Coca Cola Roasted Ham

Coca-Cola Roasted Ham is a beloved classic that reflects the ingenuity of home cooks who learned to turn everyday pantry staples into unforgettable centerpieces. Popularized in Southern kitchens and festive holiday tables, this dish became known for its clever use of cola as both a tenderizing agent and flavor booster. The natural sugars and gentle acidity of Coca-Cola help soften the ham while infusing it with subtle caramel notes, making it a dependable choice for celebrations, Sunday suppers, and family gatherings.

As the ham slowly roasts, the Coca-Cola reduces into a glossy glaze that clings to the surface, creating a beautiful balance of sweet and savory. The soda’s vanilla and spice undertones deepen as they cook, mingling with the saltiness of the cured ham to produce a rich, crowd-pleasing flavor. Often enhanced with pantry staples like brown sugar, mustard, or cloves, this recipe delivers a nostalgic aroma that fills the kitchen and signals something special is coming out of the oven.

Coca-Cola Roasted Ham is prized not only for its flavor but also for its simplicity and reliability. It’s a dish that invites tradition—served with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or warm dinner rolls—and often becomes the highlight of holiday meals and leftover sandwiches alike. With minimal preparation and maximum impact, this ham embodies comforting, old-fashioned cooking that brings people together around the table.

Coca Cola Roasted Ham

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Coca-Cola Roasted Ham is a beloved classic that reflects the ingenuity of home cooks who learned to turn everyday pantry staples into unforgettable centerpieces. Popularized in Southern kitchens and festive holiday tables, this dish became known for its clever use of cola as both a tenderizing agent and flavor booster. The natural sugars and gentle acidity of Coca-Cola help soften the ham while infusing it with subtle caramel notes, making it a dependable choice for celebrations, Sunday suppers, and family gatherings.

As the ham slowly roasts, the Coca-Cola reduces into a glossy glaze that clings to the surface, creating a beautiful balance of sweet and savory. The soda’s vanilla and spice undertones deepen as they cook, mingling with the saltiness of the cured ham to produce a rich, crowd-pleasing flavor. Often enhanced with pantry staples like brown sugar, mustard, or cloves, this recipe delivers a nostalgic aroma that fills the kitchen and signals something special is coming out of the oven.

Coca-Cola Roasted Ham is prized not only for its flavor but also for its simplicity and reliability. It’s a dish that invites tradition—served with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or warm dinner rolls—and often becomes the highlight of holiday meals and leftover sandwiches alike. With minimal preparation and maximum impact, this ham embodies comforting, old-fashioned cooking that brings people together around the table.

• Total Time: 4 hours plus 24 hours in refrigerator
• Yield: 8-10 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Roast

• 1 ham bone-in with skin, 6 to 8 pounds, shank end, rinsed

Brine

• 6 liters Coca-Cola
• 3 cups kosher salt
• 2 heads garlic, cloves peeled and lightly crushed
• 10 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup whole black peppercorns, cracked

Rub

• 8 medium cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
• 1 cup fresh sage leaves
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 3/8 cup olive oil

Glaze

• 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cup apple cider

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Instructions

1. Carefully slice through skin and fat with serrated knife, making a 1-inch diamond pattern. Do not cut into meat otherwise it will dry out.
2. In very large stockpot, dissolve salt and coca-cola. Add bay leaves, garlic, and black pepper. Put ham in the brine. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours and as much as 24 hours.
3. Preheat over to 500°F.
4. Remove stockpot from the refrigerator and remove the ham. Rinse the ham quickly under cold water and pat dry. Place ham on a rack in a large roasting pan skin side up. Let ham stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
5. Place oven rack to lowest position. In a blender, blend parsley, sage, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil until mixture forms smooth paste, about 30 seconds. Rub entire ham with paste.
6. Prepare glace by bringing cider, brown sugar, and cloves to boil in small nonreactive saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the glaze become syrupy and reduced to about 1⅓ cups. This will take about 5 to 7 minutes.
7. Roast ham for 20 minutes. Then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to roast, brushing ham with glaze every 45 minutes, until center of ham registers 145 to 150 degrees.  This will take about 2¼ hours longer.
8. Tent ham loosely with foil and let stand until center of ham registers 155 to 160 degrees on thermometer, 30 to 40 minutes.
9. Carve and serve.

• Author: Recipe Maker
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Category: Main Dishes
• Cuisine: American Recipes