Juicy Glazed Pineapple Spiral Ham Recipe for Holiday Magic

Succulent pineapple spiral ham brings a burst of tropical sweetness to your dinner table.

sweet and tangy flavors dance across perfectly glazed meat, creating an irresistible centerpiece.

Juicy ham slices practically melt in your mouth with each delectable bite.

Tropical ingredients combine to craft a showstopping main course that impresses everyone around the table.

Simple techniques guarantee a restaurant-quality dish without complicated preparations.

Marinating techniques infuse rich, complex flavors that make this recipe stand out from standard ham offerings.

Master this delightful culinary creation and watch faces light up with pure satisfaction.

Sweet Glazed Holiday Ham: Festive Favorites

• Elevate Family Gatherings: This ham transforms ordinary meals into memorable celebrations, bringing everyone together with its mouthwatering aroma and stunning presentation.
• Master Simple Gourmet Cooking: Surprisingly straightforward recipe lets home cooks create a professional-looking centerpiece without complicated techniques or advanced culinary skills.
• Customize with Flavor Twists: Flexible glaze and pineapple additions allow personal creativity, letting you experiment with sweet, tangy, or spicy variations to suit different taste preferences.
• Quick Impressive Meal Prep: Minimal ingredients and straightforward steps mean you can prepare a restaurant-quality main course with minimal kitchen time and maximum delicious results.

Glazed Ham: What You’ll Need

• Ham: A classic holiday centerpiece with a rich, savory flavor that serves as the primary protein for the meal.

• Brown Sugar, Honey, Dijon Mustard: A sweet and tangy combination that creates a delicious caramelized coating for the ham.

• Crushed Pineapple, Whole Cloves: Pineapple adds a tropical sweetness and moisture, while cloves provide a warm, aromatic spice to enhance the ham's flavor.

Easy Steps for Holiday Ham

Step 1: Create Delectable Glaze

Combine brown sugar, honey, mustard, and orange juice in a saucepan.

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer.

Let the glaze bubble and thicken for 20-30 minutes until it reaches a syrupy consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Step 2: Prepare The Oven

Warm your oven to a cozy 325°F, creating the perfect environment for your ham to become a showstopping centerpiece.

Step 3: Artfully Score The Ham

Using a sharp knife, create elegant diamond-shaped patterns across the ham’s surface.

Make cuts about 1/2 inch deep, spacing them approximately 1 inch apart.

This technique helps the glaze penetrate and adds a beautiful presentation.

Step 4: Initial Baking Session

Cover the ham with foil and bake for one hour, allowing the meat to start warming through and becoming tender.

Step 5: First Glaze Application

Generously brush half of the prepared glaze over the ham, ensuring it seeps into the scored cuts.

The glaze will begin to caramelize and create a mouthwatering aroma.

Step 6: Add Tropical Twist

Sprinkle crushed pineapple into the ham’s cuts, pressing gently.

Pour the remaining glaze over the top, adding a bright, sweet dimension to the dish.

Step 7: Final Baking

Bake the ham uncovered for 15 minutes, letting the glaze start to caramelize and create a golden exterior.

Step 8: Achieve Perfect Doneness

Continue baking, basting every 10 minutes with pan drippings.

Monitor the internal temperature until the ham reaches 140°F, which typically takes an additional 40-60 minutes.

The result will be a succulent, glossy ham that’s sure to impress your guests.

Tips for Sweet, Glazed Perfection

• Score the ham carefully to create diamond-like patterns, allowing glaze to penetrate deeply and keep meat juicy.
• Adjust glaze ingredients to balance sweetness by reducing sugar or adding a splash of apple cider vinegar for tang.
• Cover ham initially during baking to lock in moisture, then uncover to develop beautiful caramelized exterior.
• Always use a meat thermometer to ensure ham reaches 140F for perfect doneness without overcooking.
• Press crushed pineapple into score marks to infuse extra moisture and tropical sweetness throughout the ham.

Holiday Ham: Try These Flavors

• Maple Mustard Makeover: Replace brown sugar with pure maple syrup and add whole grain mustard for a tangy, rich flavor profile that complements the ham's natural sweetness.
• Herb-Crusted Holiday Ham: Substitute pineapple with fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage, creating an aromatic herb coating that infuses the ham with earthy Mediterranean notes.
• Low-Sodium Lean Version: Use honey instead of sugar, swap regular ham for a lower-sodium cut, and incorporate orange zest to enhance flavor without additional salt.
• Gluten-Free Festive Option: Ensure all glaze ingredients are certified gluten-free, use coconut sugar as an alternative sweetener, and verify ham is processed without gluten-containing additives.

Serving Sweet Glazed Holiday Ham

• Festive Family Feast: Perfect companions to elevate your holiday ham experience.
• Elegant Side Dish Pairing: Roasted garlic mashed potatoes complement the sweet and savory ham, creating a luxurious plate that balances rich flavors.
• Colorful Vegetable Medley: Glazed carrots or honey-roasted Brussels sprouts add vibrant color and nutrition, matching the ham's caramelized sweetness.
• Wine and Beverage Match: A crisp Riesling or sparkling apple cider cuts through the ham's richness, providing a refreshing counterpoint to the meal's intense flavors.

Storage Made Simple for Glazed Ham

• Store leftover ham in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for 3-4 days, ensuring it's wrapped tightly to prevent drying out.
• Slice ham into portions, wrap securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Label container with date for easy tracking.
• Place ham slice on microwave-safe plate, cover with damp paper towel. Heat on 50% power in 30-second intervals, checking temperature to prevent overcooking.
• Preheat oven to 325F. Place ham in baking dish, add splash of water or broth. Cover with foil, warm for 10-15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 140F.

FAQs

• How do I know if I'm scoring the ham correctly?

Make shallow cuts about 1/2 inch deep in a diamond pattern across the ham’s surface, ensuring cuts are roughly 1 inch apart. This helps the glaze penetrate and creates an attractive presentation.

• Can I use a different type of ham for this recipe?

Yes, you can use bone-in or boneless ham. Just ensure the ham is fully cooked before glazing and adjust cooking times based on ham weight. Select a high-quality, fully cooked ham for best results.

• What if my glaze becomes too thick or burns?

If the glaze gets too thick, add a little water or orange juice to thin it. Stir constantly and keep heat low to prevent burning. Remove from heat immediately if it starts to darken too quickly.

Pineapple Spiral Ham Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent Pineapple Spiral Ham delivers a symphony of sweet and savory flavors that dance across holiday tables. Glazed with caramelized pineapple and brown sugar, this centerpiece promises to wow guests with its juicy, tender meat and irresistible golden-brown crust.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 spiral-sliced city ham (6–9 pounds)

Glaze and Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 12 ounces (355 milliliters) cola or Dr. Pepper
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) low-sodium soy sauce
• 1.5 tablespoons (22.5 milliliters) Dijon mustard
• 1.5 tablespoons (22.5 milliliters) grainy mustard
• 20 ounces (567 grams) crushed pineapple (1 large can)

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Craft a rich glaze by combining ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the mixture thickens to a syrupy consistency.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°F, preparing for a delectable holiday centerpiece.
3. Transform the ham’s surface with precise diagonal cuts, creating a 1/2-inch deep crosshatch pattern approximately 1 inch apart.
4. Cover the ham and roast for 1 hour, allowing initial flavor development and even heating.
5. Apply half the prepared glaze generously, ensuring it seeps into the scored cuts for maximum flavor penetration.
6. Nestle crushed pineapple into the cut lines, then drizzle an additional portion of glaze over the ham’s surface.
7. Uncover the ham and continue roasting, basting every 10 minutes with pan juices until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (typically 40-60 minutes total).
8. Remove from oven and let rest briefly before serving, allowing juices to redistribute and ensure a succulent, glazed holiday ham.

Notes

• Scoring Technique Slice shallow diamond patterns into ham’s surface to help glaze penetrate and create beautiful caramelized edges.
• Glaze Consistency Slowly simmer glaze until it thickens like maple syrup, which helps it cling better to the ham’s surface.
• Temperature Control Watch ham closely during final baking stage to prevent burning, using a meat thermometer for precise doneness.
• Flavor Variations Experiment with different fruit preserves like apricot or orange marmalade instead of traditional pineapple for unique flavor profiles.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 276 kcal
• Sugar: 29 g
• Sodium: 490 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg