Gluten-Free Honey Glazed Pineapple Christmas Ham

Celiac.com 12/23/2021 - Looking to deliver a tasty, eye-catching ham this Christmas? This Pineapple Honey-Glazed Ham dressed in pineapple rings and maraschino cherries is just the way to go. With a tasty glaze of pineapple juice, honey and brown sugar to deliver the perfect balance of sweet and salty, the final product is sure to please. 

Ingredients:

• One 9- to 10-pound bone-in fully-cooked smoked ham (butt or shank half)
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves, optional 
• Two 20-ounce cans sliced pineapple 
• 20 maraschino cherries  
• 2 cups honey
• 2 cups light brown sugar 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
Directions:
Let the ham sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Trim off any skin from the ham. Use a sharp paring knife to score through the fat in a diagonal crosshatch pattern without cutting through to the meat. If using cloves, push them into the intersections of the cuts. Put the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. 

Drain the pineapples, reserving the juice. Arrange the sliced pineapple all over the ham, securing with toothpicks. 

Add a maraschino cherry to the center of each pineapple slice and secure with a toothpick. 

Pour ¼-inch water in the bottom of the pan and tent the ham with foil. 

Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the ham (avoiding bone) registers 130 degrees F, about 2 hours 30 minutes (or about 15 minutes per pound). 

Meanwhile, combine the honey, brown sugar and reserved pineapple juice in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, syrupy and reduced to about 3 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. Set aside. 

Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.  

Uncover the pan and carefully brush a third of the glaze all over the ham. If the water in the roasting pan has evaporated, add more. 

Bake the ham for 15 minutes more. 

Brush with another third of the glaze and bake for 15 minutes more. 

Brush the remaining glaze over the ham and cook until the glaze is shiny and the skin is dark golden brown and crispy, about 15 minutes more. 

Let rest for 15 minutes.

Serve with your favorite gluten-free side dishes for a great gluten-free Christmas.