Description
Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham – Juicy ham glazed with brown sugar and pineapple, perfect for holiday feasts or special occasions. Sweet, savory, and irresistible!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8-10 pound) spiral-cut ham, fully cooked
- 1 cup (200g) brown sugar, packed (dark brown provides deeper molasses flavor)
- 1/2 cup (170g) honey
- 1/4 cup (60ml) pineapple juice (reserved from canned pineapple)
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple rings in juice (reserve juice for glaze)
- Maraschino cherries (1 jar)
- Whole cloves for studding (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Ham Remove your ham from refrigeration 1-2 hours before cooking to take the chill off. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil (for easier cleanup) and place a rack inside. Using a sharp knife, score the ham’s surface in a diamond pattern about 1/4-inch deep, being careful not to cut through to the meat if using a spiral-cut ham. This scoring allows the glaze to penetrate more deeply.
- Step 2: Create the Glaze In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, honey, reserved pineapple juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir constantly until the sugar completely dissolves and the mixture is smooth, about 3-4 minutes. Allow the glaze to simmer for another 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Step 3: Initial Ham Preparation Place the ham cut-side down on the rack in your prepared roasting pan. If desired, stud the ham with whole cloves at the intersections of your diamond pattern for additional flavor and presentation. Cover tightly with foil and place in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Step 4: Apply First Glaze After 30 minutes, remove the ham from the oven and carefully peel back the foil. Increase the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C). Brush the ham generously with about one-third of your prepared brown sugar glaze, ensuring you get some between the slices of a spiral-cut ham. Return to the oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Step 5: Add Pineapple and Final Glazing Remove the ham again and brush with another third of the glaze. Arrange pineapple slices over the surface, securing with toothpicks if necessary. Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple ring, also securing with toothpicks. Drizzle remaining glaze over the pineapple and ham. Return to the oven for a final 20-30 minutes, until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) and the glaze is beautifully caramelized.
- Step 6: Rest and Serve Remove your Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham from the oven and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. This ensures the juices redistribute throughout the meat. Carefully remove all toothpicks before serving. If desired, spoon any pan juices over the sliced ham for extra flavor.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (estimated)
- Calories: 400 calories per serving
- Sugar: 40 grams
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 15 grams
- Saturated Fat: 6 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 45 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 20 grams
- Cholesterol: 70 mg