Honey-and-Rye-Glazed Ham

Besides turkey, ham is one of the most popular holiday entrees served at Christmas dinner. Succulent and flavorful (I prefer it over turkey myself), this ham is an "adult-only" version that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Total Time: 2 Hours, 10 Minutes (Prep - 10 Minutes / Cook - 2 Hours)

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups rye whiskey or bourbon (other whiskey works well too)

• 3/4 cup honey

• 1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses

• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

• 1 12-14lb cured smoked bone-in ham, skin removed if needed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together rye whiskey, honey, molasses, red pepper flakes, and black pepper in a medium bowl.

3. Set ham on a rack in a large roasting pan and pour in 2 cups of water. Score fat in a crosshatch pattern, cutting about 1/2-inch deep.

4. Brush ham with whiskey mixture and roast, basting every 20 minutes with pan juices and tenting with foil if browning too quickly, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 135 degrees (about 1 1/2 to 2 hours).

5. Transfer ham to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.