Name: Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h 15 min
Total time: 2 h 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 10-12 pound fully cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham; 20 oz canned pineapple slices (retain juice); Maraschino cherries (optional); Toothpicks; Foil; ¼ cup honey; ½ cup brown sugar (dark or light); ½ teaspoon ground cloves; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 tablespoon water

There's something absolutely irresistible about this Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe that combines sweet, tangy, and warm spice notes all baked right into a glorious golden ham. It’s the kind of dish that turns any meal into a celebration, and trust me, it’s easier to make than you might think.

A cooked ham covered with shiny brown glaze, topped with multiple yellow pineapple rings arranged in a scattered pattern. Each pineapple ring holds a bright red maraschino cherry at the center, held in place by wooden toothpicks. The glaze looks thick and sticky, coating the ham and fruit evenly. The ham sits on crumpled silver foil, and the background is a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, this baked ham recipe is a holiday staple for me, but it’s also great for Sunday dinners or whenever you want something comforting and special. The pineapple glaze makes every bite pop with flavor.

Perfect Balance: The combo of brown sugar, honey, and pineapple juice creates a glaze that’s sweet but not overpowering, complementing the saltiness of the ham beautifully.
Simple to Make: With minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, this recipe lets you wow guests without standing over the stove all day.
Customizable: You can add cherries, adjust spices, or even swap ingredients for your taste, making it a flexible go-to.
Show-Stopping Presentation: Glazed with pineapple slices and cherries, your ham looks as amazing as it tastes.

The image shows a close-up of a sliced baked ham on a white plate. The ham is sliced into many thin, even layers that fan out, showing a mix of shiny, golden-brown glazed edges and pinkish inner meat. The surface of the ham has a caramelized, slightly crispy texture with darker brown spots. The plate also has bits of cooked pineapple near the bottom left, adding a soft yellow contrast to the rich brown and pink colors of the ham. The background surface is a white marbled texture with a small part of a white and black checkered cloth visible at the bottom right. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in the Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe plays a starring role, balancing sweetness, spice, and moisture to keep the ham juicy and flavorful. Here’s what you’ll need and why these work so well together.

Flat lay of fresh bone-in spiral-cut ham with a natural pink hue, a small pile of golden yellow pineapple slices glistening with juice on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl filled with glossy amber honey, a small white bowl containing light to medium brown granulated sugar, a small white bowl with fine ground cinnamon powder, a small white bowl with ground cloves, a small white bowl holding a smooth white cornstarch powder, a small white bowl with clear water, and a few bright red maraschino cherries all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Pineapple slices and juice: Adds bright acidity and natural sweetness that cuts through the richness of the ham.
Honey: Intensifies the glaze’s sweetness and gives it that glossy finish.
Brown sugar (dark or light): Provides deep caramel notes and helps the glaze thicken perfectly.
Ground cloves and cinnamon: These warm spices bring a cozy, festive flavor without being overwhelming.
Cornstarch and water: A simple slurry that thickens the glaze without making it gritty or heavy.
Fully cooked bone-in spiral ham: The star of the show—a tender, flavorful ham that’s already sliced for easy serving.
Maraschino cherries (optional): These add that classic festive look and a pop of color.
Toothpicks and foil: Toothpicks hold your garnish in place; foil tenting prevents drying without trapping too much moisture.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to add a little twist by experimenting with the spices—sometimes a dash of ginger or nutmeg gives it an extra zing. You can also skip the cherries if you prefer a more rustic look or swap honey for maple syrup if that's what you have on hand.

Variation: I once tried adding fresh rosemary sprigs under the pineapple slices—totally elevated the aroma and added a subtle herbal note I loved.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe

Step 1: Bring the Ham to Room Temperature

Before you do anything, take your ham out of the fridge and let it sit for about an hour. This helps it cook evenly—putting a cold ham straight into the oven can dry it out or make the cooking uneven. Trust me, this step makes a difference in tenderness.

Step 2: Preheat and Prepare

Set your oven to 325°F and line your roasting pan with foil for easy cleanup. If your ham isn’t already spiral-sliced or scored, score it lightly so the glaze can soak in. For spiral-cut hams, no scoring is usually needed.

Step 3: Make the Pineapple Glaze

Heat a saucepan over medium-high and combine brown sugar, honey, pineapple juice from the can, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir it for 3-4 minutes until everything dissolves and melds together. Then, whisk together cornstarch and water, adding it slowly to the glaze to thicken it up nicely. It should be glossy and coat the back of a spoon.

Step 4: Glaze and Garnish the Ham

Place the ham in the pan and brush the glaze all over, making sure to get some in those slices or scored cuts. Arrange pineapple slices on top, securing each with a toothpick. Drop a cherry in the center of the pineapple rings if you’re using them. Then tent loosely with foil—not too tight or the glaze will stick.

Step 5: Bake and Baste

Bake the ham for about 1½ hours, then remove the foil and baste it generously with the glaze again. Return it uncovered for another 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it near the end—the glaze should caramelize slightly but not burn.

Step 6: Rest Before Serving

Once out of the oven, let the ham rest for at least 20 minutes to redistribute the juices. This is key to keeping every slice moist and tender when you carve it.

Top Tip

I’ve made this Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe countless times, and a few things have really helped make it perfect every time. These tips come straight from those kitchen experiments that saved me from a drying ham or a glaze that just didn’t set right.

Bring It to Room Temp: Don't rush this step. Even though you’re excited, letting the ham warm up ensures gentle, even cooking.
Slow Glaze Thickening: Add the cornstarch slurry slowly while stirring to avoid clumps. I learned this the hard way when it got lumpy!
Foil Tenting: Tent loosely to prevent the glaze from sticking but still trap enough heat and moisture.
Watch the Bake Time Closely: Depending on your ham size, adjust baking time. Better to check early than to dry out your star dish.

How to Serve Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe

baked ham with pineapple - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I always stick with the classic pineapple rings and maraschino cherries—they look festive and give every slice a little burst of color and sweetness. Sometimes I add a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for a pop of fresh green, especially if we’re serving it at a gathering.

Side Dishes

This glaze pairs perfectly with traditional sides like scalloped potatoes, roasted green beans, or sweet corn. I also love adding a fresh cranberry sauce or a tangy coleslaw to balance the sweetness of the ham.

Creative Ways to Present

When hosting bigger celebrations, I like to carve the ham right at the table, arranging slices fanned out on a large platter with pineapple slices tucked around the edges. Sometimes I drizzle a little extra glaze warmed up just before serving for that extra shine and flavor boost.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After the feast, I wrap the leftover ham tightly in foil or airtight containers and keep it in the fridge. It stays moist and delicious for up to 5 days, which makes easy lunches or quick dinners.

Freezing

If you want to freeze leftovers, slice the ham first and pack it in freezer-safe bags with some of the glaze. This helps prevent freezer burn and keeps it tasty. It can last up to 3 months frozen.

Reheating

To reheat, I like to cover the ham slices with foil and warm them gently in a 325°F oven, brushing on a little extra glaze to bring back that fresh-baked shine. Microwave works too for quick reheating, but avoid overcooking to keep it tender.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

You can absolutely use fresh pineapple, but canned pineapple juice is key to getting that perfect glaze consistency and sweetness. If using fresh, you might want to add a bit of extra honey or sugar to balance the tartness.

Do I need to score a spiral-sliced ham?

No need to score a spiral-sliced ham since it’s already pre-sliced, which makes it easier to glaze and serve without extra work.

Can I prepare this recipe ahead of time?

You can prep the glaze a day ahead and store it in the fridge. It’s best to glaze the ham just before baking for the freshest flavor and appearance.

What if I don’t have cornstarch?

Flour can be used as a thickener but may cause clumps in the glaze. To avoid this, try mixing it with a bit of cold water before adding slowly to the glaze. Cornstarch tends to give a smoother finish.

Final Thoughts

This Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe has become one of my favorites to share because it strikes that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and finger-licking good. I love how it brings everyone together around the table and leaves the kitchen smelling incredible for hours. Give it a try—you’ll have people asking for seconds and the recipe long after the meal’s over.