Go Back
Cranberry Glazed Ham and Cheese sliders

Cranberry Glazed Ham and Cheese Sliders

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 (2 sliders per person)

Equipment

  • Baking dish (9x13-inch works best) To hold the sliders snugly so the cheese melts into the sides and nothing dries out. If you don’t have one, use a rimmed sheet pan and line with foil.
  • Small saucepan For melting and mixing the glaze ingredients.
  • Bread knife or serrated knife To slice the Hawaiian rolls evenly in half.
  • Brush or spoon For spreading the glaze over the top of the rolls.
  • Aluminum foil To tent over the dish during baking to keep moisture in.

Ingredients
  

For the Sliders

  • 1 package 12 rolls King's Hawaiian sweet rolls
  • ¾ to 1 pound leftover ham thinly sliced (or deli ham if using fresh)
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese sliced or shredded
  • ½ cup cranberry sauce whole berry or jellied — your preference
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

For the Glaze

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds optional

Instructions
 

Preheat and Prep

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease your baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easier clean-up.
  2. Using a serrated knife, slice the entire block of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping them connected. Place the bottom half in the prepared baking dish.

Mix the Spread

  1. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. Spread this mixture evenly over the bottom half of the rolls. This adds tang and prevents sogginess from the cranberry sauce.

Layer It Up

  1. First, layer the sliced ham over the spread. You want generous layers but not too thick, so the sliders still hold together. Next, add a layer of cheddar cheese — either shredded or sliced, depending on what you have. Finally, spoon cranberry sauce evenly over the top of the cheese. Don’t overdo it — just enough for a tangy-sweet touch.
  2. Top with the other half of the rolls.

Make the Glaze

  1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and poppy seeds if using. Let the glaze simmer gently for a minute to meld the flavors, then remove from heat.

Glaze and Bake

  1. Use a brush or spoon to drizzle the warm glaze evenly over the top of the sliders. Make sure the tops are fully coated for that shiny, golden finish.
  2. Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes to let the tops brown slightly.

Serve and Enjoy

  1. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into individual sliders. They’re best served warm while the cheese is gooey and the glaze is still sticky-sweet.