Slow-Cooked Honey Glazed Ham (Printable)

Tender ham slow-cooked with honey and spices, delivering rich flavor and juicy texture for any occasion.

# What you need:

→ Ham

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

→ 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

# How to make it:

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 - Combine honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, whole-grain mustard, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves in a medium bowl; whisk until smooth.
03 - Pour the glaze evenly over the ham and arrange orange slices around it in the slow cooker.
04 - Cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours, occasionally basting the ham with the glaze to enhance flavor and moisture.
05 - Transfer the cooked ham to a cutting board once tender and heated through.
06 - Pour the remaining glaze into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes until thickened.
07 - Slice the ham and brush with the thickened glaze prior to serving.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does all the work while you handle everything else without stress.
  • The glaze caramelizes into something sticky and golden that tastes like comfort and celebration.
  • Leftovers transform into sandwiches so good you'll look forward to them more than the main meal.
  • It makes your home smell like you've been cooking for days when you've barely lifted a finger.
02 -
  • Don't skip basting the ham every hour or so, it keeps the top from drying out and builds up layers of flavor.
  • Let the glaze simmer until it's actually thick, not just warm, or it'll run right off the slices onto the plate.
  • If your slow cooker runs hot, check the ham at 5 hours to avoid overcooking.
03 -
  • Score the ham deeply enough to let the glaze seep in, but not so deep you hit the meat.
  • Save the ham bone for soup, it'll give you the best split pea or bean soup you've ever made.
  • If the glaze starts to burn on the edges, add a splash of water or apple juice to the slow cooker.
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