There’s something so delightful about the sweet- and-spicy aroma that fills your kitchen when making my Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe. This dish strikes the perfect balance between a tender, savory ham and a luscious, caramelized pineapple glaze that truly makes any meal feel like a celebration.

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

I’ve made this baked ham with pineapple glaze more times than I can count, and every time, it’s a hit. The glaze’s sweet and warm spices combined with juicy pineapple slices make it a centerpiece that your family and guests will remember. Plus, it's surprisingly simple to prepare!

Perfectly Balanced Flavor: The tangy pineapple and brown sugar glaze complements the savory ham beautifully without overpowering it.
Easy Yet Elegant: You don't need to be a pro in the kitchen to nail this recipe; it looks fancy but comes together quickly.
Great for Gatherings: It’s perfect for holidays, Sunday dinners, or any time you want to feel festive.
Customizable: You can tweak spices or add cherries for a pop of color and extra sweetness.

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

Every ingredient in this baked ham with pineapple glaze recipe plays a role in creating layers of flavor and perfect texture. Plus, most of these staples are easy to find, which keeps things stress-free when shopping.

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

Canned Pineapple Slices: The juice adds natural sweetness and acidity that brighten up the glaze.
Honey: Provides a gentle floral sweetness that helps balance the spices.
Brown Sugar (light or dark): Gives a rich, molasses-like depth and helps create that beautiful caramelization.
Ground Cloves: Adds warm, aromatic spice without overwhelming the dish.
Cinnamon: Enhances the glaze’s cozy flavor profile.
Cornstarch: Thickens the glaze so it clings nicely to the ham.
Water: Combines with cornstarch to make the slurry that thickens the glaze smoothly.
Fully Cooked Ham (Bone-in, Spiral Cut Recommended): Bone-in spiral ham is juicy and slices beautifully—plus, you can skip scoring if it's pre-sliced.
Maraschino Cherries (Optional): For a splash of color and extra festive flair.
Toothpicks: To secure pineapples and cherries to the ham, so they stay put while baking.
Foil: For tenting the ham to keep it moist during the first phase of baking.

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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 love adding maraschino cherries because they brighten the ham visually, but you could also experiment with fresh pineapple chunks or even a splash of bourbon in the glaze for a richer taste. The great thing about this baked ham with pineapple glaze recipe is how easy it is to make it your own.

Variation: One year, I swapped out ground cloves for allspice to give the glaze a slightly different warmth, which my family adored.

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

Step 1: Bring Your Ham to Room Temperature

This might seem like an extra step, but it really helps the ham heat evenly in the oven. I usually take it out of the fridge about an hour before cooking. This way, the icy cold don’t shock the meat and everything finishes beautifully.

Step 2: Prepare the Pineapple Glaze

While the ham warms up, I heat the brown sugar, honey, pineapple juice, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir it for 3-4 minutes until everything’s blended and the sugar dissolves. Then, I whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl to make a slurry and add it gradually to the simmering glaze until thickened. This step ensures a sticky, luscious coating for the ham.

Step 3: Glaze and Secure the Pineapple

Lay your ham on a foil-lined sheet pan or roasting pan. I use a brush to spread the glaze evenly over the ham’s exterior, making sure to get into any crevices or slices. Next, I carefully secure pineapple slices and maraschino cherries with toothpicks all over the ham for a festive touch. Don’t wrap the foil tightly—just tent it to keep moisture in while baking.

Step 4: Bake and Baste

I bake the ham at 325°F, covered with foil for about 1½ hours. Then, I remove the foil and baste it again with the remaining glaze, letting it bake uncovered for another 30 minutes so it caramelizes beautifully. Depending on your ham’s weight and type, baking times will vary, so keep the temperature and tenderness in mind.

Step 5: Rest Before Slicing

Once out of the oven, I let the ham rest for at least 20 minutes; this helps the juices redistribute, making each slice tender and juicy. You’ll notice the glaze is perfectly sticky and flavorful—just what you want!

Top Tip

After making this recipe dozens of times, a few tricks have made all the difference. Here are the tips I swear by to get perfect results every time:

Room Temperature Ham: Don’t skip this! Bringing your ham to room temp helps it cook evenly and stay juicy.
Glaze Thickness: Make sure to add the cornstarch slurry slowly and stir continuously to avoid clumps—patience here equals a silky glaze.
Tenting with Foil: Wrap the ham loosely so the glaze doesn’t stick to the foil but the ham stays moist.
Basting Timing: Baste the ham halfway through baking—and again at the end with no foil—for that gorgeous caramelized finish.

How to Serve Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe

pineapple glazed ham - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

When it comes to garnishes, I like to stick with the classics — extra pineapple slices around the plate make it look stunning, and adding some fresh parsley adds a pop of green that’s not too overwhelming. Sometimes, if I’m feeling fancy, I’ll sprinkle on some chopped toasted pecans for a bit of crunch.

Side Dishes

This ham pairs beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans almondine. I also love serving it alongside a fresh cranberry sauce or a warm sweet potato casserole. These sides balance the sweetness and give you a well-rounded plate.

Creative Ways to Present

For holidays, I’ve arranged the ham on a large platter surrounded by roasted vegetables and pineapple chunks. You could also slice it thick and serve it open-faced on toasted rolls with a bit of Dijon mustard for a fun twist on sandwiches. Presentation makes a big difference—and it’s so fun to get creative here!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I wrap leftover ham tightly in foil or store in an airtight container in the fridge. It stays moist and flavorful for about 4-5 days, which is perfect for quick sandwiches or salads the next few days after your big meal.

Freezing

If you want to freeze leftovers, slice the ham first, then wrap portions tightly in plastic wrap and foil to prevent freezer burn. It freezes well for up to 2 months without losing much flavor or texture.

Reheating

To reheat, I cover slices with foil and warm them in a 325°F oven until heated through—usually about 15-20 minutes. This gentle reheating keeps the ham juicy and avoids drying it out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

Fresh pineapple can be used, but canned has the advantage of the juice, which adds sweetness and acidity. If using fresh, consider adding a bit of brown sugar and water to create the glaze liquid.

Do I need to score the ham before glazing?

For spiral-cut hams, scoring isn’t necessary since they are pre-sliced. For whole hams without slices, scoring the surface helps the glaze penetrate and caramelize better.

Can I prepare this recipe ahead of time?

You can prepare the glaze ahead and keep it refrigerated for up to 2 days. However, it’s best to glaze and bake the ham fresh for optimal texture and flavor.

What if I don’t have cornstarch for the glaze?

While flour is a common thickener, it tends to clump in this glaze, so I don’t recommend substituting it. If you don’t have cornstarch, you can let the glaze reduce a bit longer to thicken naturally.

Final Thoughts

This Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze Recipe holds a special place at my table because it’s both comforting and festive. It’s the kind of dish that brings everyone together and fills the home with warmth and anticipation. I genuinely hope you give it a try and enjoy those sticky, sweet bites as much as I do—I’m confident it’ll quickly become a favorite in your kitchen too!