This is the best holiday ham recipe! A baked ham coated with sweet pineapple and brown sugar glaze decorated with pineapples and cherries. This ham will be the star of your holiday table.
Hey Cousins! Today, I am sharing a new-and-improved recipe for baked holiday ham: a sweet pineapple and brown sugar glazed ham! In my house, no holiday is complete if I don’t have pineapple ham on the table. I seriously believe everyone should have at least one baked ham recipe in their collection. So today, I’m sharing my pineapple and brown sugar ham recipe!
If you’ve been around for a while, you know I’ve shared a few different brown sugar ham recipes before (my first was a pineapple glazed ham, and my second was this brown sugar baked ham). Well, this one is the best of the best! I literally combined all my ham recipes into one and made the perfect homemade pineapple glaze/sauce. This pineapple ham recipe is now my go-to during the holidays. The best part? It’s so freaking easy to make. The “hardest” part is garnishing the ham with pineapples and cherries. The sweet glaze has all your favorite ingredients, like honey, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and the perfect combination of holiday spices.
Are you drooling yet?! Now that I’ve talked this pineapple brown sugar ham up a bit, let me show you how to make it!
Baked Pineapple Glazed Ham Video Tutorial
Visual learner? I got you, boo boo! Below, you can watch a quick 3-minute video tutorial showing exactly how I make my pineapple and brown sugar glazed holiday ham. Keep reading for a breakdown of ingredients, directions, and tips to perfect this already crazy simple recipe.
Ingredients for Baked Ham with Pineapple and Brown Sugar
Y’all know Cousin Rosie is all about the simple ingredients here at I Heart Recipes. This pineapple ham recipe is no exception! Cooking for the holidays is challenging enough. Here’s a quick overview of everything you need to make a baked pineapple and brown sugar ham.
Pro-tip: Remember to check the recipe card below for exact ingredient measurements!
- Whole Ham: I use fully cooked, smoked spiral-cut ham.
- Pineapple Rings and Maraschino Cherries: we’ll use the pineapple rings and cherries to decorate the ham and the juices to create the brown sugar glaze.
- Brown Sugar: the base of the brown sugar glaze. Either light or dark brown sugar will work!
- Honey & Yellow Mustard: these two ingredients give sweet and tangy notes to the brown sugar pineapple glaze.
- Spices for Glaze: where the real holiday flavors come in! For my brown sugar glaze, I use ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, ground clove, and ground ginger. You can adjust according to your preferences, but I think this is the winning combo!
- Cornstarch: helps to thicken the pineapple brown sugar glaze into a sweet sauce.
What’s the best kind of ham to use for baked pineapple ham?
Picking the perfect holiday ham can be stressful. You have to consider oven space, cooking time, how much ham you need for each guest… and so many other thoughts! Don’t stress about it! This baked pineapple and brown sugar ham recipe works with any kind of holiday ham you choose.
Typically, you’ll see three main types of hams in grocery stores around the holidays:
- City hams are sold fully cooked, sometimes smoked, and cured. There are many different types and a very popular holiday ham option!
- Fresh hams are exactly what they sound like—fresh, uncooked hams. You’d likely have to go to a specialty butcher for this kind of ham.
- Country hams are cured, aged, and sold uncooked. You’ll mostly find these in more Southern recipes.
You’ll most likely buy a city ham—that’s what I used for this recipe! A smoked, fully cooked spiral ham. You can buy city hams whole (uncut) as well. There are pros and cons for each. Whole hams retain moisture better than a spiral cut but must be cooked/reheated longer. Spiral-cut hams can be moist and juicy when you cook them with a glaze like we’re doing in this recipe.
How much ham do you need per person?
If you go with a bone-in ham, plan on serving 1/3rd to 1/2 of a pound of ham per person. For boneless ham, plan on a little less—1/4th to 1/3rd of a pound per person.
Overall, the type of holiday ham you buy is completely up to you! However, remember that different hams will require different cooking times based on the size and if they’re pre-cooked or uncooked. So, carefully select a ham, read the package directions, and plan your holiday cooking schedule accordingly!
How to Make a Pineapple and Brown Sugar Baked Holiday Ham
We’re going to break this recipe down into three easy sections: garnishing the ham, making the pineapple and brown sugar glaze, and baking the ham. It really is that simple!
Step 1: Decorate the Ham with Pineapple and Cherries
Now, this might seem a little extra, but honey… Cousin Rosie ain’t nothin’ if not extra! Honestly, covering the ham with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries infuses even more flavor into the ham and makes it looks extra pretty when you serve it up.
First, drain the juice from the pineapple slices and cherries. You can use canned pineapple slices or fresh pineapple slices, but either way, you need pineapple juice! Then place the pineapple rings all over the surface of the ham, securing using toothpicks. Finally, pin a cherry into the center of each pineapple ring and around the open spaces on the surface of the ham, and then you’ve got a perfectly garnished, ready-to-glaze ham!
Step 2: Make the Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham Glaze
The next step is to make the glaze. In a large bowl or measuring cup, combine the pineapple juice, cherry juice, brown sugar, mustard, honey, and spices, then mix well. Next, add the cornstarch and stir until combined.
Transfer the sauce to a medium saucepan and bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. As the sauce comes to a boil, it will begin to thicken into a perfect glaze. This will take about 3-5 minutes, and then it’s done!
Step 3: Glaze and Bake the Ham
Your ham should be prepped and ready to go in a large roaster pan (I use these large aluminum pans). The last step is to pour the hot pineapple and brown sugar ham glaze over the ham, pineapples, and cherries, making sure the surface of the ham is nicely covered.
Put the ham into a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 30 minutes (or half the baking time—depending on the size of your ham). Once that time is up, take the ham out of the oven and baste it with the glaze and juices at the bottom of the roaster pan. You want to make sure all that delicious flavor is infused directly into the ham.
Return the ham to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time, about 20-30 minutes. Let the finished ham rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Baked Pineapple and Brown Sugar Ham Recipe Tips & FAQs
What I love about this recipe, aside from how easy it is to make, is how you can adjust it to your tastes! Y’all know I always say follow the written recipe, but even the best home cooks have their own recipe secrets they love to share. So, here are some pro tips and FAQs to make the most delicious holiday pineapple glazed ham possible.
Substitute Ingredients to Fit Your Tastes
You may not love every ingredient on my list, and that’s okay! Substitutions are okay in some cases. Here are some subs you can make without altering the recipe too much:
- Sub out honey for maple syrup.
- Use Dijon mustard or another kind of mustard you love instead of yellow mustard in the glaze.
- Adjust the spices. Allspice is a popular seasonal spice to include. Add some heat with a little bit of red pepper flake to counterbalance the sweetness.
- Add bourbon to the sauce to make it a bourbon brown sugar glaze.
- Skip the pineapple and cherry garnish all together if that’s not your thing (or if you’re short on time).
- Need to conserve oven space? Try my similar slow cooker brown sugar glazed ham recipe!
Keep Spiral Cut Ham from Drying Out
To keep the spiral-cut ham from drying out, cover the ham during the second half of baking time. Starting the ham off UNCOVERED allows the glaze to caramelize and seep into the spiral cuts, infusing the ham with sweet and tangy flavors. To avoid burning and loss of moisture, use aluminum foil loosely tented over the ham to finish baking.
Additionally, basting the ham in the middle of the baking time helps to keep the ham perfectly moist. Use a large spoon or baster to drizzle the pan juices over the top of the ham. Finally, let the ham rest before slicing and serving.
How Long Should You Bake Ham?
Again, baking time will depend on the size of your chosen ham, and if it’s pre-cooked or uncooked. However, ham should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit for safety. Baking time can range from 10 minutes per pound up to 40 minutes per pound. Store-bought ham should always come with cooking or reheating instructions, so make sure to carefully read any package directions before starting!
What to Do with Leftover Holiday Ham
The possibilities are endless when it comes to leftovers! While you may think this pineapple and brown sugar glazed ham is too sweet for any leftover dishes, let me prove you wrong. Some delicious leftover ham recipe options include:
- Chop up leftover ham and toss it into a breakfast casserole or breakfast quiche.
- Make homemade biscuits topped with poached eggs and ham slices for homemade eggs benedict.
- Make holiday ham sliders as an appetizer or light lunch.
- Try a ham and pineapple fried rice recipe.
- Use diced-up ham in my homemade scalloped potatoes recipe.
- You could even use this ham in collard greens—try it in place of ham hocks in my Southern collard greens or slow cooker collards recipe.
What to Serve with Pineapple and Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Serve this ham recipe with your favorite holiday side dishes. Anything from cornbread and stuffing to green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, candied yams, or coleslaw would pair well with baked ham. Don’t forget homemade dinner rolls, of course!
Ready to make the most delicious holiday ham recipe? Print out the recipe card below, watch my video tutorial, and get cookin’! This baked pineapple glazed ham is perfect for any holiday, from Thanksgiving and Christmas to Easter, New Year’s, you name it! I swear, it’ll be the best holiday ham recipe you’ve ever tried.
If you make this recipe, let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget; you can also follow along with all things Rosie and I Heart Recipes by following me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and check out all my cookbooks! I just released a brand new cookbook, Super Soul Food with Cousin Rosie, with many recipes you can’t find anywhere else.
Baked Ham with Pineapple and Brown Sugar Glaze
Ingredients
For the Ham:
- 8-10 lb smoked ham fully cooked
- 20 oz. can pineapple rings save juice
- 6 oz. jar maraschino cherries save juice
Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze:
- juice from canned pineapple rings
- juice from maraschino cherries
- 1/3 cup pure honey
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup brown sugar dark or light
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground clove
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- Make sure that the ham is completely thawed.
- Decorate the ham with pineapples & cherries, using the toothpicks to hold everything in place.
- In a large measuring cup or bowl, combine the pineapple juice, cherry juice, brown sugar, mustard, honey, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Stir everything, then sprinkle in the cornstarch.
- Whisk everything until lump free, then transfer the sauce/glaze to a saucepan.
- Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat and whisk constantly.
- Let boil for about 3-5 minutes, then turn the heat off.
- Pour the glaze all over the ham.
- Bake the ham, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
- Remove the ham from the oven and baste and extra glaze and pan juices.
- Place back in the oven for 20-30 minutes (still uncovered).
- Remove from the oven and let the ham sit for about 15 minutes.
- Serve & enjoy!
what if you use djion mustard?
That shouldn’t be a problem 🙂
Definitely will try this recipe! Looks amazing, thanks so much!
Thanks for coming by! XOXO
Thanks for adding another ham recipe. I tried the brown sugar one this Thanksgiving. While I found the glaze to be very flavorful, it didn’t really stay on and my pineapples and cherries fell off. This seems like it would fix all of that!
This is now the only recipe I will use for holiday hams. I usually don’t use recipes but this one sounded good so I stuck with it. Turned out excellent.
This is one delicious looking ham…..love all the combined flavors! Definitely making this recipe for New Years Eve! Pinned. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. xoxo
Thanks Mary! You too!
Do you have any ham glaze recipes using pop?
No, I don’t. Sorry.
Cousin I’ve followed you for a while and everything has been great. This is a first for ham became I thought mine was pretty good but baaaaby this is the new tradition!!!!
Thank you so much
Merry Christmas
Does it have to be a fully cooked smoked ham? What if I have a ham that’s not cooked ,will I have to make any adjustments?
If its not fully cooked, you’ll have to cook it longer.
This looks amazing. Would it be extra delicious if I scored my non spiraled ham? I’m guessing it would be. I plan on making the glaze the night before and cooking it at my friend’s house. With it’s leftovers going in either a Hungarian ham dill and bean soup or split pea with ham. I hope it’s not too sweet. Any thoughts? Thanks for the great tips and glaze!!!
You can use this recipe with non-sprial ham. Also leftovers would make great split pea or bean dishes
I have a family member that has a honey allergy. Is there a substitute that could be used?
You can use Maple syrup.
Hello,
I have a fully cooked ham. By the ham needing to be thawed, does that also mean the ham needs to be room temp before placing in the oven, or can the ham go directly in the oven cold? Thanks!
It can go in cold, but not frozen 🙂
Hello,
Can the ham be covered with foil or a roasting pan cover while cooking or does it need to be completely uncovered while cooking?
Thanks!
You can cover it if you’d like.
What if the game says on the packaging to cook for 15 minutes per pound, will this recipe still work?
It should! 🙂
I have never cooked a ham before, where would I buy a fully cooked ham for this recipe? Walmart? I live in NC so I have walmart, food lion, and Lowes foods where I am.
Yes, Walmart 🙂
I just used this recipe for my Christmas dinner. It turned out great! I added some Bourbon to the glaze mixture and it was awesome. I will definitely be using this again, it was a huge hit with my family!
Great website! The picture walk throughs and the video uploads make it very easy to follow along.
Thanks for trying!
This is the Best ham recipe ever!! I loooove it and my family can’t get enough. Thank you so much! I love all your recipes keep em coming!
Thanks for trying!
This ham is like what my mom made .It great . Thank you
I made your pineapple brown sugar hamand glaze it was declious.I got ham on sale at Kroger grocery store had Smithfield fully cooked hamfor ninety-nine cents a pound( $0.99) a pound Thursday before Easter. I got one that was 6.80 pounds.I had all the ingredients except the pineapple, cheery yellow mustard and pure honey. I had other ingredients in my cabinet the nugmet,clove, ginger , brown sugar, cinnamon because I used them in pass with your other recipes. When ever I follow your recipes it always come out great. You make cooking easy and simple. Your videos help me out .Thanks Rosie you made easter dinner 2018 great.I when Walmart the saturday before easter to get four missing ingredients which was pineapples, cherry,yellow mustard and pure honey.I got dole pineapple 20 oz can pineapple rings for $1.42,great value maschenio cherry for oneand fifty- three cents ($1.53) great value yellow mustard for thirty-four cents($0.34) cents and pure honey for two dollarsand ninety-eightcents($2.98).The sauceor glaze was easy. Thanks Rosie you made recipe simple and easy. I also made your soul food yams , your old fashion cornbread dressing with homemade onion gravy that use in recipe for Salisbury steak. The house smelled so good with aroma from the spices.
How well would this glaze and prep method work in a croc pot? Our oven will be very busy thanksgiving morning. Cooking this in a croc pot would be helpful.
You can make it in the crockpot.
Hi Rosie, I bought a ham that I have to cook before I saw your recipe. How long should I let my ham sit before using your recipe?
What do you mean by sit? 🙂
You never mention it, but the ham you show in your photographs seems to be a spiral cut ham. Other than the ham store, can you get a fully cooked ham from the supermarket that is spiral cut? It seems the spiral cut would be necessary to take in all of the wonderful juices and glaze.
It was a spiral.
Hello! I used this recipe yesterday for easter and it turned out great! I had never made ham before as I’m not a big fan but everyone really enjoyed. I used this glaze on a 6.9lb ham. I didn’t have any ground clove (or allspice for that matter) so I added a pinch more of cinnamon and nutmeg. My aunt insisted the bottom of my pan had to have liquid and I had a really large pan so I added a can of pepsi just so the bottom had (a sweet) liquid in it (I would have preferred more pineapple juice but didn’t have any juice of any sort on hand). Will reuse this thank you!!!!!!
I made this glaze for my ham and it was delicious!!!! I will definitely keep this one!!!
Ive been looking for this recipe forever. I dont like hams or turkeys, but this ome time around a lonely thanksgiving more about years ago I had this honey glazed ham from a store, It was the most beautiful thing ever and I nver found it again since. Till I came across this recipe and went with my gut out of all of them to try it, and this is that exact glaze. Ive been missing this honey glazed ham for 5 years. Thank you
I made this ham last Thanksgiving and it has been requested already this year as well. Great recipe. Thanks
Hello,
Will this work for a non spiral ham? How long should I cook it for if it is not spiralized?
ABSOLUTELY the BEST EVER!
If you do not make this recipe, you’ll be sorry – trust me. Listen to this….
Sadly, I’ve made two hams so far because I have friends who are able to visit other countries at different times. I’m hosting Christmas at my house early.
Long story short, I used COPYCAT HAMS, and another recipe from Helena, Montana. Both disgusting. My third guests are coming tomorrow and I made your ham recipe tonight and had a slice and it was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! The FLAVOR put the other recipes to shame. Thank you for sharing. You are a superstar – however, my snobby so-called friends didn’t care for the ham on first recipe. My other friends, like me, down to earth, said it was good. But I’m hoping this is a hit as it is for ME!
Tonight it’s EXCELLENT because it turned out so damn – great!
I can’t believe it.
Thank you again for saving at least one day! 🙂
Steve – from Chicago
Thank you so MUCH – Steve from Chicago
Thanks so much for trying Steve!
I made this recipe years ago for my now husband. He deploys two days after Thanksgiving this year. He asked if I could possibly make that amazing ham I made for him so long ago on what will be a special Thanksgiving. I have no idea how I possibly found this recipe again. But I am SO excited I did. He’s so happy to have this as one of our last family meals together before he is gone for so long. Thank you for such a perfect recipe! It truly is the BEST!
This comment made me so happy! I’m glad that you were able to find my recipe again! XOXO
This made such a thick & beautiful glaze! I did use less cloves, ground. Added whole cloves between pineapple slices. And maybe a tad more sugar & cherry juice. Cooked on a rack, above, chicken stock & water bath. It is scrumptious! Thanks!
Girl I have used so many of your recipes and they never disappoint. This was no exception, made it on Thanksgiving and again for Christmas Eve. The whole fam loved it.
I followed American test kitchen recipe for Christmas but was disappointed. I made your recipe tonight and it was the BEST ever!! Thank you!! Every holiday ham in my family will be cooked this way. SO AWESOME!!!!!
Can I make this the night before, cover and store in the refrigerator overnight and serve at room temperature the next day? Thank you, Cynthia
Hi Cynthia! You sure can!
Thank you so much, Rosie!
Best ham glaze I ever made. Thank you!
Thank you so much for trying my recipe Michelle!! I appreciate you leaving a comment!
Have used this glaze for years. It’s great
Thanks so much for the review Sandra!
I’ll make it for Christmas, looks amazing.
Thank you Rosie.
Rosie I’m cooking this as I text you and it smells delicious can’t wait to eat
Thank you xoxo
Enjoy! XOXO
This is great only thing I changed I cooked it in my smoker