Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Have you ever had a spiral ham? I mean a good spiral ham; one that’s smothered with brown sugar, cloves and a hint of cinnamon. In my eyes that’s the only way to enjoy a ham – but why should that sugary/spicy goodness end with ham? Why not pass some of that yummy over to more pork products, like a rich brown sugar glazed pork tenderloin!
I had a tenderloin sitting out to thaw and I couldn’t decide what to do with it last night, so back in the fridge it went. This morning I woke up craving Easter dinner where the previously mentioned spiral ham is always front and center. I had a Phineas & Ferb moment – “I know what we’re going to do today!” I high tailed it into the kitchen and grabbed a freezer bag.
In that freezer bag I added 2 tablespoons of honey, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 4 cloves and 1/5 cup of water. I topped it off with a dash or 2 of cinnamon and zipped the bag. I squished the bag around to mix it up really well and then added the pork tenderloin from my fridge. I squished the bag around some more to thoroughly coat the meat and then zipped the bag. I put the bag back in the refrigerator and patiently waited for that brown sugar glaze to coat and marinate the pork tenderloin. I let it sit in the fridge for 8 hours, but you could leave it in over night.
When 4:00 rolled around I took the bag out of the fridge and shook the excess liquid off of the pork tenderloin. I didn’t dry it or wipe off the sugar (that’s the best part!) Instead I put it right in my baking dish and put it in my oven (350 degrees Fahrenheit) and let it cook for 1 1/2 hours. When it came out the entire house smelled like Easter. The meat itself was fork tender and packed with that flavor I cherish. It very closely resembles a rich spiral ham; brown sugar glazed pork tenderloin is now my go to dinner when Easter is weighing on my mind!
The Cast Of Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Tenderloin Recipe
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 cloves
1/5 cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 2 – 4 pound pork tenderloin
Directions For Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Add the first 5 ingredients to the freezer bag and mix thoroughly. Add in the whole pork tenderloin and mix again, making sure the pork tenderloin is thoroughly coated.
Close the freezer bag and store in the refrigerator to marinade for at least 6 hours (can be left overnight.)
When you’re ready to cook the pork tenderloin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the pork from the bag and gently shake off any excess liquid (do not rub or dry.)
Place the tenderloin in a shallow baking dish and bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hours or longer (read the cooking directions on your meat.)
When the tenderloin is done remove the pan to a cooling rack and allow to come to room temperature. Enjoy!
About The Author Of Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Amber loves to get creative in the kitchen. She enjoys throwing random ingredients together to see how they work (it’s not always a success!) Find more of her family recipes and original creations on her blog, Green Eggs & Spam.
15 COMMENTS
Debby Chandler
12 years agoI love pork tenderloin and this recipe is calling my name, thanks!
DASHA
12 years agoI love pork tenderloin
DASHA
12 years agoThis looks delish.
Miz Helen
12 years agoCongratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Have a great weekend and enjoy your new RED PLATE.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen
12 years agoHi Brandy,
Your Tenderloin looks fabulous, we will just love it! Have a great St. Patrick’s Day and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
The Busy Bee's
12 years agoThis looks delish. You have a really nice blog, I have been surfing around.
Our party is live today and we would like to invite you to share this there: http://thebusybhive.blogspot.com/
Hope to see you there.
Thanks!
The Busy Bee’s,
Myrna and Joye.
Heather @ The Unsophisticated Kitchen
12 years agoI have only recently discovered a love of the pork tenderloin and this looks like an incredible recipe! I cannot wait to try it! Thanks so much for sharing! In fact, I have a tenderloin in my freezer right now that is going to be coming out to thaw so I can make this asap!
Brandy
12 years ago AUTHORHeather-
I would love to hear how the tenderloin turns out. I am glad to have found a way to make the best part of ham become a year round dish.
Krista Low
12 years agoYou had my attention with brown sugar! I love pork tenderloins because they are quick and everyone eats it! I love this idea. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Brandy
12 years ago AUTHORKrista-
Thank you for stopping by. I also love how easy pork tenderloins are to make and am constantly looking for new recipes to add to my arsenal.
Erica
12 years agoOh my gosh, I love pork tenderloin. I’m not a huge pork fan, but that is one cut that I think is great, and this recipe makes is sound even better!
Jenny K
12 years agoThis looks and sounds so good. I think I could even pull it off. Thanks for the recipe!
Brandy
12 years ago AUTHORJenny-
I would love to hear how it goes if you make the brown sugar glazed pork tenderloin. My family loved it and it was a great twist on the traditional ham.