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This is the best ever Pineapple Glaze for Ham! Made in just 10 minutes, this easy glaze is packed with brown sugar, pineapple juice, and simple spices. Slather over a moist, tender ham for an addictive holiday meal with tons of flavor and sticky, caramelized edges.
Serve this ham with other holiday favorites like scalloped potatoes, pull apart bread, and spicy bacon deviled eggs!
The fastest, easiest way to make ham taste AMAZING is adding a glaze. This pineapple ham glaze is ultra-sticky and sweet, with tons more flavor than the little brown sugar glaze packet that comes with many hams. It adds that wow factor to your Christmas or Easter ham!
This is our go-to glaze for our Electric Roaster Ham recipe. But it is equally delicious on a classic baked ham or spiral ham recipe for your Easter or Christmas dinner.
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"Omg!!! I Made this glaze for a church function and it was a hit! Super delicious!!!" - Eleni
Why this recipe is great
- Quick & Easy: Simple recipe with a cooking time of 10 minutes!
- Rave Worthy: Better than Honey Baked Ham - for real!
- Sticky Glaze: Flavorful and adheres perfectly without chopping any fresh pineapple!
- Thick & Rich: The consistency of this helps it caramelize beautifully! 🤤🤤🤤
- Versatile: Great for spiral cut ham, boneless ham, ham steaks, or even pork chops!
Pineapple glaze for ham ingredients
Ham glaze is made of a few simple ingredients.
- Pineapple juice: You can use the juice from canned pineapple slices or pineapple chunks, or just buy juice. You will need one cup pineapple juice.
- Brown sugar: We prefer light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar can be used.
- Cornstarch: Just a touch to thicken. This should go in to room temperature ingredients, not warm.
- Butter: We use salted, but unsalted butter is fine too.
- Stone ground mustard: You can substitute with dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard instead.
- Seasonings: You’ll need garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, and cloves.
How to make pineapple ham glaze
These step-by-step instructions show how easy it is to make pineapple-glazed ham.
Whisk everything together in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often. Once simmering, cook for one minute, or until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat. If making ahead, store in the refrigerator. If using immediately, brush the pineapple glaze on the outside of the ham covering the completely, and if using on a spiral ham, be sure to also separate the ham slices gently and allow some pineapple glaze to drip in between.
Questions and Answers
Can I make pineapple glaze for ham ahead?
Yes, you can make pineapple ham glaze ahead and store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. The next day or when ready to use, reheat it on half power in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until it is loose.
How much ham does this glaze cover?
This recipe makes about 1.5 cups of pineapple glaze, which is enough for a 9-12 pound spiral cut whole ham.
Why do you need to glaze a ham?
Ham glaze is a must for a stunning holiday ham. Glaze adds flavor, moisture, and that deliciously sticky, caramelized texture that your favorite Honey Baked Ham has.
Do you glaze a ham before or after baking?
Both! We glaze our ham before baking, then again at the end for deliciously sticky edges.
What kind of ham should I use?
Our family favorites is spiral sliced ham, however this would work on any bone-in ham.
Can I use orange juice instead of pineapple juice?
yes, orange juice can be used as a substitute for pineapple juice when making pineapple ham glaze.
Tips & Tricks
- Whisk the pineapple glaze really well before and during cooking to prevent the cornstarch from clumping.
- Don’t simmer the sweet glaze too long or it will become too thick.
- If reheating, use a low heat on the stove or half power in the microwave until it is loose enough to brush.
- Brush a little glaze on leftover ham to make it as delicious as the first time!
Other holiday recipes
- Ham in Electric Roaster - A great option for keeping the oven free during big holiday meals! The main dish ham bakes in a disposable roasting pan for an easy way to clean up!
- Make Ahead Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes - One of the family favorite recipes! Cover with aluminum foil and freeze for a delicious make-ahead side dish!
- Fresh Green Beans with Bacon - The most delicious way to round out your Thanksgiving dinner menu!
- Buttery Frozen Dinner Rolls - An easy recipe to have on hand when the holidays roll around!
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Recipe
BEST Pineapple Glaze for Ham (Easy & Classic Recipe!)
This is the best ever Pineapple Glaze for Ham! Made in just 10 minutes, this easy glaze is packed with brown sugar, pineapple juice, and simple spices. Slather over a moist, tender ham for an addictive holiday meal with tons of flavor and sticky, caramelized edges.
4.98 from 34 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Condiment, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 1.5 cups (enough for a 9-12lb spiral ham)
Calories: 85kcal
Author: Borrowed Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice (canned or bottled)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard or dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon cloves
Instructions
Whisk everything together in a small saucepan off the heat.
1 cup pineapple juice, 1 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon cloves
Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until simmering gently. Once simmering, cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
Use on a ham or store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you’ve tried this recipe.
Notes
Tips & Tricks
- Whisk the glaze really well before and during cooking to prevent the cornstarch from clumping.
- Don’t simmer the glaze too long or it will become too thick.
- If reheating, use a low heat on the stove or half power in the microwave until it is loose enough to brush.
- Brush a little extra glaze on leftover ham to make it as delicious as the first time!
Make Ahead:
Store in a sealed container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. When ready to use, reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave on half power until it is loose.
Add Your Own Notes
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Nutrition
Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
WILLIE P Hyman says
CANYOUUSE WHOLE PINE PAPPLE AND CHERRIE
Reply
Misty says
Hi Willie. We do not use whole pineapple and cherries in the glaze, just pineapple juice. You can add whole pineapple slices to your ham when baking if you wish.
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Eleni says
Omg!!! I Made this glaze for a church function and it was a hit! Super delicious!!!
Reply
Misty says
We love to hear that, Eleni! Thanks for taking the time to let us know.
Reply
Shaina says
What could I use as a substitute for pineapple juice? My husband is allergic, but I still want to try this recipe!
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Danielle says
Goodness! I don't know if there is a good substitution. Maybe peach juice/nectar? I haven't tried it so I can't say for sure, but that might be worth trying. I would make the sauce first and taste it to make sure you like it before putting it on the ham. Please let us know if you do try a substitution!
Reply
Andrea says
Orange or cherries juice would go well with the spices, I think.
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Joann S. says
Superb flavor, my classroom really loved it.Reply
Danielle says
So happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know!
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Phyllis says
Hello Danielle and MistyWell I just have to say that you are right about this glaze making my spiral cut ham taste as good or better than the expensive one that we sometimes spring for. . Never again though. I was so happy with how the glaze and ham turned out. Thank you for your directions. This is a repeat recipe for sure
By the way, my ham was a bit to big for my roaster so I oven cooked it at 260 degrees and tightly covered with heavy duty tin foil. I let it rest a short while and then caramelized it under the broiler. Perfect. Moist and tasty.
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Misty says
So glad you liked it!
Reply
Phyllis says
Hello Danielle and MistyWell I just have to say that you are right about this glaze making my spiral cut ham taste as good or better than the expensive one that we sometimes spring for. . Never again though. I was so happy with how the glaze and ham turned out. Thank you for your directions. This is a repeat recipe for sure
Reply
Mia says
I use this glaze on your "Glazed Ham In A Roaster" recipe. It was amazing. The thick consistency helped the glaze stick to the ham and get into the sliced pieces. This will be by "go to" recipe for ham glaze.
Reply
Danielle says
So happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. It really does make our day!
Reply
Lori says
Hi do you cook the ham covered after putting glaze on or not? I covered with foil but doesn’t seem to be getting caramelized after 30 mins. And what temp? Thank you.
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Danielle says
The glaze will not caramelize if it is covered in foil. The cooking instructions for ham vary widely depending on the type of ham you are cooking and the method of cooking. Once the ham is cooked through you can broil the glaze to caramelize it. If you are cooking a spiral ham in an electric rooster we have step-by-step instructions for that. For the recipe type "ham" in the search bar. Happy eating!
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ESTHER says
Can you let us know how long to cook in oven and 300 or 350 heat? Thank you.
Reply
Danielle says
Esther,
We usually cook our ham in an electric roaster. That recipe is linked in the post. You could try modifying the electric roaster recipe for a regular oven, but I haven't done that so I can't tell you for sure how long it would take. If you give it a try please let us know how it turns out!Reply
Mike says
How to reduce the recipe for smaller amounts.Reply
Misty says
Hi Mike, you can use half the ingredients if you would like to make a small batch. Enjoy!
Reply
Bradley D Tjapkes says
I have been baking and glazing hams for 40 years and this year I found this glaze recipe. I always get compliment on my ham gravy made with ham drippings and glaze bot today for Christmas dinner I got wow!
I love the flavor and that it is thick and sticks to the ham with better coverage.
This recipe is a winner!Reply
Misty says
Wow, what high praise! We're so glad you liked it. Thank you for sharing.
Reply
Kenny Harge says
Please send me all the delicious recipes listed here
Reply
Danielle says
To find any of the recipes listed jut click on the colored words. That will take you right to what you are looking for.
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