Baked Ham with Pineapple and Cherries

This is an easy baked ham that we love to serve at huge family gatherings with a sweet mustard sauce.

At every family event, my dad loves to make his famous baked ham with special sauce. This ham is covered in pineapples and cherries and served with a sweet mustard sauce everyone raves about.

I hope my dad’s recipe becomes a cherished family recipe of yours too!

You can also try out my Roast Cornish Hen, Roasted Chicken, and Gluten-Free Charcuterie Board.

Baked Ham Tools

For this recipe you will need:

• Large roasting pan
• Parchment paper
• Meat thermometer, instant-read thermometer, or try using this thermometer that you set with your goal temperature and it beeps when the meat has reached it so you don’t have to keep checking it.
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Silicone basting brush
• Toothpicks
• 1 large knife
• Cutting board
• Airtight storage container for leftovers

Baked Ham Ingredients

• 6-pound ham, smoked or cooked
• a few cans of ginger ale
• honey or brown sugar
• some yellow mustard
• a can of pineapple rings
• maraschino cherries

How to Make Baked Ham

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a large roasting pan with parchment paper.

Place the ham on the roasting tray and pour ginger ale all over the ham.

Using toothpicks, attach the cherries and pineapple to the outside of the ham.

Remove the ham from the oven before it reaches the finishing temperature (120° F for smoked and 140° F for cooked).

Remove the rind and fat but leave ¼ inch of fat.  Discard all of the pan juices.

In a small bowl, mix together the honey and mustard.

Cut slats into the ham and coat the ham with the glaze and bake until it reaches the proper temperature. If you don’t wish to use a glaze then just continue baking with the fat and rind removed and the ham will turn to a nice golden brown.  The ham can be basted every 10 minutes until done.

Roast the ham until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140° F for a smoked ham or 160° F for cooked ham, about 25 minutes per pound is the cooking time.

Remove the ham from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes. If you don’t allow it to cool it will become too dry when you slice it.

Serve the ham with the Sauce for Ham.

Note: Do not skip adding the ginger ale because it helps to reduce the saltiness of the ham.

How do I know what size of ham to buy?

Aim for 1/2 pound per person and if you are serving another main course plan for 1/3 pound per person instead.

What’s the difference between a smoked ham and a cooked ham?

Cooked ham is cured in a sugar brine. Smoked ham is sugar brined and then smoked for flavor.

How can I tell if my ham is cooked?

When it reaches either 140° F for smoked or 160° F for cooked.

More gluten free recipes to enjoy over the holidays

• Gluten Free Charcuterie Platter
• Gluten Free Thanksgiving Main Dishes
• Comfort Food Gluten Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• Classic Gluten Free Thanksgiving Desserts
• Grain Free Roasted Turkey & Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

If you are worried about how to eat gluten free at parties read my article. It has lots of helpful advice.

Serve this baked ham with this ham sauce. It’s a sweet mustard ham sauce that everyone in my family raves about.

Baked Ham Recipe

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