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–+ servings

Brown Sugar Baked Ham with Pineapple

Brown Sugar Baked Ham
Serve up the perfect meal with this Brown Sugar Baked Ham with Pineapple! Coated in a homemade brown sugar spice rub and covered with pineapple rings and warmed in the oven, this spiral cut store bought ham is transformed into the ultimate caramelized, moist, juicy ham perfect for holiday dinners like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Heather
Prep Time 1 day
Cook Time 2 hours
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 day 2 hours 10 minutes
Serving Size 30

Ingredients

  • 15 pound bone-in spiral cut ham
  • 1-1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 3 20 ounce cans of pineapple rings
  • 8 ounces maraschino cherries
  • wooden toothpicks

Instructions

  • Start by grabbing your roasting pan or even a large baking pan if your ham will fit in it.  Add a layer of 6 to 8 pineapple rings to the bottom of your pan for your ham to sit on.
  • Remove your ham from it's packaging and place the ham cut side down on top your pineapple rings.
    In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cloves, mustard powder, pumpkin pie spice (yes, really!), cinnamon, allspice, smoked paprika, onion powder and cayenne. Massage your brown sugar mixture all over your ham. Your sugar spice rub will start to become more like a paste and that's OK just be sure to really cover everything.
  • Next, pour the juice of your opened pineapple ring can into the bottom of your pan.  Do not pour the juice over the ham as that will simply wash away all of your tasty brown sugar rub.
  • Cover your ham with foil and move it to the refrigerator.  You want your ham to really draw in that seasoning so let is sit anywhere from 10 hours to 24 hours before cooking.
  • After your ham has had time to chill, remove it from the refrigerator, uncover your ham and spoon some of the pineapple juice from the bottom of the pan lightly over the ham.
  • Next, start laying on the pineapple rings all around the ham. Depending on the size of your ham, you may need extra pineapple rings. I used 2 cans to make this ham and could have easily used 3.
  • Lay your pineapple rings in a pleasing pattern and secure them with toothpicks.  Once your pineapple rings are in place, add a maraschino cherry to the center of each pineapple ring and use toothpicks to keep them in place too.
  • Re-cover your ham and move to a 375 degree oven.  Store bought spiral hams do not need much cooking time, normally around 15 minutes per pound of ham.
  • When your ham is about done, remove the foil and let bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and lightly recover with foil. Let your ham rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Transfer the ham to a large cutting board or protected counter top. Remove the pineapple slices and cherries, discard the toothpicks and lay ham on it's side.
  • Using a sharp knife, slice the ham and move your sliced pieces into the pan with all of the pineapple/brown sugar juices. When you have enough ham, transfer the slices to a serving platter and serve.

Notes

PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT PINEAPPLE BROWN SUGAR HAM

  • Be sure to grab a bone in ham. That bone adds a ton of flavor and the best part is that bone can be added to soup after your holiday dinner is over.
  • The cayenne in the spice rubs adds just a touch of heat but can easily be left out if you prefer.
  • Not a fan of pineapple? The pineapple rings and juice can be left off of this recipe and you will still serve up a delicious brown sugar rubbed ham.
  • Plan ahead and make the time to rub this down and let it sit in your fridge for 24 hours, if possible.  You will be rewarded with the best ham you will ever eat!
  • If you have some on hand, the toothpicks can be replaced by using whole cloves to secure your pineapple rings to you ham.