Dr. Pepper Ham

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/17/21
Dr. Pepper Ham

 The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 105 mins
Total: 110 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
505 Calories
16g Fat
19g Carbs
71g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories 505
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 203mg 68%
Sodium 3148mg 137%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 71g
Vitamin C 6mg 31%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 1141mg 24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Dr. Pepper ham is a sweet-and-sticky holiday entree that will have you licking your fingers and coming back for more. A crowd-pleasing spin on the classic centerpiece for Easter or Christmas, this ham couldn’t be any easier or more flavorful.

To form a glaze, Dr. Pepper and orange juice are cooked down to form a syrup before being mixed with brown sugar and Dijon mustard. The glaze is nice and thick and helps create a beautiful golden exterior. Drippings from the bottom of the pan can be drizzled over the top right before you are ready to serve. The ham can be served hot, room temperature, or chilled. Whether you are a huge Dr. Pepper fan or not, you'll quickly fall for this perfectly sweet-and-savory ham. 

Serve with scalloped potatoes and green beans or any of your favorite festive sides. Use the leftovers to make ham sandwiches, split pea soup, frittata, or casserole.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Dr. Pepper soda

  • 1/2 cup orange juice

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 (5- to 7-pound) spiral-sliced ham

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 

    Gather the ingredients
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  2. Combine the Dr. Pepper soda and orange juice in a small saucepan. Cook on medium-high heat until it has been reduced by half. It should be thicker and will lightly coat the back of a spoon. 

    Simmer the Dr. Pepper and orange juice
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  3. Allow it to cool slightly, then add in the brown sugar and Dijon mustard. Stir all of the ingredients together until it forms a thick paste. 

    Add the brown sugar and mustard
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  4. Place the ham in a roasting pan on the rack. Coat the top of the ham with about half of the glaze. Press some of the glaze in between the ham layers, too. Cover it with foil and bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes, or until heated through. This will take longer or shorter depending on the size of the ham. 

    Bake the ham
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  5. Remove the foil from the ham and top with the rest of the glaze. Place it back in the oven and cook for another 15 minutes or until the top becomes caramelized. 

    Uncover the ham and add the rest of the glaze
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  6. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Carve and serve with your favorite sides. 

    Dr. Pepper Ham
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Recipe Variations

  • Spice up this ham by adding Jamaican or Creole seasoning.
  • Make is spicy hot by adding a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder. 

Tips

  • Make sure to cover the ham with foil while doing the majority of the baking. This will ensure that the ham does not dry out or get overcooked. The outer layers can dry out first so it’s important not to skip this step.
  • Don’t skip heating the Dr. Pepper and orange juice. If you make the glaze too thin it won’t get caramelized on top of the ham. The top will appear watery instead of sticky and delicious. 

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