Apricot Glaze for Roasting
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This apricot glaze has the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors. My 5-minute recipe makes glaze for pork, chicken, or ham!
Not only do they add a gorgeous shine and crispy exterior to any dish, but they create an intense flavor with just a few ingredients.
Most savory glazes are made by combining spices and sometimes liquor with either fruit preserves fruit juice or even the fresh fruit itself. The mixture is cooked down until it reduces and thickens.
Savory apricot glaze
I like to use this apricot glaze for roasted pork loin, but it’s just as delicious on chicken, ham and pork chops.
Or, instead of apricot glaze, make my orange glaze recipe. It has the perfect combination of sweet citrus and spices! I use to glaze a holiday ham, and it also tastes great with pulled pork sandwiches.
Cranberry glaze takes a little more work to make, but the results are worth it! Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftover bags of holiday berries.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
Note: This is just a partial list of ingredients. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Apricot jam – Using jam instead of preserves results in a smoother glaze, which makes it easier to brush onto your meat. Feel free to use peach jam or orange marmalade instead, depending on your flavor preferences.
- Brown sugar – Light brown sugar works best in this recipe, so the caramelized flavor doesn’t overpower the fruit. Make sure to lightly pack the measuring cup to get the right amount.
- Dijon mustard – In a pinch, you can use yellow mustard if that’s all you have on hand. You may want to use a little less, though, since the flavor is more tart. Brown or honey mustard would also taste great, or find recipes online to make a quick dijon substitute with pantry staples.
Video: making apricot glaze
Just mix the glaze ingredients together and in just 5 minutes, it’s ready to use – it’s really that simple!
To see how easy the apricot glaze recipe is to make, watch the video in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
It can help to use a metal whisk if you have one. Not only does everything combine faster, but it eliminates any lumps from the jam.
Or, if you don’t mind the extra dishes, give it a quick whirl in a blender or food processor.
Glazing pork, ham or chicken
Simply brush a layer of glaze onto your meat before roasting and baste a few times with the remainder throughout the cooking process.
If you happen to have any remaining, feel free to save it and brush more over the meat when reheating. Don’t be afraid to try this apricot glaze recipe with different types of meat! It tastes fantastic on a pork roast, but it’s also the perfect ham glaze, or even for roasted chicken and potatoes.
Recipe notes
- Adjust the recipe: This recipe makes enough to cover a large ham. If you plan on using the apricot glaze for pork roast or chicken, I would recommend cutting the measurements in half.
- Make ahead: While there’s really no prep time required, you could easily make this in advance if needed. Store in a sealed jar or container in the refrigerator and use within two weeks.
- Reduce spices: If you’re sensitive to cloves, you can reduce the amount as much as needed to suit your preference.
This post, originally published on Kevin is Cooking Nov. 9, 2020, was last updated with new content on Nov. 18, 2021.
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Apricot Glaze for Pork/Chicken/Ham +Video
Ingredients
- 12.75 oz apricot jam (See Note 1)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Brush over uncooked meat before roasting pork, chicken or ham. Baste several times during cooking.
Video
Notes
- Feel free to substitute with peach or orange marmalade, both work well.
- This recipe makes 3 1/2 cups total. Perfect for a large ham, but I would cut the ingredients in half for a pork roast or chicken.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This looks wonderful! In the interest of preventing my pork loin from becoming a super sized briquette, do you roast the meat uncovered or covered? Also, would you sear the meat before glazing it for the first time and putting it in the oven? Thanks for your help
All you need to know is in the linked post for my Pork Loin Roast Carolyn. There is even a video to show you how to make it. This apricot glaze is heavenly with it!
Hi Kevin, I’m going to try it this weekend. I see a lemon in the ingredient picture but don’t see it listed in the ingredients. Do you use the juice, zest or was the lemon just photobombing the others? PS love your recipes and use them all the time.
Bill, not sure why that was not showing for you, but YES, there are 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in this.
Oddly enough now it shows up in the list.
What amazing images you have used! Just looking at it, makes my mouth water. Btw, thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
Thanks for the kind words Sam, enjoy!
Such an easy and tasty recipe; looking forward to enjoying this on some toast tomorrow for breakfast! Yum!
This glaze would be delicious on pork tenderloin!
OMG, I can’t wait to slather this on the chicken I bought.
Wow! This turned out super delicious! I literally want to use it on everything!
What a beautiful, tasty glaze! Made it for some chicken but I think I’ll try it with other things too
I am so glad I came across this recipe. I feel like the same old dinners are getting boring. This is packed with flavor and will spice things up!
There are so many things I want to try this with, thank you so much for sharing!