “hostess” on the label. Spiral cut hams are easiest to glaze. Or buy a half bone-in ham.

How long does it take to bake a ham?

10-15 minutes per pound for bone-in; 18-24 minutes per pound for boneless. A 12-lb bone-in ham bakes about 2 1⁄2 – 3 hours.

What temperature do you bake ham at?

325°F is ideal. Cook to an internal temp of 140°F.

Should you bake ham covered or uncovered?

Uncovered for the first 2/3 of baking to let glaze caramelize. Loosely tent foil over ham for the last 1/3 of baking time.

What can I use to decorate a baked ham?

Pineapple rings, maraschino cherries, citrus slices, fresh herbs, edible flowers, dried fruits like cranberries or apricots and nuts like pecans or pine nuts.

How far in advance can I decorate the ham?

Decorate about 30 minutes before baking so the glaze has time to set without melting the decorations.

What ingredients do I need for ham glaze?

A sweetener like brown sugar, honey or maple syrup, fruit juice or soda, seasonings like ginger or cloves, a thickener like cornstarch and acid like citrus juice or vinegar.

How soon do you need to refrigerate leftovers?

Refrigerate within 2 hours of coming out of the oven. Slice ham first for faster cooling. Use leftovers within 3-4 days.

With these decorating ideas, glazing tips and baking guidelines, your holiday ham will be the perfect centerpiece!