If you’re searching for a delicious and flavorful glaze to elevate your holiday ham, look no further than our Pineapple Glaze For Ham. This sweet and tangy concoction combines the tropical essence of pineapple juice with the rich depth of brown sugar and a hint of warm, aromatic allspice, all brought together with a luscious touch of butter.
This glaze is the perfect accompaniment to your holiday ham. Prepare to impress your family and friends with this easy-to-make glaze for ham. It’s a true showstopper that will make your ham the star of any gathering.
Table of Contents
Why You Need This Easy Ham Glaze
Making a homemade glaze for ham during the holidays offers many benefits!
- Customize the flavors to your liking by having full control over the sweetness, spiciness and complexity of the glaze. Try swapping the allspice for cinnamon or 1/2 the pineapple juice for orange juice. By experimenting you can create a glaze that exceeds all expectations. Keep reading for more ingredient swaps.
- Enjoy the fresh taste as homemade glazes tend to be fresher and have a stronger flavor profile that is preferred by guests. It also allows you to ensure the glaze is completely gluten-free as many store-bought products will contain additives.
- Have fun in the kitchen by encouraging family to get involved. The aroma of a homemade glaze will fill your home and add to the festive atmosphere. The best part is being able to serve this delicious ham glaze recipe while making memories around the holiday table.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
Substitutions
If you are looking for pineapple juice substitutes consider orange juice, apple juice, apricot nectar or peach juice to provide a similar level of sweetness and acidity. Honey, maple syrup, molasses or white sugar are options instead of brown sugar.
Keep in mind that these ingredient swaps or any others will alter the taste and potentially consistency of the ham glaze. If you find a substitution that works best for your family while offering a delicious flavor, share in the comments below!
Instructions
Start by adding the pineapple juice, brown sugar, butter, dry mustard, and allspice to a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Turn heat down to medium and continue to boil for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken a bit, stirring occasionally. The longer you boil, the thicker the sauce will become. However, we cautious not to overcook and burn the glaze.
Next, use the glaze to baste ham in the last 30 minutes of cooking and again once the baked ham is out of the oven. Basting with a liquid or sauce, like this one, helps to enhance the flavor, moisture and tenderness of the ham.
You can use a basting brush or spoon to apply the sauce evenly over the ham. It is important to return the ham to continue to cook once the initial layer of sauce has been added to allow for caramelization. This allows for the flavorful crust on the outside of the baked ham to develop.
Need a delicious (and simple) oven baked ham recipe? We have you covered with our step-by-step guide on how to cook a spiral ham.
Holiday Cooking Tips
- Plan Ahead: Start by planning your menu well in advance, considering dietary preferences or specific dietary needs. Make a shopping list then head to the store for ingredients a few days before the holidays.
- Organize Your Kitchen: To help the process, make sure your kitchen is clean and all necessary tools and equipment are available. This will save you a ton of time during meal prep.
- Look at the Menu: Many holiday dishes can be made partially or fully prepared in advance. Prep any ingredients, sauces or even some items like casseroles ahead of time to ease the amount of cooking on the big day.
- Time Management: Creating a cooking schedule, detailing when each dish needs to go into the oven can be helpful to some. This helps to ensure that everything is ready to serve at the same time.
- Delegate: Make it a family day by inviting help into the kitchen. Family members or guests can assist with tasks like setting the table, washing dishes or even preparing some of the no-bake dishes.
- Be Safe: To guarantee perfectly baked ham and other proteins, use a meat thermometer. This will take out the guesswork and ensure you safely provide meat that has been cooked to the ideal internal temperature.
- Clean as you go: Keep your workspace clean by washing dishes or filling the dishwasher as you work. It will make post-meal cleanup much more manageable.
- Relax: Remember that the holidays are a time to celebrate and be with loved ones. Don’t get too stressed about perfection. Enjoy the process and look forward to spending time with the company you are cooking for!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This recipe can be made up to a week in advance, making it a great one to prep before the big day. See below for proper storage and reheating instructions.
The glaze adds flavor and moisture to the ham that would otherwise be missing. While ham can be baked without a glaze or sauce, you may find it tough to slice or chew.
Timing is important to ensure the best flavor and tenderness. We recommend adding a layer of glaze in the last 30 minutes of cooking and an additional layer after baked.
Yes! It can be added to vegetables that you plan to roast along with chicken or pork chops. Keep in mind that if you have dipped the basting brush between the bowl of glaze and undercooked meat then you will not want to use this glaze on uncooked food due to food safety concerns.
You cover the top of the ham with a loose piece of aluminum food if you notice the glaze starting to caramelize quicker than expected.
A single batch of pineapple glaze covers a 10–12-pound ham.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Before storing this ham gaze with pineapple juice, let it cool to room temperature. This will prevent any condensation inside the storage container, which could lead to spoilage.
Transfer the cooled glaze into an airtight container then seal tightly before storing in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If you plan to store it for a longer time, consider freezing it for up to 3 months.
When ready to use, simply reheat by pouring back into a small pot on the stovetop or microwaving in 30-second increments until hot. Stir occasionally on the stovetop and between each increment in the microwave to promote even heating.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Carefully pour the pineapple juice into a saucepan to prevent the liquid splashing.
- The glaze is boiling when bubbles start to surface in the saucepan. Be carefully not to lean directly over the saucepan as the bubbles can pop up. Turn the heat to medium when you see these bubbles.
- Stir occasionally to prevent burning the glaze using a spoon or whisk. You will want to continue to cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until you cannot feel any sugar crystals from the brown sugar in the bottom of the saucepan.
Other Holiday Recipes
- Pineapple Pretzel Salad
- Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Gluten Free Dinner Rolls
- Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
- Whole Beef Tenderloin
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Pineapple Glaze For Ham
Ingredients
- 6 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice ✅
Instructions
- ⭐️Bring ingredients to a boil. Add the pineapple juice, brown sugar, butter, dry mustard, and allspice to a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Turn heat down to medium and continue to boil for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken a bit, stirring occasionally.6 ounces pineapple juice, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- Serve. Use the glaze to baste ham in the last 30 minutes of cooking and again once out of the oven.
Notes
If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below!
Then follow us on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. We love seeing what you come up with!
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