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Perfect Brown Sugar Bourbon Glazed Ham with Pineapple

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A sweet, smoky, and satisfying glazed ham featuring a sticky caramelized bourbon and brown sugar glaze with a tropical pineapple twist. Perfect for special dinners and holiday meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 fully cooked spiral-cut ham (about 7 to 8 pounds)
  • 1 cup brown sugar (packed, dark brown sugar preferred)
  • 1/2 cup bourbon (e.g., Maker’s Mark)
  • 1 cup pineapple juice (fresh or canned)
  • 1 can pineapple slices (about 20 ounces), drained, reserve some juice
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • Whole cloves (about 20, optional)
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line your roasting pan with foil for easy cleanup.
  2. Remove packaging and place the spiral-cut ham on the rack in your roasting pan, flat side down. If using cloves, score the surface in a diamond pattern about every 2 inches and press a clove into each diamond.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, bourbon, pineapple juice, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon (if using). Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often, until sugar dissolves and glaze thickens slightly, about 8-10 minutes.
  4. Brush a generous layer of glaze over the entire ham. Reserve some glaze for later.
  5. Place the ham in the oven and roast for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C). Baste the ham with more glaze every 20-30 minutes to build a sticky, caramelized crust.
  6. About 30 minutes before done, arrange pineapple slices on top of the ham, securing with toothpicks if needed. Brush lightly with glaze.
  7. Continue roasting for the remaining time, allowing pineapple to soften and caramelize with the glaze.
  8. Remove ham from oven and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.

Notes

Watch the glaze closely near the end to avoid burning. Tent the ham with foil if glaze browns too quickly. Resting the ham before slicing is crucial for juicy meat. Clove studding is optional and can be adjusted to taste. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown sugar, bourbon, glazed ham, pineapple glaze, holiday ham, spiral ham, easy ham recipe, bourbon glaze, sweet and smoky ham

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/perfect-brown-sugar-bourbon-glazed-ham-recipe-easy-pineapple-glaze/