Cherry Rum Glazed Ham Recipe
A Simple Cherry Rum Glazed Ham
This cherry rum glazed ham is a holiday favorite in our home. The sweet cherries, warm spices, and rum come together into a glaze that caramelizes beautifully. It’s easy to make, doesn’t require a long ingredient list, and works with any spiral cooked ham.
If you’re juggling oven space with a turkey, plan ahead. This ham takes about 2 to 3 hours at 350F. You can also cook it in the slow cooker if that fits your holiday setup better.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet cherry glaze with warm spices and rum
- Uses a spiral precooked ham for foolproof results
- Easy ingredients you likely already have
- Works for holidays, Sunday dinners, or potlucks
- Leftovers make great soup, sandwiches, and casseroles
What You’ll Learn
- How to make a cherry rum glaze that caramelizes without burning
- When to add the glaze for best flavor
- Whether fresh or frozen cherries work better
- How to keep a ham moist while baking
- Tips for cooking, serving, and using leftovers
Ingredients
- Spiral cooked ham
- Pitted and washed cherries (fresh or frozen, thawed)
- Brown sugar
- Allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon
- Lemon juice
- Rum (spiced rum or any rum you have)
- Water
How to Make the Cherry Rum Glaze
Blend or puree the cherries so they aren’t whole. Combine cherries with brown sugar, spices, lemon juice, rum, and water. Simmer until slightly thickened. Reserve a little glaze if you want extra at the table.
Baking Instructions
- Place the ham large side down and cover it.
- Bake at 350F for 1 hour.
- Flip the ham on its side and add the glaze.
- Continue baking until the ham reaches 165F.
- Remove the cover at the end so the glaze can caramelize.
Ham Cooking Tips
- Precooked spiral hams only need reheating to 165F.
- Cook large side down first, then flip when glazing.
- Reserve some glaze to serve at the table.
- Puree cherries so the glaze spreads evenly.
- Fresh or frozen cherries both work.
- If you don’t have spiced rum, use regular rum or brandy.
- Leftover ham is perfect for ham soup and scalloped potatoes.
- Don’t forget to make the gravy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the glaze go on before baking
No. Add the glaze after the ham has baked for one hour. Putting it on too early can cause burning.
Should I use frozen or fresh cherries
Either works. If using frozen, thaw and pit them first so they heat faster.
Do I need to cover the ham
Yes. Cover the ham at the start to keep it moist. Remove the cover at the end so the glaze can caramelize.
Can I cook this in the slow cooker
Yes. Spiral hams do well in the slow cooker. Add the glaze during the last hour.
Cherry Rum Glazed Ham (Easy Holiday Spiral Ham)
Equipment
Ingredients
- spiral cooked ham
- 1 cup pitted & washed cherries
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon each all spice nutmeg & cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup rum we used spiced rum
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Place the spiral ham in a pan with a cup of water.
- Cover the ham with foil and place ham into the oven.
- Cook the ham for 1 hour.
- In a blender, add the cherries, spices and lemon juice.
- Blend until smooth and then add the rum and mix.
- Pour the glaze into a pan and bring to a boil.
- Remove the ham from the oven.
- With a silicone brush, brush the glaze onto the ham, getting into the slices.
- You can turn the ham on it’s side if easier.
- Cover ham and place back into the oven for 1 hour, until internal temperature is 165℉.
- Remove from the oven and baste any remaining glaze on the ham.
- Cut the ham off the bone and serve.
Video
Ham Cooking Tips
- Fool proof cooking, with a spiral precooked ham, just needs the ham reheated to 165F
- Cook the ham large side down and then when it’s time to glaze, flip on it’s side
- Reserve some glaze (optional) to serve on the ham at the table
- You want the cherries to not be whole, so the blender helps puree the mix
- Use fresh cherries or frozen, we thawed cherries for this recipe
- Don’t have spiced rum, use the rum you have on hand or a brandy (or something you like)
- Use leftover ham for soup.
- Don’t forget to make the gravy!
Try These Other Glazed Ham Recipes
- Brown Sugar Ham with PIneapple
- Bourbon Brown sugar Ham
- Cherry Rum Glazed Ham
- Clove and Pineapple Slow Cooker Ham
- Honey Glazed Ham with Pineapple
- Honey Glazed Spiced Ham
- Mustard and Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
- Spiced Rum Oranged Glazed Ham
- Ham Gravy
