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Perfect Brown Sugar Pineapple Glazed Christmas Ham

brown sugar pineapple glazed ham - featured image
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A juicy, tender Christmas ham glazed with a sweet and tangy brown sugar and pineapple mixture, perfect for holiday dinners and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Fully cooked bone-in ham (8-10 pounds)
  • 1 ½ cups packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 can pineapple slices (about 20 ounces), juice reserved
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 8–10 whole cloves or ½ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Remove the ham from packaging and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Score the ham by making shallow diagonal cuts about ½ inch deep, spaced 1 inch apart to create a diamond pattern.
  3. Prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, honey, and cloves if using. Stir occasionally until sugar dissolves and glaze thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  4. Place the ham on a rack in the roasting pan. Pour ¼ cup water into the bottom of the pan to keep the ham moist during roasting.
  5. Baste the ham generously with the glaze using a brush. Optionally, tuck pineapple slices into the scored diamonds and secure with toothpicks.
  6. Roast the ham in the oven for about 15-18 minutes per pound (approximately 2.5 to 3 hours for an 8-10 lb ham), basting every 20 minutes with remaining glaze. Tent with foil if edges start to get too dark.
  7. Check the internal temperature; the ham is ready when it reaches 140°F (60°C). Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Notes

If the glaze thickens too much while basting, warm it slightly or add a splash of water to loosen. Tent the ham with foil if the glaze starts to burn. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking. Let the ham rest after roasting to redistribute juices. For a spicy twist, add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the glaze. Maple syrup can substitute honey for a different sweetness.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas ham, brown sugar glaze, pineapple glaze, holiday ham, glazed ham, easy holiday dinner, sweet and savory ham

Find it online: https://lumalunch.com/perfect-brown-sugar-pineapple-glazed-christmas-ham-recipe-easy-homemade-holiday-dinner/