Holiday Spiral Ham
My Mother made the best Ham for Easter. I call it her Holiday Spiral Ham. Years ago, they didn’t have spiral hams and my father would have to carve the ham. Now, it is so easy to get a spiral ham to cook at home. The meat can be cut away from the bone with little effort. Besides the fabulous glaze, it is how my Mother made the ham that made it so delicious. Her secret ingredient was Sprite, Squirt or any other lemon, lime soda. That made the ham juicy and flavorful.

We like Cook’s Spiral Ham. This type of ham is fully cooked and you are basically reheating the ham. I have tried other brands, but they seem to be loaded with too much salt.
This recipe is for a 10 lb ham. Remove the packaging and the plastic cap on the ham. Lay it face down in a roasting pan. Pour 12 ounces of Sprite (Squirt or any other lemon, lime soda) in the bottom of the roasting pan. Lift up the ham and let some of the soda go underneath the ham. Next you will need to prepare the glaze.
We always thought that the glaze provided with most hams were overly sweet. So we make our own glaze. This way we can add additional flavor and control the sugar. In a separate bowl, add the orange marmalade, yellow mustard and brown sugar. This makes a nicely balanced glaze. Microwave for up to 30 seconds. Just long enough to warm the marmalade and be able to mix everything together to form a glaze.
Spread the glaze all over the outside of the ham, reserving a little to use after the last baste. Bake the ham at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. Reduce the temperature to 275 degrees and cook for an additional 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes (12 to 15 minutes per pound). Baste halfway through. Add the remaining glaze and finish cooking.
Remove the ham from the oven and cut the slices from the bone. Serve the juice from the pan on the side and allow your guests to add to their plate.
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Holiday Ham
A juicy, flavorful ham that is perfect for any holiday.
Ingredients
- 10 pound bone-in but portion spiral ham
- 12 ounces Sprite or Lemon-Lime Soda
Glaze: - 9 ounces orange marmalade
- 5 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 4 1/2 heaping teaspoons light brown sugar
Directions
- Step 1 This recipe is for a 10 lb ham. Remove the packaging and the plastic cap on the ham. Lay it face down in a roasting pan. Pour 12 ounces of Sprite (Squirt or any other lemon, lime soda) in the bottom of the roasting pan. Lift up the ham and let some of the soda go underneath the ham.
- Step 2 In a separate bowl, add the orange marmalade, yellow mustard and brown sugar. This makes a nicely balanced glaze. Microwave for up to 30 seconds. Just long enough to warm the marmalade and be able to mix everything together to form a glaze.
- Step 3 Spread the glaze all over the outside of the ham, reserving a little to use after the last baste. Bake the ham at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. Reduce the temperature to 275 degrees and cook for an additional 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes (12 to 15 minutes per pound). Baste halfway through. Add the remaining glaze and finish cooking.
- Step 4 Remove the ham from the oven and cut the slices from the bone. Serve the juice from the pan on the side and allow your guests to add to their plate.
Mom always did make the best Easter ham. Brings back nice food memories!