Pineapple Glazed Ham

Why You’ll Love It

Festive presentation: With pineapple rings and maraschino cherries, this baked ham not only tastes amazing but looks like a centerpiece of holiday cheer.
Aromatic: The blend of ground cloves and star anise adds a cozy, aromatic spice that makes every bite feel like a warm holiday hug.
Easy to prepare: Simple steps and a foolproof glaze, this brown sugar and pineapple glazed ham is great for beginners.
Versatile and crowd-pleasing: This ham with pineapple brown sugar glaze pairs beautifully with all your favorite holiday sides.

Brown Sugar Pineapple Glazed Ham Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Dark brown sugar: Adds a rich sweetness that caramelizes beautifully on the ham, creating a glossy, flavorful crust.
Honey: Enhances the sweetness and helps the glaze stick to the ham.
Pineapple juice: Use the juice reserved from the pineapple rings.
Rum: Adds depth and a hint of warmth.
Apple cider vinegar: This really helps balance the rum glazed ham.
Dijon mustard: Don’t skip it – Dijon mustard adds the loveliest flavor.
Ground cloves: Infuses the ham with a warm, aromatic spice that enhances the holiday feel.
Pineapple rings: Classic garnish that bakes into the ham.
Maraschino cherries: Adds a pop of color and festivity to your brown sugar pineapple ham.
Star anise: Gives a licorice-like flavor.

How to Make Pineapple Glazed Ham

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare the ham: Secure pineapple rings over the top and sides of the ham using toothpicks. Add a maraschino cherry or star anise in the center of each pineapple ring.
Cover and bake: Bake ham covered with foil.
Make the pineapple ham glaze: In a small pan, cook the brown sugar, honey, pineapple juice, rum, vinegar, mustard, and cloves together until the mixture thickens slightly.
Glaze the ham: Spoon the brown sugar glaze over the entire ham. Continue baking, and baste with the glaze from the bottom of the pan over the ham.
Finish and serve: Once fully cooked, serve the ham with your favorite side dishes.

Substitutions and Variations

Brown sugar: Substitute with coconut sugar or maple syrup.
Honey: Replace with agave syrup or maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
Pineapple juice: Use orange juice or apple juice if pineapple juice is unavailable.
Rum: Swap with apple juice or pineapple juice for a non-alcoholic option, or try bourbon for a different flavor.
Apple cider vinegar: Use white wine vinegar or lemon juice as an alternative.
Maraschino cherries: Replace with fresh cherries or dried cranberries.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizer: Start with these pretty cranberry bites or this brie and cranberry crescent ring.
Main: Serve your baked ham as the hero of your meal with all the trimming.
Dessert: End with pumpkin spiced latte, these apple pie jello shots or these frosted cookies.

How to Store Pineapple Rum Baked Ham

Store: Store leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: May be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze it in slices or as a whole ham.
Thaw: Defrost the ham in the refrigerator for 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of ham, ensuring it’s completely defrosted before cooking
Reheat: Reheat the ham in a 300°F oven, loosely covered with foil, until warmed through, approximately 10 to 15 minutes per pound.