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Baked Ham with Pineapple

Baked Ham with Pineapple

Baked Ham with Pineapple is a crowd-pleasing dish that blends the juicy sweetness of caramelized pineapple with the savory richness of tender, fully cooked bone-in ham. This simple yet flavorful recipe features a balanced glaze of brown sugar, Dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar, perfect for holidays, family dinners, or festive occasions. The golden pineapple slices topped with whole cloves add a visually stunning and aromatic touch. Easy to prepare and customizable, this recipe ensures a deliciously moist, sweet, and savory centerpiece for any meal.

  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 8-10 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Ham

  • 1 bone-in, fully cooked ham (size according to guests)

Fruit

  • Fresh or canned pineapple slices (rings), enough to cover ham surface

Glaze

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Spices

  • Whole cloves (enough to secure pineapple slices, about 12-15)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare the Ham: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Place your fully cooked bone-in ham on a rack inside a roasting pan, cut side down to ensure even heat circulation during baking.
  2. Score the Surface: Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern about 1/8 inch deep. This allows the glaze to penetrate and enhances flavor.
  3. Attach Pineapple Slices and Cloves: Arrange pineapple rings firmly over the scored ham surface. Secure each pineapple ring in place by inserting a whole clove into the center of each ring to add aromatic flavor and hold slices during baking.
  4. Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, Dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar until smooth and well combined.
  5. Glaze and Bake: Generously brush the glaze over the ham and pineapple. Place the ham uncovered in the oven and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, basting with additional glaze every 20 minutes to build a caramelized, shiny finish.
  6. Rest and Serve: Once baking is complete, remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes to retain juices. Slice and serve warm, optionally garnishing with freshly chopped parsley or thyme for a fresh herbal note.

Notes

  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140°F (60°C) for safe and perfectly heated meat.
  • Scoring the ham is essential for allowing the glaze to deeply flavor the meat and to help pineapple caramelize.
  • Basting regularly during baking forms a flavorful, glossy crust on both the ham and pineapple.
  • Choosing a bone-in ham helps retain moisture and tenderness.
  • Rest the ham after baking before slicing to lock in juices and maintain moistness.
  • If you don’t have whole cloves, ground cloves can be used in the glaze, though it won’t provide the same visual or aromatic effect.
  • Cover the ham loosely with foil while baking if you want to prevent drying out, removing foil the last 20 minutes to caramelize.
  • Author: Lina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 150g)
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 18g
  • Sodium: 950mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 26g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 22g
  • Cholesterol: 65mg

Keywords: baked ham, pineapple ham, holiday ham, glazed ham, sweet and savory ham, festive ham recipe