Slow-Cooked Honey Glazed Ham (Print Version)

Tender ham glazed with honey and spices, slow-cooked to juicy perfection for festive meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Ham

01 - 1 fully cooked bone-in ham, trimmed, approximately 5 to 6 pounds

→ Glaze

02 - 1 cup honey
03 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
05 - 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
06 - 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

→ Aromatics

09 - 1 orange, sliced
10 - 6 whole cloves

# Directions:

01 - Place the ham flat side down in a large slow cooker. Score the surface in a diamond pattern and insert whole cloves into the intersections.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, whole-grain mustard, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves until smooth.
03 - Pour the glaze evenly over the ham. Arrange orange slices around the ham inside the slow cooker.
04 - Cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours, basting occasionally with the glaze to enhance flavor and moisture.
05 - Once heated through and tender, transfer the ham to a cutting board and slice to desired thickness.
06 - Pour the remaining glaze into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes until thickened.
07 - Brush the sliced ham with the thickened glaze before serving to maximize flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does all the work while you tackle everything else on your list.
  • The glaze caramelizes into a sweet, tangy shell that clings to every slice.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, tucked into sandwiches or stirred into beans.
02 -
  • Basting every hour keeps the glaze from burning and the surface from drying out.
  • Thickening the glaze at the end transforms it from thin liquid to a syrupy coating that clings to the meat.
03 -
  • Score the ham deeply enough for the glaze to seep in, but not so deep you hit the bone.
  • Let the glaze cool slightly before brushing it on the sliced ham, it clings better when it's warm but not boiling.
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