Can I glaze the ham before I bake it?

If you are oven baking a pre-cooked Spiral ham, you can use half the glaze before you put it into the oven. Then, about 20 minutes before it's finished, put another coat of glaze on it. That's going to give you the best flavor!

Do I cover ham when I glaze it?

No, don't place a cover on it in the oven or smoker. This allows the pineapple glaze to caramelize on the ham. Also, when the ham is finished, stick a toothpick in the top of the ham and drape the foil gently over the top, so that foil doesn't touch the glaze.

Pineapple Ham Glaze - Simply Made Eats

Name: Pineapple Ham Glaze
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1/8 cup water; 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed; 3/4 cup pineapple juice (a 6 ounce can); 1 tablespoon salted butter; 1 tablespoon dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons honey; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Description

This Pineapple Ham Glaze is made from pineapple juice, brown sugar and honey and makes the most delicious, thick sauce to coat over a spiral ham. It's super easy to make in just 10 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 cup water
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup pineapple juice (a 6 ounce can)
1 tablespoon salted butter
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

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Instructions

If you are baking a pre-cooked spiral ham in the oven, refer to the directions on the package. You can add 1/2 the glaze before baking, and the remaining 1/2 about 20 minutes before it's finished baking. If you are smoking a ham, make sure to check out my recipe for double smoked ham.

Into a small bowl, add in the cornstarch and water and whisk until fully mixed, with no cornstarch powder visible. Set aside.
Into a saucepan over medium heat, add pineapple juice, brown sugar, butter, dijon mustard, honey, clove and cinnamon. Allow the butter to melt and whisk to combine.
Once the butter has melted in the pot, pour in the cornstarch mixture. Whisk to combine.
Allow the glaze to come to a boil. Once it comes to a rapid boil, make sure to whisk frequently. You want it at a rolling boil for about 2 minutes. Then, turn off the heat. It should be nice and thick at this point. Remove from the burner.
Brush the glaze generously over the spiral ham and even between the slices for extra flavor. Place back in the oven or smoker for 20 to 30 minutes to get the best consistency before serving.
Serve and Enjoy!

Equipment

pot

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Notes

It is really important to make the cornstarch and water slurry for the glaze. Do not add the cornstarch without water into the other ingredients. This will result in white powder that does not dissolve well in the glaze. Been there, done that.

You have to be careful and watch the glaze well when it is at a rolling boil. Only allow it to rapid boil for 2 minutes and whisk while it is happening. It can burn quickly at this point, but it gets us the thickness really quickly and it's an important component.

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: sauce
Method: stovetop
Cuisine: american