This gingersnap crusted ham features a tender and juicy ham that is coated in Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and crushed gingersnap cookies! The combination of the savory ham and sweet gingersnap crust is unlike anything else! Go ahead and prepare this mouthwatering ham for the holidays and you will not be disappointed!
Easy Gingersnap Crusted Ham Recipe
When it comes to holiday entrees, my mind immediately goes to turkey, prime rib, and ham. All three of these have been the centerpiece of my Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner table for my entire life! It only makes sense that I also love to prepare them in a variety of ways for my own family to enjoy!
This gingersnap crusted ham is a perfect addition to your Christmas dinner menu! Not only is it amazingly delicious, but it is also simple to prepare. Trust me, your family will love it!
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Whether you're a pro at hosting Christmas dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Christmas a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday prime rib early, too!
🥘 Gingersnap Crusted Ham Ingredients
There are only 4 ingredients needed for this delicious and succulent ham! Of course, you can use whatever kind of ham you like but I strongly recommend picking up a heritage Berkshire pork ham!
- Ham - 5-pound bone-in ham. I used Berkshire pork and it was fantastic!
- Dijon Mustard - 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard to coat the ham.
- Brown Sugar - ½ cup of brown sugar to add a sweet and rich flavor.
- Gingersnap Cookies - 1 cup of crushed gingersnap cookies.
- Bourbon (optional) - 2 tablespoons of Bourbon, if desired. Alternatively, you can use 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Gingersnap Crusted Ham
This ham recipe is so straightforward that absolutely anyone can make it! You will need a sharp knife to score the meat, a baking dish, some aluminum foil, a meat thermometer, and a basting brush.
A 5-pound bone-in ham will be enough to feed about 10 people. A good general rule is to plan for ½ pound of bone-in ham per person (or ⅓ pound per person if using a boneless ham).
Prepare The Ham
- Prepare. Get started by rinsing your 5-pound ham and patting it dry with paper towels. Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Score the ham. Score the outside of the ham using a sharp knife. To do this, place the knife at the top of the ham and spiral it around as you rotate the meat, working your way to the bottom. Repeat this going in the opposite direction in order to make a crisscross pattern.
Bake And Add The Coating
- Bake. Transfer your ham to a baking dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake it in the preheated oven at 325°F (165°C) until the internal temperature of the ham reads 130°F (54°C). This will take about 1-3 hours, depending on the weight of your ham.
- Remove and increase heat. Remove the ham from the oven and take off the aluminum foil. Use tongs to carefully remove the rind from the ham if needed. Then, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Coat the ham. Pat the ham dry with paper towels and then brush on 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard. Sprinkle the entire ham with ½ cup of brown sugar and lightly spritz it with 2 tablespoons of Bourbon (or 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract), if using. Finally, press 1 cup of crushed Gingersnap cookies onto the exterior of the ham.
- Finish baking. Place the ham back into the oven and bake it at 350°F (175°C) until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C), about 30-60 minutes.
- Rest. Once baked, remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
This ham will pair perfectly with any of your favorite Christmas side dishes! Try it with some creamed corn or Southern candied sweet potatoes! You can also take a look at this list of what to serve with ham for more ideas. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- The Bourbon is completely optional. Feel free to swap it out for some vanilla extract or omit it altogether. Use a spritz bottle to easily add this decadent touch in an even layer over the gingersnap crust.
- I used a heritage Berkshire pork ham for this recipe and strongly recommend it. The quality was amazing and literally melts in your mouth!
- Most hams take 22-25 minutes per pound to heat thoroughly at 325°F (165°C).
- Make sure to give your ham 30 minutes to rest. If you slice the ham before it has rested, the juices will run out of the meat and cause it to dry out.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
There are so many different things you can make with leftover ham!
This tasty ham will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Let it cool completely and then place it into an airtight container before storing.
Alternatively, you can slice your ham into pieces and then place the pieces into a storage bag for freezing.
Reheating Ham
You can easily enjoy these leftovers cold. However, you can reheat your ham in a baking dish that is covered with aluminum foil. Bake it in the oven at 275°F (135°C) until heated all the way through.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Berkshire is an English breed of pig. The meat is redder in color and has a somewhat sweeter flavor. Additionally, it has a ton of intramuscular fat which makes the meat incredibly tender and loaded with flavor. It literally melts in your mouth!
For the initial bake in the oven, you'll want to have your ham covered with aluminum foil. This will help the meat retain its moisture and avoid drying it out.
After you add the coating and increase the heat of the oven, you'll leave the ham uncovered so that the crust can become nice and crispy!
Leftover ham is super versatile and can be used in a ton of different dishes for an easy and quick meal! You can add it to some ramen or pasta, make a ham and broccoli casserole, use it for sandwiches, or simply whip up an omelet!
🎄 More Holiday Dinner Recipes
- Grilled Spatchcock Turkey - Spatchcock turkey is ready to go on the grill in just a fraction of the time it takes in the oven!
- Honey Baked Ham - Spiral-cut ham is glazed and coated with sugar and spices before being roasted to perfection!
- Sweet Potato Casserole - Classic sweet potato casserole is topped with marshmallows for a wonderfully sweet treat!
- Mirliton - This Cajun dressing is loaded with shrimp, ham, squash, and zesty seasonings!
- Bacon Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes - These mashed potatoes are mixed with bacon and cream cheese for an extra creamy side dish!
- Dauphinoise Potatoes - These classy and elegant potatoes are rich, creamy, and packed with tons of flavor!
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📖 Recipe Card
Gingersnap Crusted Ham
Ingredients
- 5 lb ham (bone-in, Berkshire pork)
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup Gingersnap cookies (crushed)
- 2 tablespoon Bourbon (optional, or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Get started by rinsing your ham and patting it dry with paper towels. Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Score the outside of the ham using a sharp knife. To do this, place the knife at the top of the ham and spiral it around as you rotate the meat, working your way to the bottom. Repeat this going in the opposite direction in order to make a crisscross pattern.
- Transfer your ham to a baking dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake it in the preheated oven at 325°F (165°C) until the internal temperature of the ham reads 130°F (54°C). This will take about 1-3 hours, depending on the weight of your ham.
- Remove the ham from the oven and take off the aluminum foil. Use tongs to carefully remove the rind from the ham if needed. Then, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Pat the ham dry with paper towels and then brush on the Dijon mustard. Sprinkle the entire ham with brown sugar and lightly spritz it with Bourbon (or vanilla extract), if using. Finally, press the crushed Gingersnap cookies onto the exterior of the ham.
- Place the ham back into the oven and bake it at 350°F (175°C) until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C), about 30-60 minutes.
- Once baked, remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- The Bourbon is completely optional. Feel free to swap it out for some vanilla extract or omit it altogether. Use a spritz bottle to easily add this decadent touch in an even layer over the gingersnap crust.
- I used a heritage Berkshire pork ham for this recipe and strongly recommend it. The quality was amazing and literally melts in your mouth!
- Most hams take 22-25 minutes per pound to heat thoroughly at 325°F (165°C).
- Make sure to give your ham 30 minutes to rest. If you slice the ham before it has rested, the juices will run out of the meat and cause it to dry out.
- To store: This tasty ham will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Let it cool completely and then place it into an airtight container before storing.
- To freeze: Slice your ham into pieces and then place the pieces into a storage bag for freezing.
- To reheat: You can easily enjoy these leftovers cold. However, you can reheat your ham in a baking dish that is covered with aluminum foil. Bake it in the oven at 275°F (135°C) until heated all the way through.
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