The Honey Baked Ham: Buying Guide and Easy Copycat Recipe
If you have ever stood in line during the holidays wondering whether the honey baked ham is worth the price, you are not alone. This guide breaks down what it actually costs, how to order one, and how to recreate that same sweet, crackly glaze in your own kitchen for a fraction of the price.
Quick Answer: Is the Honey Baked Ham Worth Buying?
The Honey Baked Ham Company sells a whole bone-in ham for roughly $60 to $120 depending on size and location, and a homemade copycat version costs closer to $30 to $40 for the same size. Buying gets you a hands-off, pre-glazed centerpiece with almost no effort, while making it at home saves money and gives you full control over sweetness, spice, and crust. Both are good options. It really comes down to whether you have an hour and a half to spare in the kitchen.
What Is a Honey Baked Ham, Exactly?
A honey baked ham is a fully cooked, spiral-sliced ham finished with a sweet, crunchy sugar and honey coating that caramelizes into a thin, almost candy-like shell. The name comes from The Honey Baked Ham Company, a Georgia-based chain that has been slow-smoking and hand-glazing hams since 1957. Over the decades the term has also become shorthand for the style of ham itself, sweet, smoky, and finished with that signature crackly crust, whether it comes from the actual store or from your own oven.
Most home cooks who search for this are trying to decide between two things: buying the real thing from a store, or making a copycat version at home that tastes close enough to justify skipping the drive and the line.
Honey Baked Ham vs. a Regular Baked Ham
A regular baked ham is usually just heated through and served plain, or brushed with a simple glaze near the end. A honey baked ham goes a step further with a thick, sugary coating that is basted on in layers and finished under high heat or a broiler so it hardens into a thin, crackly shell you can actually hear when you slice through it. The smoking process at the original store also plays a role, since the hams are slow-smoked for close to a day before they are ever glazed, which gives the meat a deeper flavor than a plain grocery store ham straight out of the package.
How Much Does the Honey Baked Ham Cost?
Pricing at The Honey Baked Ham Company varies by size, cut, and region, but here is a general idea of what to expect in 2026:
- A small boneless ham (around 4 pounds) typically runs $60 to $65
- A mid-size bone-in ham (8 to 9 pounds) usually costs $85 to $95
- A larger bone-in ham (10 pounds and up) can run $100 to $110 or more
- Family meal bundles that pair ham with turkey, sides, and dessert often land between $180 and $200
Prices are set locally, so a store in a major city may charge more than one in a smaller town. Holiday season pricing can also run slightly higher due to demand, so it is worth checking your nearest location directly before you commit to a size.
How to Order the Honey Baked Ham
There are three main ways to get one:
- Order online through the official site, where you can select your ham size, choose a pickup store using your zip code, and pay ahead of time
- Call or walk into a local store and order directly at the counter, which works well outside of peak holiday rushes
- Use a delivery app such as Uber Eats or Grubhub if your nearest location offers it, though delivery fees will add to the total cost
If you are shopping for a major holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, order at least a week ahead. Popular sizes and pickup windows near the holiday itself sell out fast, and last-minute orders often mean settling for whatever size is left.
Making Your Own Honey Baked Ham at Home
If the price tag or the wait time has you leaning toward a DIY version, the good news is that a convincing copycat is genuinely easy to pull off. The two things that make the real deal special are the spiral cut and the caramelized sugar crust, and you can recreate both with a store-bought spiral ham and a simple glaze.
Choosing the Right Ham
Start with a fully cooked, bone-in spiral-cut ham from your grocery store. A shank end ham has one straight bone and is easier to carve, while a butt end ham is meatier but trickier to slice around the bone. Avoid anything that is already glazed, since a factory coating will fight with your homemade one instead of complementing it.
Building the Glaze
A classic honey baked ham glaze needs just a handful of ingredients: brown sugar, honey, butter, and a touch of ground cinnamon or clove for warmth. Some cooks add a splash of pineapple juice or apple cider to the baking pan, which keeps the ham moist and adds a light tang that balances the sweetness. Melt the butter first until lightly golden, whisk in the honey and sugar, and simmer just long enough to dissolve the sugar. Simmering too long turns the glaze into hard candy once it cools, so pull it off the heat as soon as it reaches the texture of warm honey.
Baking and Glazing, Step by Step
- Let the ham sit at room temperature for about an hour before baking so it heats evenly
- Preheat the oven to 300°F and place the ham cut side down in a roasting pan
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 15 minutes per pound to warm it through
- Uncover, brush on a third of the glaze, and return to the oven uncovered
- Baste with more glaze every 15 to 20 minutes until a deep golden crust forms, about 45 minutes to an hour total
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and pull the ham once it reaches 140°F
- Rest the ham for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing so the juices redistribute instead of running out onto the board
This two-stage method, a gentle steam followed by a hotter glazing blast, is what gives homemade versions that same crackly, caramelized exterior people associate with the store-bought original.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A few small missteps are responsible for most disappointing homemade versions. Skipping the room temperature rest before baking is the biggest one, since a cold ham straight from the fridge heats unevenly and can leave the glaze burnt on the outside while the center is still cool. Simmering the glaze too long is another common error, since it hardens into candy and becomes almost impossible to brush on smoothly. Finally, glazing too early in the bake tends to scorch the sugar before the ham itself is warmed through, so hold off on the first layer of glaze until the ham has had time to steam under foil.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Leftover ham keeps well for four to five days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil. For longer storage, slice the meat, lay it flat in freezer bags with the air pressed out, and freeze for up to two months. To reheat without drying it out, add a splash of the reserved pan juices or a little chicken broth, cover tightly with foil, and warm at a low oven temperature until just heated through. Avoid the microwave for larger portions, since it tends to dry out the edges before the center warms up.
What to Serve with Honey Baked Ham
A sweet, salty ham pairs best with sides that offer some contrast. Creamy mashed or scalloped potatoes soak up the pan juices nicely, while roasted green beans, glazed carrots, or a simple cranberry salad cut through the richness. Warm dinner rolls and a light citrus salad round out a holiday table without competing with the ham itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much honey baked ham do I need per person?
Plan on about half a pound of bone-in ham per person, or a quarter pound if you are using boneless ham. A 9 to 10 pound bone-in ham comfortably serves 12 to 15 people with a bit left over for sandwiches.
How long does it take to bake a honey baked ham?
Most bone-in hams take about 15 minutes per pound at 300°F, plus another 30 to 45 minutes of glazing time near the end. A typical 9 pound ham takes roughly two hours total from oven to table.
Can I make honey baked ham ahead of time?
Yes. You can fully bake and glaze the ham a day ahead, slice it once cooled, and store it in the fridge with some of the pan juices poured over the top. Reheat covered at a low temperature so the meat stays moist without drying out the crust.
How long does an unopened Honey Baked Ham last in the fridge?
A vacuum-sealed, unopened ham from the store typically stays safe for up to two weeks in the refrigerator, which is why many people order a week or more before the holiday itself. Once sliced or opened, plan to eat it within five days.
Do you cover a honey baked ham while it bakes?
Cover it with foil for the first part of baking so it heats gently without drying out, then remove the foil once you start glazing. The uncovered final stretch is what allows the sugar coating to caramelize and turn that deep golden brown instead of staying pale and sticky.
Whether you end up ordering the real thing or building your own version at home, the appeal is the same: a centerpiece that looks impressive and tastes like a holiday, without demanding hours of hands-on cooking. Pick whichever route fits your schedule and budget this season, and either way, save that bone for a pot of soup afterward.
