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    Home » Recipes » Christmas Mains

    Rum and Coke Glazed Ham - A Tasty Christmas Twist

    December 10, 2019 By Sara McCleary Updated September 23, 2021 - This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Rum and Coca Cola Glazed ham is simple and delicious. Don’t be put off by the thought of soda in your ham glaze. The results are a sticky, tasty glaze with a rum kick.

    christmas ham being carved

    Another year, another boozy baked ham. Long time readers may have now worked out I like a dash or two of alcohol when it comes to glazing the Christmas (or Easter) ham.

    Your baked ham will end up being finger licking sticky. The finished ham will be a little darker than most baked hams, and to be expected.  The cola glaze is basically black.

    Everyone was surprised and blown away with the taste. We found ourselves using excess glaze as a drizzle sauce with slices of the finished ham, it was that good.

    Sara xxx

    What's in this post
    • Ingredients
    • Why Cola?
    • Recipe Walk Through
    • Printable Recipe
    • More Christmas Mains

    Ingredients

    As with my past Christmas ham glaze recipes, this rum, and coca cola glazed ham doesn't have an extensive ingredient list. A simple baked ham recipe with a five ingredient glaze.

    The ingredients are all pantry staples. Except maybe for the coca cola. Yes it does need to be coca cola, no substitutes. Pepsi will not win this taste challenge.

    • Coca Cola: You will be surprised how this soft drink/soda transforms when mixed with other ingredients, you wouldn't know it was in the glaze.
    • Dark Brown Sugar: Use dark over standard brown sugar for a deep caramel flavour.
    • Orange Marmalade: Adds a little bit of bitterness to the glaze, plus enhances the orange flavour.
    • Dark Rum: It goes with coke, it goes with orange, it just works.
    • Orange: Juice and peel and more orange flavour and a little freshness.
    glazed ham on a serving plate

    Why Cola?

    Don't turn your nose up at the thought of a coca cola glazed ham. Instead have a think of the aromatics that go into making cola.

    I made my own cola syrup a while back, it was an educational experience.  From the process, I learned that a mix of spices and citrus make up the flavour of cola. I elevated these flavours with orange juice, peel, and a generous dollop of marmalade.

    Recipe Walk Through

    Please read my comprehensive How to Cook a Ham guide. This will guide you through how to prepare the ham for baking and general baking tips and tricks.

    1. Place coca cola, brown sugar, and marmalade in a large heavy based saucepan. Place over medium heat and mix well. Once sugar and marmalade have dissolved bring to a hard simmer.
    2. Simmer the coca cola mixture, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by two thirds. This will take 30-40 minutes. While the mixture simmers, prepare your ham.
    3. To the coca cola mixture add rum, orange juice, and orange peel. Stir to combine.
    4. Simmer mixture until it has reduced and thickened. This will take approximately 15 minutes.
    5. Once reduced remove from heat. At this time pre heat your oven to 180°C (360°F)
    6. Place prepared ham in a lined oven baking dish.
    7. Brush ham liberally with glaze and place in the oven on the middle shelf.
    8. Continue to brush the ham liberally every 10-15 minutes with glaze and pan juices.
    9. Bake ham for 1 - 1 hour 20 minutes.
    10. The ham is ready when well browned, glossy and there are a couple of slightly charred pieces.
    11. To serve ham place on a suitably sized serving plate and carve at the table.
    rum and coca cola glazed ham being sliced

    Printable Recipe

    rum and coca cola glazed ham being carved

    Rum and Coca Cola Glazed Ham

    Recipe Author: Sara McCleary
    Rum and Coca Cola Glazed ham is simple and delicious. Don’t be put off by the thought of soda in your ham glaze. The results are a sticky, tasty glaze with a rum kick.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
    Course Christmas, Main
    Cuisine Belly Rumbles Original
    Servings 14 people
    Calories 119 kcal

    Special Equipment

    • heavy based saucepan
    • baking dish
    • baking tray

    Ingredients

    • 1 Litre Coca Cola no substitutes, it has to be coca cola
    • 200 grams (¾ cup) dark brown sugar
    • 170 grams (½ cup) orange marmalade
    • 185 mls (¾ cup) dark rum
    • 1 orange juice and peel (minimum pith)
    • 1 3kg ham leg on the bone

    Instructions
     

    • Place coca cola, brown sugar and marmalade in a large heavy based saucepan. Place over medium heat and mix well. Once sugar and marmalade have dissolved bring to a hard simmer.
    • Simmer the coca cola mixture, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by two thirds. This will take 30-40 minutes. While the mixture simmers, prepare your ham, see notes below.
    • To the coca cola mixture add rum, orange juice, and orange peel. Stir to combine.
    • Simmer mixture until it has reduced and thickened. This will take approximately 15 minutes. Once reduced remove from heat.
      At this time pre heat your oven to 180°C (360°F)
    • Place prepared ham in a lined oven baking dish.
    • Brush ham liberally with glaze and place in the oven on the middle shelf.
    • Continue to brush the ham liberally every 10-15 minutes with glaze and pan juices.
    • Bake ham for 1 - 1 hour 20 minutes.
    • The ham is ready when well browned, glossy and there are a couple of slightly charred pieces.
    • To serve ham place on a suitably sized serving plate and carve at the table.

    Preparing the ham

    • Please read our comprehensive How to Cook a Ham Guide.

    Oven Temperatures

    All oven temperatures are fan forced.

    Measurement Notes

    All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.

    Recipe Notes

    PREPARING THE HAM
    Please refer to our comprehensive Hot to Cook a Ham Guide.  This will walk you through the preparation steps for the ham.  As well as a guide to the size, how much ham you need to feed your hungry mob, and many more tips and tricks for a perfect ham everytime.  
     
    GENERAL COOK’S NOTES
    All oven temperatures are for a conventional oven, if using fan forced lower the temperature by 20 Deg C (70 Deg F).
    All measurements are Australian tablespoons and cups. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified;
    • 1 teaspoon equals 5ml
    • 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml (Nth America, NZ & UK use 15ml tablespoons)
    • 1 cup equals 250ml (Nth America use 237ml)
    • 4 teaspoons equals 1 tablespoon
    • I use the below unless specified in my recipes;
    Herbs are fresh | Vegetables are of a medium size | Eggs are roughly 60 grams in weight (large)
     

    NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

    The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.

    Calories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 12mgPotassium: 40mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 29IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?I do a happy dance when people share how they went. Tag me on Instagram @bellyrumbles & #bellyrumbles

    More Christmas Mains

    I have a big selection of Christmas recipes on the blog, including a section on Christmas dinner recipes for the main event. Plus more boozy glazed hams like the dark and stormy baked ham, and my peach and bourbon glazed baked ham.

    • Peach and Bourbon Glazed Baked Ham makes the perfect centrepiece for your Christmas table.
      Finger Licking Peach and Bourbon Glazed Ham
    • Whole prosciutto wrapped turkey breast with tarragon citrus butter sliced on the table
      Prosciutto Wrapped Turkey Breast with Tarragon Citrus Butter
    • pork and veal terrine studded with pistachios sliced on paper with a jar of cornichons in the background and a couple next to the terrine
      Easy Pork and Veal Terrine A Super Delicious Crowd Pleaser!
    • Poached Turkey Breast with Easy Gravy is the perfect recipe for Christmas entertaining. Especially if you are short on time and oven space, the turkey will be on the table in 50 minutes. Poaching aids keeping the breast succulent and tender. 
      Poached Turkey Breast with Easy Gravy
    pinterest pin for rum and coca cola glazed ham

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Peter

      December 30, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      I looked at a few Rum and Coke ham glazes this year and I have tried a few different just rum ones over the years. This one is FANTACTIC!! I baked mine on the BBQ in a baking tray for about 2 1/2 hours at 180°C, then at about 220°C for another 30 minutes to give it a little more char on the fat. I wish I could post a picture. Thanks Sara.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        January 06, 2023 at 12:43 pm

        Hi Peter
        So glad to hear that the glaze was a success and that you like it 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to write and let me know. I always love reader feedback.
        Unfortunately, I don't have the facility for readers to post images on Belly Rumbles. But, if you are on social media, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or Facebook please feel free to share and tag me. I would love to see your results.
        Happy New Year and cheers, Sara

    2. Blitzo

      November 02, 2022 at 10:51 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely yummy! Made this for Christmas party. Wow!! Everybody absolutely loved it.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        November 11, 2022 at 11:08 am

        Hi Blitzo
        I'm very happy that it was a success. Always great to hear.
        Cheers, Sara

    3. Donna

      October 24, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      Made this for a birthday celebration and everyone loved it!
      The glaze didn’t seem to thicken until put over ham in oven.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        October 25, 2022 at 9:47 pm

        Hi Donna
        I'm so glad that everyone loved your ham and that the glaze was a success for you. The glaze really does thicken up on cooking, it combines with the fats from the ham and the sugars work their wonders while they reduce with the liquid on baking.
        Cheers, Sara

    4. Blitzo

      August 11, 2022 at 9:58 am

      5 stars
      Hi Sara, It looks tasty and delicious coke glazed ham. I will definitely try this and cook for my family tomorrow if I'm get home.
      I'm sure they will happy and its good to know that coke its not only for drinking who can fulfill your thirst but its an ingredient to make a dish looks yummy and delicious. Thanks!

      Reply
    5. James

      January 10, 2020 at 12:58 pm

      5 stars
      It looks tasty and delicious. I will definitely try this and cook for my friends. I'm sure they will empress and its good to think that coke its not only for drinking who can fulfill your thirst but its an ingredient to make a dish looks great and delicious.

      Reply

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