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Perfect Honey Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe Easy Festive Pineapple Glaze

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A slow-cooked, sticky honey bourbon glazed ham with caramelized pineapple rings, perfect for festive meals and holiday gatherings. This recipe balances the sweetness of honey, warmth of bourbon, and bright tang of fresh pineapple for a comforting and crowd-pleasing centerpiece.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 7 to 8 pounds bone-in ham, pre-cooked and fully smoked (spiral-cut preferred)
  • 1/2 cup (170 g) honey (raw or wildflower recommended)
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) bourbon (good-quality like Maker’s Mark or Buffalo Trace)
  • 1/3 cup (70 g) packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 6 to 8 fresh pineapple rings (canned pineapple rings packed in juice can be used)
  • 8 to 10 maraschino cherries (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons (28 g) melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. Score the ham using a sharp serrated knife, making diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) deep in a diamond pattern all over the surface.
  3. Place the ham on the rack in your roasting pan. Attach pineapple rings with toothpicks in the center of each diamond shape. Add maraschino cherries in the middle of pineapple rings if desired.
  4. In a small saucepan, combine honey, bourbon, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, cloves, and melted butter. Warm over medium heat, stirring frequently until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens slightly (about 5 to 7 minutes).
  5. Brush the glaze generously over the ham, making sure it seeps into the scored cuts and coats the pineapple.
  6. Roast the ham for about 1.25 to 1.5 hours (15 to 20 minutes per pound). Every 20 minutes, baste the ham with more glaze and tent loosely with foil to keep it moist.
  7. During the last 15 minutes, remove the foil and brush on a final thick layer of glaze. Increase oven temperature to 400°F (204°C) for 10 minutes to caramelize the glaze, watching carefully to prevent burning.
  8. Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest covered loosely with foil for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Score the ham deeply about 1/4 inch to allow glaze absorption. Baste every 20 minutes and tent with foil to keep moist. Use fresh pineapple rings for best caramelization and flavor. The glaze can be made a day ahead and warmed before use. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute bourbon with apple cider or unsweetened pineapple juice with vanilla extract. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen in portions with glaze.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey bourbon glazed ham, holiday ham recipe, pineapple glazed ham, festive ham, easy ham glaze, bourbon ham, holiday main dish

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/perfect-honey-bourbon-glazed-ham-recipe-easy-festive-pineapple-glaze/