This holiday glazed ham recipe has been sponsored in partnership with California Giant Berry Farms. All opinions expressed are genuinely my own.
Elevate Your Holiday Table with a Dazzling Strawberry-Chipotle Glazed Ham
As the holiday season approaches, the quest for that perfect centerpiece dish begins. For many families, including my own, festive dinners often feature either a majestic roasted leg of lamb or a beautifully glazed ham. While both are undeniably delicious, for elegant entertaining that truly impresses a crowd with minimal fuss, few options rival the spiral-sliced ham. This magnificent cut of meat, already pre-cooked and expertly sliced, simplifies holiday meal preparation, allowing hosts to spend more time with loved ones and less time in the kitchen.
The beauty of a spiral-sliced ham lies in its inherent convenience. Since it arrives pre-cooked, your primary task is to gently warm it through in the oven and, most importantly, create a show-stopping glaze that caramelizes into a glossy, irresistible crust. This is where the magic truly happens, transforming a simple ham into an unforgettable culinary experience. Imagine a glaze that perfectly balances sweet, smoky, and a whisper of spice – a flavor profile designed to tantalize the taste buds and leave a lasting impression.
The Perfect Harmony: Sweet Strawberries Meet Smoky Chipotle
One of my favorite culinary pairings for ham is the delightful contrast of sweet fruit with its smoky, salty essence. As spring heralds the start of prime strawberry season, it presents an ideal opportunity to infuse your holiday ham with the vibrant, fresh flavors of ripe berries. This year, I’m excited to share my signature Strawberry-Chipotle Glazed Ham recipe, a dish that epitomizes sophisticated simplicity and unparalleled flavor.
For this exquisite glaze, I simmer a luscious strawberry puree with rich brown sugar, golden honey, and a delicate hint of chipotle in adobo. The mixture slowly transforms into a thick, glossy concoction, perfect for brushing onto the ham during the final 30 minutes of baking. The result is a symphony of flavors: the bright, juicy sweetness of fresh strawberries dances with the deep, molasses notes of brown sugar and honey, while the chipotle in adobo introduces a subtle smokiness and a gentle warmth that beautifully balances the sweetness. It’s an innovative twist on a classic, capturing some of the best flavors of the season with an unexpected depth that will have your guests asking for the recipe.
Partnering with Excellence: My Experience with California Giant Berry Farms
I am thrilled to announce my partnership as a Brand Ambassador for California Giant Berry Farms for the year! This collaboration is particularly meaningful to me because, long before this official partnership, I was already a loyal customer. I’ve consistently purchased California Giant’s stunning berries from my local markets, always drawn by their exceptional flavor and impressive size. There’s a distinct “wow” factor to their produce; one glance, and you know these aren’t just any ordinary berries – they stand out in terms of quality and appearance.
California Giant Berry Farms is a company that truly prides itself on cultivating natural, beautiful fruit. They are committed to growing berries without GMOs or artificial chemical enhancers, ensuring that every berry you enjoy is a pure gift from nature. Grown under the sunny California skies, their berries achieve their remarkable size, vibrant color, and rich flavor entirely through the perfect combination of fertile soil, ample sunshine, and careful cultivation, all thanks to Mother Nature’s bounty. This dedication to natural farming practices aligns perfectly with my own cooking philosophy, which emphasizes fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Beyond their commitment to superior produce, California Giant is a family-founded and owned company, deeply rooted in strong, family-oriented values. They possess a robust philanthropic focus, actively supporting numerous community initiatives through The California Giant Foundation. Their impact is truly inspiring; for instance, their “Tour de Fresh” cycling program has, over the past few years, raised nearly $500,000. These funds are dedicated to bringing nutritious salad bars to school districts across the country, promoting healthy eating habits among children. It’s rare to find a company that combines such dedication to product quality with a profound commitment to social responsibility. I truly cannot think of a better company for Striped Spatula to partner with, as their values and quality standards resonate deeply with what I aim to bring to my readers.
Crafting Your Glaze: Simple Steps for a Stunning Result
Preparing this fresh strawberry glaze is remarkably simple, making it the perfect task to undertake while your ham is gently warming in the oven. You’ll essentially be creating a variation of a strawberry jam on your stovetop, though slightly less thick and without the need for pectin. The entire process requires only about 30 minutes, a food processor or blender to puree the berries, a pot for simmering, and a fine-mesh strainer to achieve that silky-smooth consistency.
For those who, like me, might be a little sensitive to spicy foods, please don’t let the mention of chipotle deter you! It’s important to remember that the glaze will taste spicier when sampled directly from the pot than it will once it’s brushed onto the ham. The intense heat from the oven during the glazing process, combined with the inherent savory flavor of the ham itself, works to mellow and tone down the heat on the palate, leaving behind a delightful warmth rather than an overpowering spice. The goal is a subtle kick, not a fiery inferno.
Moreover, this glaze is incredibly versatile and easy to customize to your personal preference. A modest half of a chipotle pepper in adobo will impart a very mild, background warmth to the sauce, which is ideal if you’re serving a diverse group of guests with varying heat sensitivities. If you prefer a completely sweet glaze without any hint of spice, the chipotle can be omitted entirely. Conversely, if you and your family and friends are aficionados of heat and enjoy your ham with a truly robust kick, feel free to increase the amount of chipotle pepper to your desired level of intensity. The flexibility of this recipe ensures everyone can enjoy it exactly how they like it.
The Strawberry-Chipotle Glazed Ham is more than just a meal; it’s a gorgeous centerpiece that will undoubtedly impress your guests without demanding hours of strenuous effort from the host. It looks incredibly sophisticated, yet the preparation is surprisingly straightforward. Once your guests taste this unique blend of sweet, smoky, and savory flavors, they won’t believe how easy it was to create. (Rest assured, I won’t tell them your secret if you don’t!)
Strawberry-Chipotle Glazed Ham
Ingredients
Glaze
- 1 pound strawberries , tops trimmed and discarded
- ½ to 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (depending on heat preferences)
- ½ cup dark brown sugar , packed
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup water
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
Ham
- 8 to 10 pound spiral-sliced ham
Instructions
Make the Glaze
- Puree cleaned and trimmed strawberries and chipotle pepper in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pour puree into a large pot and stir in brown sugar, honey, water, and thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until glossy and thickened slightly, about 15-20 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on solids to extract liquids and strawberry pulp from seeds. Discard solids. You should have about 2 cups of strained glaze.
Glaze the Ham and Serve
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Remove all packaging material and wrap ham tightly in foil. Place into a roasting pan, face-side down. Bake 12-15 minutes per pound to heat through to 140 degrees F.
- When 30 minutes baking time remain, unwrap ham and brush glaze all over the outside and between the slices. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Glaze ham again and bake for the final 15 minutes, until caramelized and glossy. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. If desired, re-warm remaining glaze and serve alongside ham.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Please note that our recipes have been developed using the US Customary measurement system and have not been tested for high altitude/elevation cooking and baking.