The holiday season is a whirlwind of family gatherings, festive decorating, and—best of all—incredible comfort food. If you are looking for a show-stopping centerpiece that doesn’t require spending hours hovering over the oven, this Hatfield Ham with Pineapple & Sweet Cherry Glaze is about to become your go-to recipe. Combining juicy, ethically raised ham with a sweet, fruit-infused caramelization, it brings gourmet flavor to your table with minimal effort.
*This post was originally sponsored by Hatfield on 11/16/18. It has been updated with recent tips and tricks.
The holiday season is a whirlwind of family gatherings, festive decorating, and—best of all—incredible comfort food. If you are looking for a show-stopping centerpiece that doesn’t require spending hours hovering over the oven, this Hatfield Ham with Pineapple & Sweet Cherry Glaze is about to become your go-to recipe. Combining juicy, ethically raised ham with a sweet, fruit-infused caramelization, it brings gourmet flavor to your table with minimal effort.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Incredible Flavor Balance: The combination of crushed pineapple, sweet maraschino cherries, brown sugar, and a hint of warm spices (cloves and cinnamon) creates a glaze that is sweet and savory without being overpowering.
- Perfect for Smaller Gatherings: Using a smaller pre-cooked ham means zero overwhelming leftovers—it is sized just right to enjoy in one sitting.
- Fuss-Free Preparation: Because the ham is already fully cooked, you are simply warming it through and letting the glaze caramelize, saving you precious time on busy holidays.
Ingredients & Swaps
- Hatfield Uncured Ham: 1 (2-lb) pre-cooked ham. (Swap: Any small pre-cooked or pit ham works wonderfully).
- Crushed Pineapple: 1/2 cup with its natural juices. (Swap: Finely diced fresh pineapple or canned pineapple tidbits).
- Brown Sugar: 1/4 cup for that irresistible caramelized crust. (Swap: Coconut sugar or maple syrup).
- Spices: 1/4 tsp ground cloves and 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon.
- Maraschino Cherries: 1/2 cup for vibrant color and extra fruity moisture. (Swap: Tart dried cherries or fresh sweet cherries).
Tips and Tricks for Success
- Line Your Pan: Always double-line your baking dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Sugar glazes can burn and ruin cookware; foil makes cleanup a breeze and keeps the delicious juices contained.
- Don’t Overbake: Since the ham is fully cooked, you only need to heat it through and achieve a slight outer crust (about 35 to 40 minutes at 375°F). Overcooking will dry out the meat.
- Spoon the Extra Juices: The pineapple and cherries create a wonderful extra cup of natural juices while baking. Spoon these sweet pan juices over your ham slices—and your mashed potatoes—for maximum flavor!
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store any leftover ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Reheating: Warm individual slices gently in the microwave or cover with foil and warm in the oven at 325°F until heated through to prevent drying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to wrap the ham in foil while baking? No, for this recipe, you do not need to wrap the ham completely in foil. Since it is already fully cooked, leaving it uncovered allows the glaze to caramelize nicely and heat evenly.
Can I use a larger ham for this recipe? Yes! If you are feeding a crowd, you can scale up the glaze ingredients to fit a larger Hatfield pre-cooked ham, adjusting your baking time according to the package instructions.
Ham Recipes to Try Today
- Ham & Swiss Casserole
- Canned Corn Soup
- Leftover Ham & Cheese Casserole
- Spilt Pea Soup
- Ham & Cheese Pasta Salad
Ham with Pineapple and Sweet Cherry Glaze ((Super Delicious))
Equipment
- roasting pan
- foil for easy cleanup
- Medium bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 2lb Hatfield Uncured Ham *this is fully cooked
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon clove
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a deep-walled baking dish with 2 layers of aluminum foil to make cleanup easy.
- Remove the ham from its package and place it directly into the foil-lined baking dish
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, ground cloves, cinnamon, and crushed pineapple until it forms a spreadable paste
- Thoroughly rub the pineapple-sugar coating all over the outside of the ham.
- Arrange the maraschino cherries on top of and around the ham in the baking dish.
- Bake at 375°F for 35 minutes.
- Note: Because this is a fully cooked ham, cooking it just until heated through and slightly caramelized prevents it from drying out while keeping the natural juices intact.
- Remove from the oven, allow the ham to rest for a few minutes, then plate, carve, and enjoy!
Cherries and pineapples are two of my favorite fruit. They look so beautiful and delicious atop that savory ham!
Your ham looks and sounds delicious! And your table setting is absolutely adorable as well!!
My family prefers ham over turkey for Thanksgiving. I will have to try this recipe. I am sure my children would want to have this for our Christmas celebration too.
ThT cherry glaze looks Devine on top of that ham.
What a delicious and easy to make addition to the ham! My Whole family will love this Thanksgiving dish!
I LOVE ham during the holidays. This recipe looks amazing! I am definitely wanting to try the cherries with it, can’t wait!
I love a good ham for the holidays. Having it for Thanksgiving! This is such a great recipe!
We always have turkey for Thanksgiving. I’ve never even thought of making ham. I bet my kids would love this recipe!
That looks AH-MAZING! I already have a turkey for Thanksgiving, but this will be happening at Christmas!
Oh how perfect! This is the kind of thing we’d love to have as a comfy family meal. The glaze sounds nice!
Yummo! I love a good ham for the holidays. This is a great recipe.