Finnish Christmas Ham (Joulukinkku)
The Finnish Christmas ham, joulukinkku in Finnish, is the beloved centerpiece of the holiday table. Slowly roasted until tender and flavorful, it’s finished with a classic glaze of egg yolk, mustard, and breadcrumbs. The ham is baked in its net inside a roasting bag for extra juiciness, then finished with a golden crust and decorated with whole cloves. It is served with joululaatikot, rosolli, and vegetables. This ham brings the comforting flavors of a traditional Finnish Christmas to your home.
Ingredients
For the ham
- 5 kg whole Christmas ham bone-in or boneless
- Meat thermometer
- 1 roasting bag/ oven bag/paistopussi
- Water optional, for the pan
For the mustard crust
- 1-2 egg yolks
- 2-3 tbsp mustard
- ½-1 cup breadcrumbs korppujauho
For decoration
- Whole cloves Optional
Instructions
Prepare the ham
- Remove the ham from the refrigerator about 2 hours before baking to let it come to room temperature.
- Do not remove the net; it keeps the ham together during baking.
- Place the ham (net intact) into a roasting bag.
- Cut a small corner off the bag to allow steam to escape during baking. Place the bagged ham in a large roasting pan.
- Insert a meat thermometer through the bag into the thickest part of the ham, avoiding the bone.
- Preheat the oven to 100–125°C (210–255°F).
- Bake the ham in the roasting bag for approximately 5 - 6 hours.
- The ham is ready when internal temperature reaches 75–80°C (167–176°F).
- Let the ham rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Carefully cut open the roasting bag and let the pan juices spread in the pan.
- Take the ham on a cutting board. Remove the net and outer fat layer. Discard the net and the outer fat layer
- Place the ham in a large clean roasting pan.
Glaze and finish
- Increase oven temperature to 225°C (435°F).
- Mix egg yolk(s), mustard, and breadcrumbs.
- Spread the mustard–breadcrumb mixture evenly over the warm ham.
- Bake the ham uncovered for 10–15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
Decorate
- Let the ham cool slightly. Press whole cloves into the crust in a decorative pattern.
Notes
Serving
Serve warm or cold with joululaatikot, rosolli, rye bread, or archipelago bread (saaristolaisleipä).
❄️ Storage
Refrigerate: 3–5 days
Freeze sliced or in chunks: up to 3 months