This Millionaire’s Ham Recipe is a sticky and spicy-sweet recipe, which features a tender bone-in ham and a luxurious brown sugar orange glaze. It’s the ultimate holiday centerpiece, ready in about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Jump to RecipeMillionaire’s Ham Recipe Ingredients
For the Ham:
- One 8-to-10-pound bone-in fully-cooked ham
- 3 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 3/4 cups orange juice
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Generous amount of black pepper
How To Make Millionaire’s Ham Recipe
- Prep the oven and pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom and the rack of a roasting pan with foil to catch the sticky drippings. Place the rack inside the roasting pan.
- Score the ham: Place the ham fatty-side down. Using a sharp knife, cut diagonal lines about 3/4-inch apart and 1-inch deep across the surface. Repeat in the opposite direction to create a diamond pattern. Turn the ham over so the fatty side is facing up. Repeat the diamond scoring on this side. If any pieces of fat or meat fall off, just place them back on. Place the ham, fatty-side up, on the prepared rack.
- Initial roast: Cook the ham, rotating the pan halfway through, until it is warm in the center and the fat begins to crisp up. This takes about 2 hours.
- Make the glaze: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together 3 cups of the brown sugar, 3/4 cup of the orange juice, 1/2 teaspoon of the cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper.
- Glaze and bake: Remove the ham from the oven. Carefully brush one-third of the glaze all over the ham, getting into the score marks. Bake for 20 minutes. Brush with another third of the glaze and bake for 20 minutes more. Brush the final third of the glaze over the ham and cook for a final 30 minutes, or until the glaze is shiny, bubbling, and the skin is dark golden brown and crispy.
- Make the sauce: While the ham finishes, combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup orange juice, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and a generous amount of pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce has reduced by about half, roughly 7 to 8 minutes.
- Serve: Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, slice, and serve with the reduced sauce on the side.
Recipe Tips
- Foil is Mandatory: The high sugar content in the glaze will burn onto the pan and turn into concrete. Lining your roasting pan with heavy-duty foil is essential for easy cleanup.
- Deep Scoring: Don’t be afraid to cut deep (about 1 inch) when scoring. This allows the fat to render out and the sweet glaze to penetrate deep into the meat, creating “candy” bites.
- Watch the Glaze: Sugar burns quickly. During the last 30 minutes of baking, keep a close eye on the ham. If the points of the diamonds start to blacken too much, tent the ham loosely with foil.
- Cayenne Kick: This recipe has a distinct spicy kick (“swicy” – sweet and spicy). If you are serving guests sensitive to heat, reduce the cayenne to 1/4 teaspoon in both the glaze and the sauce.
What To Serve With Millionaire’s Ham
This rich, sweet meat pairs perfectly with savory, starchy sides.
- Scalloped Potatoes: The creamy texture balances the sticky ham.
- Green Beans: Steamed with almonds or roasted with bacon.
- Macaroni and Cheese: A holiday staple.
- Yeast Rolls: Perfect for making sliders with leftovers.
How To Store Millionaire’s Ham Recipe
- Refrigerate: Slice the remaining meat off the bone. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Ham freezes exceptionally well. Wrap slices tightly in plastic wrap and foil, or place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Bone: Save the ham bone! Freeze it to use later as a base for split pea soup or collard greens.
Millionaire’s Ham Recipe Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 550
- Total Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
- Sodium: 1300mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 55g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 52g
- Protein: 35g
Nutrition information is estimated per serving.
FAQs
Yes, but spiral hams dry out faster. If using a spiral ham, cover it with foil for the initial 2-hour roast. Only uncover it for the glazing steps (the last hour and 10 minutes).
It likely refers to the richness of the flavor profile—the combination of massive amounts of brown sugar, citrus, and spice creates a luxurious, high-value taste from a relatively humble cut of meat.
Yes, pineapple juice is a classic substitute for orange juice and works perfectly with the brown sugar and cayenne profile.
Millionaire’s Ham Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy12
servings30
minutes3
hours10
minutes550
kcalA luxurious holiday ham featuring deep diamond scoring, a sticky brown sugar-orange glaze, and a kick of cayenne pepper for a “swicy” finish.
Ingredients
1 (8-10 lb) bone-in ham
3 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 3/4 cups orange juice
1 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper
Sauce: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 cup orange juice, 1/2 tsp cayenne, pepper.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line pan with foil.
- Score ham deeply in a diamond pattern.
- Roast ham for 2 hours.
- Mix 3 cups sugar, 3/4 cup juice, 1/2 tsp cayenne, salt, and pepper for glaze.
- Brush 1/3 glaze on ham; bake 20 mins. Repeat twice more (1 hour 10 mins total glazing time).
- Simmer sauce ingredients until reduced by half.
- Rest ham 15 mins, slice, and serve with sauce.
Notes
- Sauce: The serving sauce is separate from the glaze to ensure a clean, unburnt flavor for dipping.
- Bone: Buying a bone-in ham ensures the meat stays moister than a boneless ham during the long roast.
