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Pineapple-Glazed Ham

This impressive pineapple-glazed ham is a superb choice for a celebratory Sunday lunch or a festive centrepiece. By roasting the meat atop fresh pineapple and orange slices, the ham remains incredibly succulent while absorbing a gentle citrus fragrance. The glaze offers a sophisticated balance of sweetness from the light brown sugar and a subtle heat from the hot sauce, which caramelises beautifully under the high heat of the grill to create a sticky, deeply flavoured crust.

As a high-protein main dish, this recipe is as nourishing as it is flavourful. The inclusion of tangy apple cider vinegar cuts through the richness of the cured meat, ensuring every bite is perfectly balanced. Serve this homemade favourite along with the roasted fruit slices and classic maraschino cherries for a nostalgic yet refined presentation that your guests will love.

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Ingredients for Pineapple-Glazed Ham

  • 1/2 pineapple, peeled, sliced into rings

  • 1 large orange, sliced into thick rounds

  • 1 (10-lb.) cured smoked bone-in ham or 6-lb. cured boneless ham

  • 725ml pineapple juice

  • 120ml apple cider vinegar

  • 120ml (packed) light brown sugar

  • 60ml hot sauce

  • Maraschino cherries (for serving)

Preheat oven to 149°C. Stack 2–3 sheets of foil ample enough to cover ham on a work surface and arrange pineapple and orange slices on top in a single layer. Set ham on fruit (if using a bone-in ham and it has a fat cap, score very lightly, making cuts about 3/4" apart) and wrap up tightly. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of ham registers 46°C, 3–3 1/2 hours for boneless, 3 1/2–4 hours for bone-in.

Meanwhile, bring pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, and hot sauce to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat; simmer, swirling occasionally, until thick enough to coat a spoon. Keep warm.

Remove ham from oven and increase oven temperature to 218°C. Unwrap ham, peeling back the foil so it covers the baking sheet (this will make for easy cleanup). Once oven is at 218°C, baste ham with warm glaze and return to oven. Bake, brushing with more glaze every 3 minutes or so, until glaze is deeply browned and thermometer registers 52°C, 12–15 minutes. Carefully transfer ham to a cutting board and let rest 30–60 minutes before slicing.

While ham is resting, roast fruit, spooning juices over from time to time, until deeply browned, 20–25 minutes.

Serve ham with roasted fruit and cherries alongside.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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