Is there such a thing as a ham of your dreams? I didn’t think so until I had this one. BAKED HAM with RUM and COKE GLAZE is not your ordinary, dried out, gross, nasty, ham-holiday-dinner that you are used to. It is one of the best ham’s I have ever had in my life.
It’s so juicy, and puts Honeybaked Ham to shame. Trust me. Even after refrigerating and reheating the next day, it is still perfectly, PERFECT. (The ham sandwiches are to die for.)
If Easter for you means ham, this is the one for you.
Let’s have a little HAM 101 before we get started.
First of all, never ever buy a spiral-sliced ham. That is one of the first precursors to having a dried out piece of meat. The extra-processing ruins any chance of a juicy ham. All the pieces are exposed to air which leaves you with dried, processed meat. Yuck.
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You need to pick the right cut and the BUTT half is the only way to go.
A whole ham is way too hard to carve. A shank has all the connective tissue. But a BUTT is easy to slice with easy to see muscle groups, making carving a cinch.
You also want a BONE-IN ham. Do you know what a boneless ham is? It’s ground ham that is mushed back together. It’s not pretty people.
Also, do not buy a ham that says, “ham and water product added” You will end up with a sponge. It’s GROSS. You need a ham that says, “natural juices or water added or no water added“.
So to recap, you are looking for a butt half, bone-in, no slices removed, natural juices or water added/no water added ham.
Those are your criteria. Now go find the meat and let’s get started.
Look, this is all you need. It’s nothing, considering you will be making the best ham in the whole entire world. Your ingredients: butt half, bone-in ham, Coca-Cola, dark brown sugar, yellow mustard, fresh lime juice, dark rum, dry mustard, and salt.
First unwrap your butt….ham (ha-ha). You will need a 6-9 pound butt half ham. The ham can be partially cooked as in this one or cured (final cooking temperature will vary). The cooking of an already cured ham releases the juices, making it very yummy.
Get out your big roaster. Yes, you get to use it again. It’s not just for Thanksgiving anymore. Set the ham on the rack and fill the bottom with 3 cans of Coca Cola (12 ounces each). Make sure the ham is not resting in the coke. Don’t even think about using Pepsi!
Attention, Attention…a flying saucer has just landed in my kitchen. Do not approach, I repeat, do not approach.
Okay, I’ll stop. Have a sense of humor here. Loosely tent the roaster with foil before baking. The tent and the Coke will keep the ham moist during the baking process. It’s a Coke steam bath. Pretty cool huh?
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and bake for the first hour, covered.
Now while it’s baking, let’s make the glaze.
Yes, more soda for the sauce! Don’t you love these bottles? Childhood memories at work.
2 cans of Coke (12 ounces each) is poured into a heavy saucepan. You will simmer the Coke over medium-low heat for about 40 minutes and reduce it to about 1/2 cup. Do not let this over-reduce. You will be so sad.
After reducing add remaining ingredients and simmer until they are dissolved.
Get the dark brown sugar out. I would suggest not using light brown sugar for this recipe. The dark has the richness and depth of flavor you want for the glaze.
3/4 cup dark brown sugar is added to the reduced coke.
Yep, plain old yellow mustard is next. I don’t think any thing fancier will make a difference. My opinion.
1/4 cup yellow mustard is all you need.
Did you know that male limes always have a yellow underbelly? That’s how you tell them apart from the females. When the male lime finds his soul mate, he rolls over and displays his belly as sign of love, devotion and weakness to his new sour squeeze. Yes, it’s true. Go ahead and look it up. Don’t even try to challenge that information.
Fresh lime juice is the only way to go. Since I cut them up, the relationship is over.
1/4 cup fresh lime juice gets added to the pot. It’s really hard to make this look appetizing at this point.
Now we’re talkin’. We’re not using a lot of rum here, so get out the good stuff.
2 Tablespoons of dark rum (do not get out the Malibu rum) is unfortunately all you need. Looks lovely with the mustard doesn’t it?
Find that gigantic jar of ground mustard that you saw at Costco that seemed like a great idea at the time.
Add 1 Tablespoon of dry mustard and then a pinch of salt. I just threw some in.
Simmer until all ingredients are incorporated and dissolved.
Now the ham has probably been cooking an hour by now. Pull it out of the oven (don’t burn yourself) and place it on the counter. Remove the foil. Find the rustiest basting brush you can and paint the ham with the glaze. All over, front and back.
Put the ham back in the oven and glaze every fifteen minutes during the last hour of baking.
Every time you take the ham out, check the internal temperature. It should be about 110 degrees when it is done baking if it is an already cured ham. A partially cooked ham, internal temperature should be 160 degrees when finished.
Here it is from the front when finished…isn’t that incredible looking?
Here it is from the back. Excuse me a moment while I pick off the crust. It is so good. The glaze is really incredible.
Now let’s carve this puppy up. It’s easier than you think.
The butt half will have distinctive muscle groups, as seen above. All you have to do is follow those muscle groups with your knife and carve them out, into 3 large pieces. From those pieces you will make your slices.
Easy. It really is. But don’t try to carve at the table, that is just for the movies.
If you have extra glaze, go ahead and brush it on your slices. It will just add to the flavor.
Easter just got better. Tell Grandma you’re making the ham. You can do it.
Baked Ham with Rum and Coke Glaze
adapted from Cuisine at Home
For the Ham-
Bake
1 butt half, bone-in ham, 6-9 lbs (1 lb of ham serves 2-3 people)
3 cans Coke (12 ounces each) (enough to cover bottom of roasting pan, but not touch ham)
For the Glaze-
Reduce; Mix In:
2 cans (12 ounces each) Coke
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup prepared yellow mustard
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 Tablespoons dark rum
1 Tablespoon dry mustard
Pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Bake ham with 3 cans of Coke, tented, for 1 hour. Meanwhile prepare the glaze.
Reduce 2 cans of Coke for the glaze to 1/2 cup over medium-low heat, about 40 minutes (watch carefully to prevent from over-reducing). Mix in remaining ingredients and simmer to dissolve.
After baking the ham for 1 hour, uncover it and begin glazing, brushing every 15 minutes during the last hour of baking. (Check to make sure there is still some Coke in the bottom of the pan; add more as needed.) Remove the ham once an internal temperature of 110 degrees is reached if it an already cured ham. If you have a partially cooked ham, make sure the internal temperature is 160 degrees. Allow it to rest 15 minutes, carve, and serve warm.
jennyonthespot says
Mother Father that looks incredible! And that thar salad – 2 posts ago. I am sooooooooooooooo flippin’ bummed I do not get to have Easter at my house this year. I really tried to fight for it. I didn’t say, “But Noble Pig has yet to post what I know will be prolly the awesomest main dish recipe – you’re gonna want to have it here…” But I didn’t.
I did tell the hubsm though, that one gal – with all the fun big pictures… she’s postin Easter recipes and I know they’re gonna rock, and I soooo wanted to do this!” Whine and whine and whine. Maybe I needed wine and wine and wine…
Anywho. I’m gonna try the crab dip, the salad, and the ham not on Easter – cuz it all just looks to awesome…
But shame on you for destroying Mr. & Ms. Lime… it’s heartbreaking to see.
tryshia says
MMMMM this looks very tasty!
Nice Photos!
Jennifer says
Ham? Good. Coke? Good. Rum? VERY GOOD. This looks so great! I think we are going to have Easter at our house, so I maybe able to do this one! It looks super easy and really tasty. Thanks for sharing it!
Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal) says
Oh my… Mouth watering goodness..
And how about those male limes? I always suspected some of being yellow bellied whatchamacallits… Actually, that would be men of the 2 legged variety… but just a few.. no one I know personally… Wink…
Mary says
OMG, does that look GOOD!!!! Have a wonderful Easter!
xoxo,
Mary
Mental P Mama says
You had me at rum.
Deborah says
I’ve had the coke glazed ham before, and you are right – it is to die for!!
I really learned a lot with this post, though. I’ve never had to buy a ham – we usually are given one at Christmas from my husband’s work, and we usually are with family for Easter. But I’m making one this year, and I probably would have been one of the dumb ones to buy a spiral cut ham. But not anymore!!
Jessica says
That ham looks divine! My mom bought a honey baked ham before, and it was really good. If you say that this ham tastes even better, i have got to make it some time soon! I like the coke bottles, very cool. I definitely like Coke way better than Pepsi. I got this recipe bookmarked for the next big dinner!
Huckdoll says
Screw brunch, I’m making a ham.
Liz C. says
Thanks so much for posting this recipe! I’m going to try it for Easter as well. The hubby is a true ham wart, so he’ll love it!
On another note, we just got back from Ca. where I searched high & low for the Bitch wine, to no avail. Waaaah! Has it all been bought out?
pam says
I’ve always wondered which ham was the best to get. Some always seemed to carve neater and have more meat! Thanks for explaining it.
Samantha says
Coca cola? Rum? You culinary wizard you, your posts always have us standing at attention, mouths watering, a cacophony of buzzing mmmmmms in your comment’s “beehive”:)
Cakespy says
Whoa. Holy easter joy! NEVER heard of adding coca cola! Very cool.
amy says
Ham is my favorite! I of course have never made a ham, I tend to be a bit of a scaredy cat in the kitchen. But this looks AWESOME!! I think I might just have to try it!
Kevin says
That ham looks so good! The rum and coke glaze sounds really tasty. I wish I was having that for dinner!
KathyLikesPink says
You do such a wonderful job of showing us how to make these recipes! Thank you!!!
ALF says
I love ham. That one looks like it’s to die for!
Candance says
Coke and Rum?? I can do this because even if it doesn’t turn out well, I won’t know because I, too, will be glazed in Coke and rum.
Happy Easter!!
Grace says
I made this for Easter dinner tonight. My 26 year old daughter told me this ham was so good it made her want to weep. What greater praise can you get?
Linda says
This looks yummy. My husbands favorite food is piggy. I love your commentary. I’m going to try this toe next time I make a ham. keep writing. You are very entertaining and informative. I love your lime sexing theory.
Betty says
I saw this on A2Z recipies along with your web address. I came to look. Girl you are a hoot!! This ham looks “Delicious!!”
LizardCook says
This looks great! I can’t wait to try it but I want to confirm something first – After uncovering and begin glazing, you leave it uncovered, right? I’m unclear on if you uncover, glaze, re-cover and continue cooking. Thanks.
Biz says
I am going to make this on Sunday! I’ll let you know how it turns out! 😀
Laura L. says
Wanted to thank you for the recipe to this ham/glaze. Made it yesterday for Easter and it was so, so good. We gorged ourselves. It wasn’t pretty. I’m so going to try your brisket next!!!
Richard Harman says
Thank you so much for this website! I am what can only be described as a closet gourmet… lots of interest, limited time and budget:) Please continue to post more great recipes…and I love the candid explanations and the pictures (I am very visual in my learning preferences, I guess )
notsoblond says
Why is Pepsi bad for this recipe? We are pepsi drinkers, so I’d need to buy Coke specifically for this.
JP says
It is much better with Pepsi 🙂
Autumn says
Would this recipe work with coke made with cane sugar rather than corn syrup?
Cathy says
Hmmm, never tried that.
Sharon Whisnand says
I make this for New Years Day. It is the best. My son and his family live in Toronto and are coming to Texas for Thanksgiving and he has requested I make this ham as well as traditional fare!!! It is so wonderful.