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Best Crockpot Honey Glazed Ham with Brown Sugar Crust

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This crockpot honey glazed ham with brown sugar crust is the ultimate easy holiday recipe. It’s tender, juicy, and coated in a sticky, sweet glaze that caramelizes perfectly, all made with simple ingredients and minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (7-10 lb) fully cooked bone-in ham, spiral-cut or whole
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • Optional: 1/4 cup pineapple juice or orange juice
  • For the Glaze (to brush on at the end):
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Prep the ham (5 minutes): Take the ham out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to let it come to room temperature. Remove all packaging, including the plastic disk at the base and any netting. If your ham has a glaze packet, toss it. Rinse the ham under cold water and pat it very dry with paper towels. If it’s not spiral-cut, use a sharp knife to score the surface in a diamond pattern, about 1/4 inch deep.
  2. Line the crockpot (2 minutes): Tear off two large sheets of aluminum foil, long enough to overlap and hang over the sides of the slow cooker. Press them into the pot, creating a foil sling. Lightly spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. Make the glaze base (5 minutes): In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, ground cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper until thick but pourable.
  4. Assemble the ham (5 minutes): Place the ham flat-side down in the foil-lined crockpot. If it’s spiral-cut, try to keep the slices together. Pour the glaze mixture evenly over the top, using a spoon to work it between the slices if spiral-cut. Dot the top of the ham with the small pieces of butter. If using pineapple or orange juice, pour it around the base of the ham, not over the top.
  5. Cook low and slow (4-6 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH): Place the lid on the crockpot. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. About halfway through, use a spoon to baste the ham with the juices that have accumulated at the bottom. Don’t open the lid too often—every hour is plenty.
  6. Make the finishing glaze (5 minutes before serving): About 20 minutes before serving, in a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk until smooth and bubbling, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
  7. Glaze and caramelize (5 minutes): Carefully lift the ham out of the crockpot using the foil sling and transfer it to a large, foil-lined baking sheet. Brush the finishing glaze generously all over the ham. If desired, pop the baking sheet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, watching closely so it doesn’t burn.
  8. Rest and serve (10 minutes): Let the ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Transfer to a serving platter, spoon any remaining glaze from the crockpot over the top, and serve warm.

Notes

The ham is already fully cooked; you are just warming it through and letting the glaze caramelize. Use a foil sling for easy removal. Baste every hour but don’t open the lid too often. If broiling the finishing glaze, watch closely to prevent burning. Let the ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing to retain juices. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot ham, honey glazed ham, brown sugar ham, holiday ham, slow cooker ham, Easter ham, Christmas ham, easy ham recipe

Find it online: https://juliamadeit.com/best-crockpot-honey-glazed-ham-with-brown-sugar-crust-easy-holiday-recipe/