Holiday Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze, Pineapple & Cherries
This classic holiday ham is glazed with a sweet and tangy mix of brown sugar, pineapple juice, cherry juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Topped with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Using a pre-cooked spiral ham makes this recipe easy to prepare—just glaze, bake, and serve. Perfect for Easter, Christmas, or Sunday dinner, and ideal for feeding a crowd with leftovers to spare.
Servings 14
Ingredients
- 9-12 lb Bone In Spiral Ham (Half Ham)
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Pineapple Juice (from the can of pineapple rings)
- 1/4 Cup Maraschino Cherry Juice
- 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 2 tbsp Maple Syrup (or Honey)
- 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp Cold Water
- 20 oz Can of Pineapple Rings in 100% Pineapple Juice
- 10 oz Jar of Maraschino Cherries (you will not use the whole jar)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9x13 baking dish with two long sheets of foil, one lengthwise and one widthwise.
- In a saucepan over low heat, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, cherry juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Mix cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl, then stir into the glaze. Simmer another 2 minutes to thicken. Remove from heat.
- Place ham cut-side up in the pan. Pour about 1 cup of glaze between slices.
- Decorate with pineapple rings and cherries, securing each with toothpicks.
- Brush glaze all over the ham, especially the top and front. Loosely cover with foil.
- Bake for 1½ hours. Remove from oven, brush on remaining glaze, re-cover loosely, and return to oven for another 1½ hours or until ham reaches 115°F.
- Baste with pan juices, let rest for 10–15 minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
Make-Ahead: You can bake the ham earlier in the day or even the day before. Just slice it and store it in a baking dish covered tightly with foil. Reheat at 300°F, covered, until warmed through (about 20–30 minutes).
Leftovers: Store sliced ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It freezes well too—just wrap tightly and store for up to 2 months.