Slow Cooker Pineapple Cherry Glazed Ham
Old-fashioned pineapple ham is the holiday centerpiece many of us grew up with. A spiral ham studded with bright pineapple rings and ruby cherries looks glossy, golden, and dressed for the occasion. It belongs just as easily on an Easter table as it does at Christmas.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Start with a spiral-cut ham and pat it dry. Even though it is fully cooked, season it generously with salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and a pinch of red chili flakes. Add garlic powder and a little smoked paprika for extra depth, creating a savory base beneath all that sweetness.
Set the ham in the slow cooker. Arrange pineapple rings over the surface and place a maraschino cherry in the center of each ring, securing them with toothpicks. It has those unmistakable retro vibes and is completely charming. Then pour over a glaze made from pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle chili flakes over the ham.
As the ham cooks low and slow, the glaze settles into the spiral cuts and thickens into a glossy coating. The pineapple caramelizes at the edges, the cherries deepen in color, and the whole ham takes on that classic sweet and savory finish. Let it rest before slicing, remove the toothpicks, spoon a little extra glaze over the top. It is nostalgic, festive, and always the first thing to disappear.
How to Make Pineapple Cherry Glazed Ham
This old-fashioned pineapple ham is sweet, savory, and perfectly tender thanks to the slow cooker. A brown sugar and honey glaze caramelizes beautifully over pineapple rings and cherries for a nostalgic holiday centerpiece.
Equipments
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 spiral-cut ham, 7 to 9 pounds, fully cooked
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 can pineapple rings (20 ounces), reserve juice
- Maraschino cherries
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
