A simple sweet and tangy brown sugar glaze to add delicious flavor to your holiday ham, chicken, salmon, burgers, veggies, and more!
This brown sugar glaze takes only a few minutes to make and is so good you will want to slather it on everything. If I am having ham for the holidays, it better have this glaze on it or else I'm not interested!
You won't believe how versatile this brown sugar glaze is. I have put it on everything from turkey, chicken, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, salmon, and shrimp. Don't believe me? Check out this Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken recipe for starters!
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Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
- Dark brown sugar. This ingredient is the base for this sauce recipe. Brown sugar gives the glaze rich caramel-like sweetness.
- Honey. A small amount of honey compliments the brown sugar so well and adds very subtle floral notes.
- Orange juice. Orange juice adds citrus flavor and acidity to the glaze. I recommend freshly squeezed orange juice but you can also use bottled orange juice. Keep in mind that some brands of orange juice have lots of sugar added which could affect the flavor of your glaze.
- Whole grain mustard. This ingredient adds a tangy, peppery bite to the sauce. You can also use regular yellow mustard if you do not have whole grain mustard.
- Apple cider vinegar. This ingredient adds additional acidity and tanginess to the glaze.
- Ground cinnamon, ginger, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. These spices are added for extra flavor and depth in the glaze.
How To Make This Recipe
- Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Heat the glaze while stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved.
- Either pour the glaze over your ham or allow the glaze to cool completely and transfer it to an airtight container.
Variations and Substitutions
You can use light brown sugar to make this glaze if that is what you have on hand, but it will have a lighter flavor and color. Dark brown sugar has more molasses in it, which is why I prefer it in this glaze over light brown sugar. However, the result will be delicious either way!
If you do not have any honey on hand, you can omit this ingredient without making any other adjustments to the glaze.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice can be substituted for orange juice in this glaze. This will change the flavor slightly, adding a bit more tartness.
What To Serve With Brown Sugar Glaze
There are so many possibilities here y'all! Meat, seafood, and vegetables all pair beautifully with this glaze. Try brown sugar glaze on some of the following:
- Baked ham
- Pan-seared salmon
- Baked or pan-seared chicken (don't forget to check out our Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken recipe!)
- Sauteed shrimp
- Sauteed scallops
- Roasted vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, or sweet potatoes
- Sauteed green beans
Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions
This glaze can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Reheat brown sugar glaze on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Leftover glaze can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for to a week. This glaze can also be frozen for up to three months.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Brown Sugar Glaze (For Ham, Chicken, and More!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup orange juice freshly squeezed or bottled, see note
- 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard or yellow mustard
- 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Heat the glaze while stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved.
- Either pour the glaze over your ham or allow the glaze to cool completely and transfer it to an airtight container.
Notes
- You can use light brown sugar to make this glaze if that is what you have on hand, but it will have a lighter flavor and color.
- Some brands of bottled orange juice have lots of sugar added which could affect the flavor of your glaze.
- Leftover glaze can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for to a week. This glaze can also be frozen for up to three months.
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