Description
Succulent baked ham with pineapple and brown sugar glaze brings classic Southern comfort to your holiday table. Juicy ham slices complement sweet-tangy pineapple, creating a memorable centerpiece for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (8–10 lbs / 3.6–4.5 kg)
- 20 oz / 567 g can pineapple slices, drained
- ½ cup whole cloves (optional, for garnish)
- Maraschino cherries (optional)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- ½ cup pineapple juice (reserved from canned pineapple slices)
- 2 tbsps apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preparation: Position ham in a roasting pan with the cut side down. Create diamond-shaped scoring across the surface and optionally insert whole cloves at intersection points for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Glaze Creation: In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon. Heat and stir until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens into a glossy consistency.
- Decorative Arrangement: Adorn ham with pineapple slices, securing each with a toothpick. Place a maraschino cherry at the center of each pineapple ring, fastening with additional toothpicks if necessary.
- Initial Baking: Brush ham with half the prepared glaze. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and roast in a preheated oven at 325F (163C). Periodically baste with remaining glaze, ensuring an even caramelization and monitoring internal temperature.
- Finishing Touch: Remove foil during final baking phase to allow glaze to develop a rich, golden-brown crust. Confirm internal temperature reaches 140F (60C) for optimal doneness.
- Serving Presentation: Allow ham to rest for fifteen minutes after removing from oven. Transfer to a serving platter, drizzling any residual glaze over the surface to intensify flavor profile and create an appetizing appearance.
Notes
- Select Quality Ham: Choose a pre-cooked, bone-in ham for maximum flavor and tenderness, ensuring even cooking and juicier results.
- Master Scoring Technique: Cut diamond patterns carefully and shallowly to help glaze penetrate without drying out the meat, creating visual appeal and flavor channels.
- Control Glaze Consistency: Simmer glaze slowly to prevent burning, watching for a syrupy texture that coats the back of a spoon without becoming too thick or runny.
- Monitor Temperature Precisely: Use a digital meat thermometer to avoid overcooking, checking internal temperature at multiple points to guarantee even heating and prevent dryness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg