Author: Get ready to steal the show at your next gathering with this Pineapple-Glazed Vegan Ham, a playful take on the timeless favorite! Smoky tofu ham is baked in a sweet spiced pineapple glaze and decorated with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries for that retro look. With just 10 simple ingredients, this recipe is a guaranteed hit, whether it's Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any occasion calling for a stunning centerpiece.
If you've been looking for a proper Vegan Ham recipe for a holiday, this is it! Inspired by the classic pineapple ham recipes (and adapted from my fan-favorite Brown Sugar & Mustard Glazed Tofu recipe), this vegan ham is marinated for smoky, salty ham flavor, roasted in the oven, and then finished with a cinnamon-spiced pineapple glaze. The pineapple rings and maraschino cherries on top add some retro fun, making this a showstopper for a holiday party.
What Makes This Glazed Vegan Ham an Instant Classic
- A vegan centerpiece: It's perfect for Easter, Christmas or other holiday celebrations. Serve alongside your favorite holiday side dishes for a meal that will wow!
- Simple: It looks fancy, but it's actually easy to make with just 10 ingredients.
- Serious ham vibes: Smoky, sweet, sticky, and tastes just like ham!
Ingredients for Vegan Ham
For the tofu:
- Extra-firm tofu: Be sure to use the tofu that's refrigerated in water, not the shelf stable silken kind.
- Soy sauce: Or use coconut aminos, liquid aminos, or tamari sauce to make this vegan ham gluten-free.
- Garlic powder: For savory flavor.
- Liquid smoke: Essential for that smoky ham taste.
For the glaze and toppings:
- Maraschino cherries: These are optional, but they're so much fun! Make sure the brand you buy is vegan.
- Canned pineapple: You'll need both the sliced pineapple and the juice it's packed in.
- Water: To get the right consistency and balance of flavor for the glaze.
- Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar.
- Dijon mustard: This adds depth, keeping the glaze from being cloying.
- Cinnamon and cloves: You can use a whole cinnamon stick and cloves, or swap in ground spices.
How to Make Vegan Pineapple Glazed Ham
- Prepare the tofu: Drain, pat dry, and press out the excess water. Score a diamond pattern ¼-inch deep.
- Marinate: Mix the soy sauce, garlic powder, and liquid smoke in a sealable bag or container, then add the tofu. Marinate in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour or up to overnight, flipping the tofu occasionally to ensure both sides get marinated.
- Prepare for roasting: Preheat your oven to 375℉ and line a baking dish with parchment paper. Remove the tofu from the marinade and set it in the baking dish.
- Roast the vegan ham: Bake for 50 - 60 minutes, or until the tofu is dark golden brown.
- Make the glaze: Separate the juice and the pineapple slices. Set aside 4 pineapple rings for later. Finely chop the remaining pineapple rings. Add the juice to a pot with the rest of the glaze ingredients. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, stirring often, and cook for about 10 - 15 minutes, until thickened.
- Finish: Pour the prepared glaze on the tofu, and decorate with the pineapple slices and cherries. Bake for another 15 - 20 minutes, or until the glaze is bubbling. Remove from the oven, slice, and serve.
Make-Ahead Method
If you're making this for a holiday and want to get a head start, you can either marinate it up to 2 days ahead of time, or bake it and make the glaze. Store the baked vegan ham and glaze separately in the refrigerator. When you're ready to serve, glaze the tofu ham, top it, and finish in the oven as directed.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze leftover vegan ham in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- To reheat: Warm leftovers in a 350ºF oven, heat slices in a skillet, or use the microwave.
If you try this vegan ham recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
Vegan Pineapple Glazed Ham
Get ready to steal the show at your next gathering with this Vegan Pineapple Glazed Ham - a playful take on the timeless favorite! Smoky tofu ham is baked in a sweet spiced pineapple glaze and decorated with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries for that retro look. With just 10 simple ingredients, this easy vegan ham recipe is a guaranteed hit, whether it's Easter, Christmas, or any occasion calling for a stunning centerpiece.
Servings:
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Ingredients
For the tofu:
- 2 blocks (350 g/ 12.3oz each) extra-firm tofu, drained
- ⅓ cup soy sauce, (gluten-free if preferred)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
For the glaze and toppings:
- 1 (398 ml/ 14 fl oz) can sliced pineapple in juice, juice and slices separated (see notes if using fresh pineapple)
- ⅓ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cinnamon stick, (or ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 4 whole cloves, (the spice) (or 1 pinch ground cloves)
- maraschino cherries, optional for topping (check to make sure they are vegan)
Instructions
- Prepare the tofu by draining it, and then patting it dry, and lightly pressing it with a clean towel to help absorb extra water. Use a knife to score a diamond pattern across the surface of the tofu cutting about ¼ inch deep.
- Add the soy sauce, garlic powder, and liquid smoke to a sealable bag or container, then add the tofu. Let the tofu marinate for a minimum of 1 hour or as long as overnight in the fridge, flipping the tofu now and then to ensure both sides get marinated.
- When ready to roast the tofu, preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃). Line a small baking dish with parchment paper. Remove the tofu from the marinade and place on the prepared baking dish (discard any leftover marinade).
- Bake for 50 - 60 minutes until the tofu is dark golden brown.
- While the tofu is baking make the glaze. Separate the juice and the pineapple slices. Set aside 4 pineapple rings for later. Finely chop the remaining pineapple rings. Add the juice, chopped pineapple, water, brown sugar, mustard, cinnamon stick, and cloves to a small pot. Put over medium-high heat, bring to a simmer while stirring often, and cook for about 10 - 15 until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Once the tofu has baked and is golden brown, remove from the oven. Pour the prepared glaze on top, and decorate with the pineapple slices and cherries. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 - 20 minutes until the glaze is bubbling. Remove from the oven and enjoy while hot. Cold leftovers are also delicious.
Notes
If using fresh pineapple: Use 4 thin pineapple rings to decorate the tofu blocks. Then finely chop up 4 - 5 slices of the pineapple to add to the glaze, and use ⅔ cups pineapple juice.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving (recipe makes 6 servings) | Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 761mg | Potassium: 341mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 37IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 3mg
Anne says
Can you make this recipe ahead of time and/or cook in air fryer?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Anne, Yes, you can definitely make it ahead! The details are in the post, but in short: you can marinate up to 2 days ahead, or bake it and make the glaze, then store them separately until you’re ready to glaze and finish in the oven. If you’d rather use an air fryer, that works too! I’d go with 350°F (175°C) for about 25–30 minutes to bake the tofu, then another 8–10 minutes after glazing—just keep an eye on it since the glaze can brown quickly.
Kathie says
I love all your recipes! Not a huge fan of too much sweet (luckily!) but would love to add some of that of that sweetness- just not too much! Any suggestions on modifications to make it less sweet, but still tasty? Thank you!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Kathie, Thank you so much for your kind words – I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the recipes! 😊 I would actually recommend trying a different recipe such as my Roasted Hasselback Tofu which isn't sweet. But if you still want to try this pineapple glazed ham you can reduce the brown sugar in the glaze to 2 tablespoons or even 1 tablespoon, depending on your preference. The pineapple juice and chopped pineapple will still provide a natural sweetness, but the glaze will be less sweet. You could also try using a bit more Dijon mustard or a splash of apple cider vinegar to add some tangy contrast to the flavors. Enjoy!
Liza says
I can’t wait to try this. Anything I can substitute the mustard for?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Liza, if you don't like mustard you can omit it completely. Enjoy!
Nigel says
We make this for Christmas Day. Looks good and tastes good.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Wonderful 🙂
Traci Ringle says
I love this recipe so much! I try so many recipes every week and I can’t tell you how much food I throw out. This was not one of those recipes. Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy it was a keeper Traci 🙂
Sheila says
Excellent, easy and tasty. It was a hit Thank you
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy you loved it Sheila 🙂
phillip basham says
where is the nutrition label
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
You'll see the nutrition details at the very bottom of the recipe.