New Year's Cola-Glazed Ham with Pineapple and Bacon
A show-stopping holiday centerpiece: a whole cooked ham lacquered in a rich cola caramel, stuffed with fresh pineapple rings, and wrapped in two crispy bacon layers. Sweet, smoky, and absolutely unforgettable at any New Year's feast.
🛒 Ingredients
12 servings
- 1 whole cooked ham (approx. 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs)
- 500 ml (2 cups) cola soda
- 1 fresh pineapple, peeled and thinly sliced into rings
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 200 g (7 oz) thin bacon slices
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Directions
- 1
Make the pineapple syrup: bring the water, sugar, and pineapple rings to a boil in a saucepan and simmer until you get a light, clear syrup similar to canned pineapple juice. Set aside the rings and syrup separately.
- 2
Place the ham in a deep pot and pour the cola over it. Cook over medium heat, turning the ham regularly, until the cola reduces to a thick, sticky caramel glaze.
- 3
Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Transfer the ham to a roasting pan and make deep cuts all around it, wide enough to tuck a pineapple ring into each slot.
- 4
Gently insert a pineapple ring into each cut. Keep the remaining syrup and pineapple rings for the final basting.
- 5
Wrap the ham completely in bacon slices, layering in two directions — one vertical and one horizontal — to create a lattice pattern.
- 6
Decorate the top with the remaining pineapple rings, securing them with wooden toothpicks.
- 7
Generously baste the ham with the pineapple syrup, then with the reserved cola glaze. Roast in the oven, basting frequently with the pan drippings, until the bacon is golden and crispy.
💡 Chef's Tip
Canned pineapple works perfectly as a shortcut — just use the canned syrup instead of the homemade version. For extra shine, stir a teaspoon of Dijon mustard into the glaze before the final basting.
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