How to cook a your Christmas ham in a Crock-Pot

The other day I stumbled upon a spiral cut ham marked down at the grocery store for a too-good-to-pass-up price. With the kids coming home for the holidays and lots of meals to make, I was excited to find such a good deal.

But ham can be tricky to cook properly. Even though most hams are precooked, heating it up needs to be done delicately to avoid drying out the main dish. What better way to prepare the holiday ham than using a Crock-Pot? Its low, slow cooking method makes it the ideal method to get a juicy, flavorful ham that the whole family will love.

I found a recipe by Jaclyn at Cooking Classy for Crock-Pot Ham that essentially allows the chef to set the slow cooker and forget about it. As a bonus, the recipe includes a sweet and tangy glaze to make your holiday ham a showstopper.

The glaze for this ham has so many warm and flavorful spices, it practically screams holiday meal. We’re talking apple, maple syrup, ginger, brown sugar and more.

Here is the list of ingredients you’ll need to make this Crock-Pot Ham:

• Bone-in fully cooked spiral ham (recipe recommends 8 pounds, but you can adjust based on how many people you’re having for dinner)
• Apple juice concentrate
• Real maple syrup
• Spicy brown mustard
• Ground ginger
• Orange zest
• Light brown sugar
• Black pepper
• Corn starch
• Water

Depending on the size of your slow cooker, you may need to use aluminum foil to cover the ham. Some Crock-Pots have lids and the goal is to have a tight seal around the ham to lock in the moisture to prevent it from drying out. The glaze also helps with moisture and has a fabulous flavor.

Jaclyn also reminds readers the important thing to know when using the slow cooker for ham is to simply keep it in the pot until it’s just cooked through. For the 8-pound ham, you’re looking at at least three hours to cook through. Consult your manual or the directions on the ham for cooking time details specific to the ham’s weight.

While the ham is heating up, you can use that time to whip up some of the family’s favorite side dishes. It will be the ideal holiday family meal to enjoy around the table!