This keto brown sugar mustard glazed ham brings the classic sweet and savory flavors of a holiday ham to the table without using traditional brown sugar or honey in the glaze.
The buttery sugar-free mustard ham glaze combines brown sugar substitute, allulose, brown mustard, dry mustard, and warm spices for a rich glaze that caramelizes beautifully over the ham. It's a delicious choice for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, or any special dinner.
Unlike my sweet and spicy keto glazed ham, which gets its smoky heat from chipotle pepper, this version is much milder and places the brown sugar and mustard flavors front and center.
It still contains a small amount of red pepper flakes (⅛ teaspoon), but there's no chipotle, making this the better choice when you want a more traditional brown sugar mustard glazed ham.
If you have leftovers, put them to good use in my keto ham casserole for an easy meal after the holidays.
Why You'll Love This Keto Brown Sugar Mustard Ham
This recipe is all about the classic combination of sweet brown sugar flavor and savory mustard. Instead of regular brown sugar, the glaze uses brown sugar substitute along with allulose, allowing you to create that familiar caramelized finish without adding traditional sugar to the glaze.
Brown mustard and dry mustard give the glaze plenty of savory flavor without making it overly sharp.
Butter adds richness, while cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice give the ham just enough warm spice to make it especially good for a holiday meal.
What Makes This Sugar-Free Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze Different?
The glaze is what makes this ham special. Rather than using traditional brown sugar and honey, it combines a keto brown sugar substitute with allulose to create sweetness and help the glaze develop a glossy finish.
I also use both brown mustard and dry mustard. Brown mustard provides the familiar savory flavor, while dry mustard intensifies it without requiring additional liquid.
Butter makes the glaze richer, and a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, black pepper, and a small amount of red pepper flakes rounds everything out.
Does This Ham Taste Spicy?
This keto brown sugar mustard ham is considerably milder than my sweet and spicy glazed ham.
There is only a dash of red pepper flakes in the glaze, which helps balance the sweetness rather than making the ham noticeably hot. The dominant flavors are brown sugar, mustard, butter, and warm spices.
For a ham with more smoky heat, try my sweet and spicy keto glazed ham, which includes chipotle pepper powder.
Is Ham Keto-Friendly?
Ham itself is generally low in carbohydrates, but the amount of added sugar can vary by brand because some hams use sugar during curing.
Traditional glazed hams can contain considerably more added sugar from ingredients such as brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
For this recipe, check the nutrition label on the ham you purchase and skip any sugary glaze packet that comes with it. Instead, you'll make this homemade sugar-free brown sugar mustard glaze.
What Is The Best Ham For Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze?
For this recipe, I use a fully cooked 9-pound bone-in shank ham. I prefer a bone-in ham because it gives you a beautiful holiday presentation and stays juicy as it reheats.
A spiral-cut ham can also be used. Since spiral ham is already sliced, there is no need to remove a rind or score it before adding the glaze.
Follow the heating directions that come with your particular ham, since cooking time can vary by size and type.
Do You Need To Remove The Skin And Fat Layer Of A Ham?
To ensure your sugar-free ham turns out perfectly, I suggest removing the rind, or "skin layer," from the ham while leaving the fat layer intact as much as possible.
The actual skin can be tough and has an unpleasant chewy texture once cooked, so I recommend getting rid of it.
However, it's important not to remove too much of the fat layer, as it helps keep the ham juicy and makes the glaze nice and sticky.
The fat also naturally bastes the ham as it cooks, adding to its delicious flavor. So, keep the fat layer intact and cook your ham to perfection.
How To Remove Rind And Score Your Ham
To prepare your ham for cooking, start by trimming away the rind or skin, being careful to leave all the fat intact.
Using a sharp knife, cut a line through the skin around the shank end of the ham. Carefully insert the knife between the rind and the fat layers and run the knife through to separate them.
Then, using your fingers, gently pull the rind away from the fat until you have removed it entirely. Discard the rind.
Next, using the same sharp knife, score a 1-inch wide diamond pattern about ¼ inch deep into the fat layer of the ham. Be careful not to slice into the meat, as this can cause the ham to dry out during cooking.
Instead, focus on scoring only the fat layer.
Repeat this process over the entire surface of the ham to ensure that the glaze can penetrate the fat and flavor the meat.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to a perfectly cooked ham!
Ingredients Needed For Keto brown sugar Mustard Glazed Ham
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The following are the ingredients needed: Note that the full printable recipe card is at the bottom of the page.
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- Fully cooked ham (shank portion), although you can also use a spiral-cut ham
- Water
- Cinnamon powder (spices will season the water)
- Nutmeg powder
- Ginger powder
- Allspice
Sugar-Free Brown Mustard Glaze
- Brown sugar substitute
- Allulose
- Unsalted butter
- Brown mustard
- Dry mustard powder
- Cinnamon powder
- Nutmeg powder
- Ginger powder
- Allspice
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- Salt
Why Use Brown Sugar Substitute And Allulose Together?
I use a combination of brown sugar substitute and allulose in this keto ham glaze rather than relying on only one sweetener.
The brown sugar substitute gives the glaze the deeper flavor you expect from a traditional brown sugar mustard ham, while the allulose helps the warm glaze stay smoother and reduces how quickly it crystallizes.
You can replace the allulose with additional brown sugar substitute if needed, but keep in mind that the glaze may crystallize more readily as it cools.
I am recommend any of the following brown sugar substitute in this recipe:
How To Make A Keto Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham
Prepare the ham by removing the rind while leaving the fat layer intact. Score the fat in a shallow diamond pattern and allow the ham to rest for about 30 minutes while the oven preheats.
Place the ham on a rack inside a roasting pan with the scored fat facing upward. Pour the seasoned water into the bottom of the pan, cover the ham with foil, and bake until it is nearly heated through.
Meanwhile, prepare the keto brown sugar mustard glaze by melting the butter with the brown sugar substitute and allulose.
Stir in the brown mustard, dry mustard, and remaining spices, then gently simmer until the glaze is smooth and slightly thickened. Avoid high heat because the sweeteners and butter can scorch.
Can I Use A Spiral Ham?
Yes. You can make this recipe with a fully cooked spiral ham. Since spiral hams are already trimmed and sliced, skip the rind-removal and scoring instructions.
Because the slices expose more surface area, be careful not to overheat the ham. Follow the heating directions on the package for the size and type you purchase, then add the brown sugar mustard glaze toward the end of the heating time.
How This Recipe Differs From My Sweet And Spicy Keto Ham
I have two sugar-free glazed ham recipes, and although they share a similar cooking method, their flavor profiles are different.
This keto brown sugar mustard glazed ham is the milder option. Brown mustard, dry mustard, butter, brown sugar substitute, and warm spices are the dominant flavors.
My sweet and spicy keto glazed ham adds chipotle pepper powder and more red pepper flakes for a smoky, slightly spicy finish.
Choose this brown sugar mustard version when you want a more traditional holiday ham, and choose the sweet and spicy version when you want a glaze with more heat.
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Keto Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham
This keto brown sugar mustard glazed ham features a buttery sugar-free glaze made with brown sugar substitute, allulose, brown mustard, dry mustard, and warm spices. The glaze caramelizes during the final minutes of baking for a sweet and savory holiday ham without traditional brown sugar or honey.
Ingredients
- 9 pound fully cooked ham (shank portion)
- ½ cup of water
- ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder
- ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg powder
- ¼ teaspoon of ginger powder
- ¼ teaspoon of allspice
Sugar-Free Mustard Glaze
- ½ cup of brown sugar substitute
- ½ cup of allulose
- ¼ cup of unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons of brown mustard
- 1 teaspoon of dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder
- ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg powder
- ¼ teaspoon of ginger powder
- ¼ teaspoon of allspice
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon of salt
Instructions
- Preparing your whole ham: Trim away the rind (skin ), being sure to leave all the fat. Using a sharp knife, cut a line through the skin all around the shank end. Carefully, insert the knife between the rind of the ham and the fat and run the knife through to separate the layers. Using your fingers, gently pull the rind from the fat. Altogether, remove the rind from the ham and discard.
- Using a sharp knife, score a 1-inch wide diamond pattern about ¼ inch deep. Do this over the entire surface of the ham. Allow the ham to rest on the counter for about 30 minutes before baking.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- In a small bowl, mix together the ½ cup of water and spices. Set it aside.
- Add a baking rack or layer of crumpled aluminum foil to sit the ham on. Place the ham facedown with the scored fat facing up in the roasting pan.
- Pour ½ cup of seasoned water into the base of the pan. The addition of water helps the ham bake evenly to create steam as the ham cooks, and the spices add more flavor to the ham.
- Cover the ham completely with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 12-14 minutes per pound. A fully cooked ham needs to be cooked to 140 F just till heated through. I cooked this 9-pound ham for 2 hours and 15 minutes. You'll need to adjust your time depending on the size of your ham.
- During the last 20 minutes of baking, you will baste the ham with the sugar-free mustard glaze.
Keto Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the brown sugar substitute and allulose. Cook over medium heat until the sugar substitutes blend into the sauce, stirring occasionally. Then add the brown mustard, and the remaining spices and mix well until fully combined. Cook until the sauce gently simmers and thickens. Be sure not to cook the sauce over high heat, as it can easily scorch the sauce.
Basting The Ham
- When the ham has only 20 minutes to bake, remove the ham from the oven and raise the temperature to 400 degrees.
- Remove the foil and pour ⅓ of the glaze over the entire surface of the ham, being sure to baste between the diamond cuts.
- Place the ham back into the oven and bake for 10 minutes uncovered.
- After 10 minutes, remove the ham from the oven and stir two tablespoons of the ham pan juices into the remaining glaze. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham and return it to the oven until the surface is dark golden brown. If additional browning is needed, turn the broiler to high and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, watching the ham closely so the glaze does not burn.
- Allow the ham to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
You can substitute the allulose for more of the brown sugar substitute, just keep in mind that the glaze will crystallize as it cools.
Note that if you choose to make a spiral ham there is no need to remove the rind from the ham. Spiral hams already come skinned, cured, and cooked.
For the most accurate cooking time and internal temperature, follow the directions on your ham's packaging and check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer. USDA guidance recommends reheating fully cooked ham packaged in a USDA-inspected plant to 140°F.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 450Total Fat: 33.2gSaturated Fat: 12.4gSodium: 800mgCarbohydrates: 10gNet Carbohydrates: 5.5gFiber: 4.5gSugar: 0.3gProtein: 25g
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