Baked Ham with Raspberry Chipotle Ham Glaze Recipe

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. In a small saucepan combine raspberry preserves, vinegar, chipotle peppers and garlic. (If you are nervous about it being spicy, start with one chipotle and taste it. Add more if you like.)
3. Cook and stir over medium high heat just until boiling. Reduce heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, about 10 minutes more. It will start to thicken up. (You will have about 1 and 1/2 cups glaze.) Set aside.
4. Set a rack inside of a large roasting pan. If you don't have a roasting pan, set a large oven-safe cooling rack over a half baking sheet with raised edges. You want to keep the ham lifted from the liquids that will pool in the pan.
5. Cut open the packaging on your ham and throw away the glaze packet than probably came with it. We have loftier plans for this ham.
6. Set your ham flat side down on the rack.
7. Use a sharp serrated knife to score the ham by making diagonal cuts in a diamond pattern. See photos. Make the cuts about a half inch deep.
8. If you want, stud your ham with cloves. Push one clove into the crosses of the diamond cuts you made. I love the earthy undertones cloves add! But it's totally up to you and it will still be a great ham if you skip the cloves. I've done it both ways.
9. Brush the ham generously with the glaze you made. Don't use all of it, we need to brush again later too.
10. If you have an oven-safe meat thermometer, insert it into the center of the ham. The thermometer should not touch the bone. (Or use an instant-read one later.)
11. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 1 and 1/2 to 2 and 1/4 hours or until thermometer registers 135 degrees F. (About 20-25 minutes per pound). Remember, the ham is pre-cooked, so you are just getting it nice and warm for serving, and crisping up the outside.
12. About 20 minutes before your ham is going to be done, remove it from the oven and brush with more glaze. Return to the oven.
13. When the ham reaches 135 degrees, remove from the oven and cover with foil until ready to serve. Serve with remaining glaze. 
14. Use your leftover ham bone to make Split Pea Soup! The chipotle flavor from the ham slays in this soup!