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Coca-Cola Caramelized Ham Recipe with Perfect Pop Rocks Finish

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A smoky-sweet ham caramelized in Coca-Cola and topped with a playful Pop Rocks finish, perfect for holidays or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8–10 pound spiral-cut ham (bone-in preferred)
  • 1 cup Coca-Cola (regular, not diet)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey (optional)
  • Whole cloves
  • Pop Rocks (fruit flavor, such as cherry or strawberry)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. Place the ham in a roasting pan, flat side down. Score the surface in a diamond pattern about 1/4 inch deep and insert whole cloves into the intersections.
  3. In a small saucepan, combine Coca-Cola, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and honey. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly (about 5-7 minutes).
  4. Generously brush the Coca-Cola glaze over the ham, ensuring it gets into all the scored grooves. Reserve some glaze for later.
  5. Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
  6. Bake the ham in the preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes per pound (about 2 hours for an 8-pound ham).
  7. Every 30 minutes, remove the ham from the oven and baste it with the reserved Coca-Cola glaze.
  8. During the last 15-20 minutes of roasting, remove the foil and brush one final layer of glaze on the ham. Let the glaze caramelize for a golden, sticky finish.
  9. Once the ham is out of the oven, let it rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle Pop Rocks generously over the top right before serving.

Notes

[‘Scoring the ham allows the glaze to seep into the meat for maximum flavor.’, ‘Use a meat thermometer to ensure the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C).’, ‘Add Pop Rocks just before serving to maintain their crisp and crackling texture.’, ‘If the caramelized crust starts to brown too quickly, tent the ham with foil until the last 15 minutes of cooking.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Coca-Cola ham, caramelized ham, Pop Rocks ham, holiday ham, Southern ham recipe

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/coca-cola-caramelized-ham-recipe-with-perfect-pop-rocks-finish/