Description
Tender, sweet, and beautifully caramelized, this baked ham with pineapple is a classic Christmas centerpiece with minimal prep and rich holiday flavor.
Ingredients
10–12 lb fully cooked ham (bone-in, spiral cut preferred)
20 oz canned pineapple slices (retain juice)
¼ cup honey
½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp water
Maraschino cherries (optional)
Toothpicks
Foil
Instructions
1. Let ham sit at room temperature for 1 hour and preheat oven to 325°F.
2. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir 3–4 minutes until sugar melts.
3. Mix cornstarch with water, then whisk into the glaze. Stir until thickened and glossy.
4. Place ham in a foil-lined roasting pan. Brush glaze over ham, working it into the slices.
5. Arrange pineapple rings and cherries on top. Secure with toothpicks.
6. Tent ham loosely with foil and bake for 1½ hours.
7. Uncover, baste with glaze, and bake 30 minutes more until golden and caramelized.
8. Remove from oven and rest 15–20 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Do not use the glaze packet that comes with the ham.
Spiral hams do not need scoring.
Cornstarch prevents clumps better than flour.
Insert whole cloves for decoration if desired.
Let ham come to room temperature before baking to ensure even cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Category: Christmas Dinner Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ pound
- Calories: 405
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 1020mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 70mg