Smoked Ham with Country Apple Butter Glaze

Smoked Ham with Country Apple Butter Glaze is an impressive Appalachian-inspired smoked ham that is slow-roasted wrapped tightly in foil for tender juicy ham, and then finished with a rich savory-sweet basting glaze made with ham drippings reduced to a sticky-sweet glaze simmered with apple cider, Dijon mustard, apple butter and brown sugar.

This recipe is part of our An Appalachian Christmas series — try them all and celebrate Christmas with some homegrown flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 to 9-lb.) bone-in smoked ham shank, skin removed
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Foodie byte: For the juiciest ham, cover hot-from-the-oven baked ham with foil and let rest for at least 30 minutes before carving.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place ham, flat side down, in a roasting pan; cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for about 2 hours.
3. Uncover ham and carefully drain pan juices into a small heavy saucepan.
4. Add apple butter, apple cider, brown sugar and Dijon mustard; whisk to blend. Simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half and has a mixture has a glaze-like consistency.
5. Brush glaze generously over ham and bake uncovered an additional 15 to 30 minutes, or until glaze is bubbly and ham is golden-brown.
6. Remove from oven, cover with foil and let rest for 30 to 45 minutes before carving.

Originally published at www.foodchannel.com.