Nothing says Easter brunch or dinner or the holidays like a traditional oven-baked ham topped with a decadent sticky-sweet brown sugar bourbon glaze and pineapple and maraschino cherries.
This flavorful five-star baked ham recipe I’m sharing today is my Mom’s, with a few minor additions. I consulted with both of my sisters, and we think her glaze was just brown sugar and possibly pineapple juice from the sliced pineapples. To this, I added just a touch of bourbon and Dijon mustard to ramp up the flavor a bit.
Here’s what you will need:
You will need a 7-8 lb bone-in pre-cooked ham, brown sugar, pineapple slices, maraschino cherries, bourbon, whole cloves, and Dijon mustard.
As you can see, it’s a shortlist of ingredients and only takes a few steps to start making memories for your family this Easter.
Here’s how to make it:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Using a sharp knife, score the ham by cutting shallow lines across the top of the ham, all going one-way about an inch apart. Then, cut shallow lines across the lines you already cut, making a diamond pattern. Insert a whole clove in each diamond or square.
Place the ham cut side down in a baking dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 1-1/2 hours or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 145 degrees F.
Meanwhile, mix the ingredients for the glaze in a small bowl.
Remove the ham from the oven and turn it onto its side. Use a spoon or brush to cover the ham with the glaze. Top with pineapple slices and cherries. You can use toothpicks to secure the pineapple and cherries.
Put the ham back in the oven uncovered this time and bake for approximately another 30-35 minutes or until the glaze is sticky and the sugar has melted.
Serve warm or at room temperature. Pour any remaining glaze from the pan over the ham before serving, and also be sure to remove the cloves.
What to serve it with?
I usually serve this delicious ham with either my husband’s specialty, scrumptious Sweet Potato Casserole, or my yummy Southern Potato Salad. Classic Southern Strawberry Shortcake or Luscious Lemon Swirl Cheesecake would be terrific choices for dessert.
You will also probably want to round your meal out with something green, maybe a nice salad or roasted asparagus. Of course, you can’t go wrong with these popular sides either: Roasted Carrots with Lemon Vinaigrette and Green Bean Bundles Wrapped in Bacon.
Related recipes:
Looking for more Easter menu ideas? Check out these roundup posts: Smoked Ham with Spicy Peach Glaze, 50+ Dazzling and Delicious Easter Desserts,38 Easy Easter Dinner Recipes, and Easter side dishes!
Also, be sure to check out all of my other Easter recipes by clicking this link!
★ If you make this recipe, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. I’d love to know how you liked it!
Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones. I hope you’ll come back soon!
Oven-Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Bourbon Glaze
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 8 pounds ham bone-in,shank or butt
- 20 oz pineapple slices can
- 1 jar maraschino cherries
- 2 tablespoons whole cloves
Glaze Ingredients
- 1½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Using a sharp knife, score the ham by cutting shallow lines across the top of the ham all going one-way about an inch apart. Then, cut shallow lines across the lines you already cut making a diamond pattern. Insert a whole clove in each diamond or square.
- Place the ham cut side down in a baking dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for one and a half hours or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 145 degrees F.
- While the ham is baking, make the glaze by mixing brown sugar, bourbon, and dijon mustard in a small bowl. Add one tablespoon of the pineapple juice and add more if needed to get to your desired consistency.
- Remove the ham from the oven and turn it onto its side. Spoon the glaze generously on top of the ham, making sure to cover all exposed areas. Top with pineapple slices and cherries. You can use toothpicks to secure the pineapple and cherries.
- Put the ham back in the oven, uncovered this time, and bake for approximately another 30-35 minutes or until the glaze is sticky and the sugar has melted.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.
My favorite ham recipe! Thanks so much!
Always love an old school recipe!
Glazed ham is just the best.
Such a great, sweet-and-salty dish! Love the addition of cloves here.
Yum. I haven’ only rarely had ham this way. My mom never really made it with the pineapples and cherries! But looking at your recipe, makes me want to make it like that!