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Tender Slow Cooker Maple Glazed Ham Recipe Easy Perfect Holiday Meal

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This tender slow cooker maple glazed ham recipe delivers a juicy, fall-apart tender ham with a sticky but balanced maple glaze, perfect for holidays and gatherings with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 to 8 pounds bone-in spiral ham (pre-cooked)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
  • About 20 whole cloves (for studding the ham)

Instructions

  1. Remove the ham from packaging and pat dry with paper towels. Trim fat layer to about 1/4 inch thickness for better glaze absorption. Stud the ham evenly with whole cloves.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, ground cloves, cinnamon (if using), and garlic powder until smooth.
  3. Pour water into the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the ham cut-side down in the slow cooker.
  4. Brush about half of the maple glaze evenly over the ham’s surface. Reserve the rest for basting later.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.
  6. About halfway through cooking (after 2 hours), lift the lid carefully and baste the ham with the remaining glaze. Replace the lid promptly.
  7. Optional: For a caramelized finish, transfer the ham to a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for 3–5 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
  8. Let the ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.

Notes

If glaze is too runny, reduce water or add more brown sugar next time. Keep slow cooker lid on tight during cooking to maintain heat. For a quicker cook, use HIGH for 3 hours but expect less tenderness. The glaze can be prepared up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Optional broiling step adds a caramelized crust.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker ham, maple glazed ham, holiday ham recipe, easy ham recipe, slow cooker holiday meal, tender ham, maple syrup glaze

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