This Pineapple Glazed Ham is the crowning glory of any table. The absolute perfect centerpiece to your holiday table. The best part is it that it tastes as good as it looks.
This impressive Pineapple Glazed Ham is the perfect way to impress the in laws or to wow your family and have everyone asking for more.
By following the easy steps below, this dish is practically fool proof. Why is it so popular for holidays? Martha Stewart explains it here.
- Easy: There is very little hands on work required.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry.
- Family Friendly: Everyone LOVES this ham.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Here are a few of my favorite leftover recipes
What You Need to Make Pineapple Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 15-18 lb fully cooked ham – bone in or boneless
- can whole pineapple rings
- whole cloves
- maraschino cherries
- brown sugar
- dijon mustard
- lemon lime soda – can substitute ginger ale
Equipment
How to Make the Ham – Step by Step
- Prepare Oven: First, preheat the oven to 325 F.
- Score Ham: Second, score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern about 1/8-inch deep.
- Pineapple: Then drain the juice from the pineapples and reserve and next stick 6 cloves in each pineapple ring. (this is a great activity for little helpers in the kitchen!)
- Arrange: Next arrange pineapple rings evenly around the surface of the ham, affixing them with toothpicks and then affix a single cherry in the center of each ring with a toothpick.
- Bake:Place the ham in a large roasting pan and add soda. Tent it with foil, and bake for 2 to 2/12 hours (as per the package directions).
How to make Ham Glaze
- Glaze: Meanwhile, put the brown sugar, mustard and reserved pineapple juice in a sauce pan and then cook over medium high heat until reduces and becomes thick, about 15 minutes.
- Brush: After 2 hours of baking, remove the foil and brush the glaze all over the ham. Leave foil off of the ham for the remainder of the baking time.
- Repeat: Baste every 10 minutes until the ham is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F.
- Rest: Finally, remove from the oven, baste with remaining glaze and allow to rest 15-20 minutes before carving.
LOOKING FOR MORE HAM RECIPES? TRY THESE FAVORITES
Looking for more? Check out all of the Quick and Easy recipes on It Is a Keeper.
Common Questions About Ham
For this recipe, you’ll want to select a cured ham – either bone-in or semi-boneless. For easy serving, you can even find spiral hams that come pre-sliced and ready to go. It’s a real time-saver.
Ham is finished cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. I use my favorite meat thermometer to ensure it’s at the proper temperature.
A perfect dinner in my house includes serving my Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole, Bacon Glazed Carrots and Buttery Rosemary Rolls.
No longer than 2 hours. Promptly wrap leftover ham and refrigerate as soon as possible.
Expert Tips for Making Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
- Use a sharp knife to score the ham: A sharp knife will make ensure you don’t cut too deep.
- Cover the ham with foil while it bakes: To prevent your ham from drying out, cover it with foil during most of the baking time. Remove the foil while basting this Pineapple Glazed Ham.
- Baste ham every 10 minutes during the last 30 minutes: Use a basting brush (this one is great because it cleans up easy) to coat the ham with the brown sugar ham glaze every time minutes.
- Let the ham rest: When the ham is cooked through, allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing into it.
- Remove the pineapples and cherries before slicing: These make a great garnish for presentation.
- Remove all of the toothpicks before serving: Don’t forget to carefully remove all of the toothpicks before serving your guests.
⭐⭐⭐ RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐⭐⭐
If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it in the comment section below.
Pineapple Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 1 15-18 lb fully cooked ham, bone in or boneless
- 1 20 oz can whole pineapple rings
- 60 whole cloves
- 10 maraschino cherries, stems removed
- ¾ cups brown sugar
- 1 tablepoon dijon mustard
- 2 cups lemon lime soda, can substitute ginger ale
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 F.
- Score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern about 1/8-inch deep.
- Drain the juice from the pineapples and reserve.
- Stick 6 cloves in each pineapple ring.
- Arrange pineapple rings evenly around the surface of the ham, affixing them with toothpicks.
- Affix a single cherry in the center of each ring with a toothpick.
- Place the ham in a large roasting pan and add soda.
- Tent it with foil, and bake for 2 to 2/12 hours (as per the package directions).
- Meanwhile, put the brown sugar, mustard and reserved pineapple juice in a sauce pan.
- Cook over medium high heat until reduces and becomes thick, about 15 minutes.
- After 2 hours of baking, remove the foil and brush the glaze all over the ham. Leave foil off of the ham for the remainder of the baking time.
- Repeat baste every 10 minutes until the ham is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F.
- Remove from the oven, baste with remaining glaze and allow to rest 15-20 minutes before carving.
Video
Expert Tips
- Use a sharp knife to score the ham: A sharp knife will make ensure you don’t cut too deep.
- Cover the ham with foil while it bakes: To prevent your ham from drying out, cover it with foil during most of the baking time. Remove the foil while basting this Pineapple Glazed Ham.
- Baste ham every 10 minutes during the last 30 minutes: Use a basting brush
(this one is great because it cleans up easy) to coat the ham with the brown sugar ham glaze every time minutes.
- Let the ham rest: When the ham is cooked through, allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing into it.
- Remove the pineapples and cherries before slicing: These make a great garnish for presentation.
- Remove all of the toothpicks before serving: Don’t forget to carefully remove all of the toothpicks before serving your guests.
This was so flavorful and will now be our go-to for special events!
IMHO a pineapple glaze is the only way to make ham! We did this for Easter and it was amazing.
This looks so amazing!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!! Thank you so much!
I am drooling over this pineapple ham! It looks so good!
This ham looks so delicious. It will be great for New Years Day. I love all the tips you gave also.
It looks so good~ My mouth is watering. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
You are completely right, this ham does look tempting with that glistening exterior. Loving the flavours here.
This is the best ham ever. So sweet, and juicy and tender. M’mm…. I’m drooling just thinking about it!