Glazed Ham Centerpiece Board (Print View)

An inviting glazed ham board paired with cheeses, fruits, and breads for elegant entertaining.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Glazed Ham

01 - 1 boneless ham (3–4 lb)
02 - ½ cup brown sugar
03 - ¼ cup honey
04 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
05 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
06 - ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)

→ Cheese Selection

07 - 6 oz aged cheddar, sliced
08 - 6 oz brie, cut into wedges
09 - 4 oz blue cheese, crumbled
10 - 4 oz gouda, sliced

→ Fruits & Vegetables

11 - 1 cup red grapes, on the vine
12 - 1 cup green grapes, on the vine
13 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
14 - 1 apple, thinly sliced
15 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes
16 - 2 mini cucumbers, sliced
17 - ½ cup dried apricots

→ Breads & Crackers

18 - 1 baguette, sliced
19 - 8 oz assorted crackers
20 - 4 oz breadsticks

→ Accompaniments

21 - ½ cup whole grain mustard
22 - ½ cup fig jam
23 - ½ cup mixed olives
24 - ½ cup cornichons (small pickles)
25 - ½ cup roasted nuts (almonds or pecans)
26 - Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme) for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and ground cloves in a small saucepan. Heat gently until sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes syrupy.
03 - Score the ham surface in a diamond pattern and brush generously with the prepared glaze.
04 - Place the ham in a roasting pan and roast for 1 to 1.5 hours, basting with glaze every 20 minutes until heated through and caramelized. Rest for 15 minutes before slicing or shaping.
05 - Place the glazed ham or ham slices shaped as roses at the center of a large serving board.
06 - Arrange cheeses, fruits, vegetables, breads, and accompaniments symmetrically around the ham, grouping similar items for visual balance.
07 - Decorate with fresh herbs and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely show-stopping but requires far less actual cooking than a traditional ham dinner
  • Everyone finds something they love—the beauty is in the variety and the freedom to create your own combinations
  • You can prep almost everything ahead, which means you're actually relaxed when guests arrive instead of sweating in the kitchen
02 -
  • The glaze needs to be brushed on multiple times during cooking—once alone won't give you that gorgeous caramelized finish. Those 20-minute intervals matter.
  • Your board looks infinitely better if you prep everything ahead and arrange it right before serving. Fruit oxidizes and bread gets stale, so resist the urge to build it hours early.
  • Score the ham shallowly—you're not trying to carve through to the other side, just create a pattern that helps glaze penetrate and guides the eye.
03 -
  • Double-check that your ham is pre-cooked before buying—this saves you actual cooking time and the roasting is just about glazing and warming, not fully cooking.
  • If you can't find a large enough board, use a wooden table or even a clean countertop covered with parchment paper—it's unconventional but it actually works and looks kind of fun.
  • Keep cheese at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving so the flavors really shine—cold cheese tastes muted and sad in comparison.
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