Pineapple Ham Glaze
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If you’re making ham for Easter or any holiday gathering, this pineapple ham glaze is the easiest way to add a boost of flavor without any extra stress. I’ve always loved that old-school pineapple and ham combination, and this recipe makes it happen with simple pantry ingredients like pineapple juice, brown sugar, and spices. This easy ham glaze comes together in minutes and can also be made ahead of time.
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If you ever buy a ham that doesn’t come with one of those sachets of premade glaze, don’t fret! You can easily make a glaze from scratch, and honestly, it’s way better in every way. This homemade ham glaze starts with pineapple juice, plenty of brown sugar and honey for a finish that turns wonderfully sticky in the oven, and Dijon mustard for a little tang. I also add in some garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and cloves to make the glaze taste deeper, warmer, and a lot more special than anything you can buy at the store.
I especially love using this pineapple ham glaze when I make my baked spiral ham because it slips down between the slices and caramelizes beautifully around the edges.
Helpful Tips & Variations
- This recipe makes about 1¼ cups of glaze. That’s more than enough for an 8-10 pound ham, which yields about 12 servings. If you’re making a smaller 4-5 pound ham, I’d just halve this glaze recipe.
- Any ham will work. I always use a bone-in spiral cut ham with this pineapple brown sugar ham glaze. You can also use an uncut ham, just score the surface in a diamond pattern with a sharp knife so the glaze can work its way in. If needed, trim off the hard rind and some of the excess fat first. Boneless, smoked, and cured hams all work too. Make sure your ham isn’t already pre-glazed.
- Use this pineapple ham glaze for basting. I typically baste the ham with a bit of the glaze before baking, and then reserve the rest to baste 2-3 more times during the cooking process, spacing it out evenly, with the final baste during the last 20 minutes without the foil. For an 8-pound bone-in ham, I cook it at 325°F for 1.5-2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F. That usually works out to about 10-12 minutes per pound.
- Orange juice works in place of pineapple. If you’re allergic to pineapple, you can use an equal amount of orange juice instead.
- Maple syrup is an easy swap. If you prefer, you can swap the honey for pure maple syrup like I use in my crockpot ham recipe.
Pineapple Ham Glaze
Ingredients
- ¾ cup canned pineapple juice, (see note)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients until smooth and the sugar is dissolved.
- Use right away or make up to 3 days in advance (store in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm it up and give it a good stir before basting over your ham.)
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Pineapple Ham Glaze Step by Step
Gather all of your ingredients.
Mix the glaze: Add ¾ cup canned pineapple juice, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup honey, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp black pepper, and ⅛ tsp ground cloves to a small bowl. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the glaze is smooth.
Now your pineapple ham glaze is ready to use. You can use it right away or store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
Once I’ve doused my ham in this pineapple ham glaze and baked it to perfection, I love serving it with all the classic fixings. I usually pair it with a cozy cabbage casserole, a pan of roasted broccoli, and some kind of soft dinner roll to round everything out. I’m especially loving these cloverleaf rolls at the moment, but mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or a fresh green bean side would all fit right in too. This glaze is perfect for Easter, Christmas, or any holiday meal where you want your ham to really steal the show!
How to Store Leftovers
You can use this pineapple ham glaze right away, or make it up to 3 days ahead and keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to use it, warm it up a bit and give it a good stir so it’s smooth and easy to brush over your ham.
Recipes For Using Up Leftover Ham:
- This easy Ham and Potato Soup turns leftover ham and tender potatoes into a cozy and filling bowl.
- My Ham Salad mixes cold leftover ham with chopped vegetables, relish, and a creamy mayo dressing for a simple spread that’s great on crackers or tucked into sandwiches.
- This Ham and Potato Casserole is an easy, creamy, cheesy bake with leftover ham and frozen hash browns!
- I’d put my Ham and Gruyere Stuffing on any holiday table because the combination of ham, Gruyere, diced apples, and potato bread makes it taste rich, savory, and extra special.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
