Slow Cooker Copycat Honey Baked Ham with Spiced Brown Sugar Glaze

Slow Cooker Copycat Honey Baked Ham — AI-generated illustration

You do not need to babysit a hot oven for hours to prepare a centerpiece ham. A slow cooker keeps spiral-cut pork juicy, and it frees up valuable oven space for side dishes.

This recipe coats a six to eight pound bone-in spiral sliced ham in melted butter and honey before warming it on low. A quick finish under the high broiler bubbles a spiced brown sugar crust that matches specialty butcher shop flavor.

Slow Cooking and the Two-Stage Broil

The slow cooker warms the ham on low heat for four to five hours so the meat heats through gently. Line a roasting pan with foil near the end of that window, then transfer the ham over to your preheated high broiler.

Broiling happens in two distinct steps. First, half of the spiced sugar is pressed dry onto the meat and broiled for three minutes to caramelize. Then, the remaining sugar mixture is boiled on the stove with slow cooker juices, brushed over the surface, and broiled for a final minute or two.

Key Glaze Ingredients

Bone-in spiral sliced ham provides tender meat that easily accepts the honey butter rub. Work that warm mixture directly between the pre-cut slices so sweet flavor penetrates into the roast.

Light brown sugar anchors the spiced crust alongside cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Simmering the leftover sugar mixture with three tablespoons of warm cooking liquid from the slow cooker, or plain water, turns it into a spreadable glaze.

Cook's Notes for Success

Keep your eyes on the broiler rack during both cooking intervals. Sugar burns quickly under high heat, so pull the pan as soon as the topping looks bubbly and caramelized at roughly three minutes for the dry rub and one to two minutes for the glaze.

Rest the ham for at least five minutes before serving. This pause lets the bubbling sugar set firm against the exterior rather than dripping away onto the cutting board.

Frequently Asked Questions

What liquid should I add to the glaze on the stovetop? Measure three tablespoons of the cooking liquid straight from the slow cooker, or use plain water if you prefer.

How long does the ham cook in the slow cooker? Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook the ham on low for four to five hours.

How long does the ham need to rest after broiling? Allow the ham to rest for at least five minutes before you carve or plate it.

Slow Cooker Copycat Honey Baked Ham with Spiced Brown Sugar Glaze

Ingredients

  • 1 bone-in spiral sliced ham (6 to 8 lbs)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Trim ham as necessary and place in slow cooker.
  2. In a small bowl, stir together butter and honey, then rub over ham, pushing mixture into slices. Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours.
  3. Towards the end of the cooking time, preheat oven broiler on high and line a roasting pan with foil.
  4. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, garlic powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, paprika, and salt. Press half of the mixture into the top of the ham.
  5. Broil until bubbly and caramelized, about 3 minutes, then remove from oven.
  6. Add remaining sugar mixture to a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Add 3 tablespoons of the ham liquid from the slow cooker (or water). Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  7. Let boil 1 minute, then remove from the heat. Brush glaze over ham, then broil once more briefly, just 1-2 minutes.
  8. Let ham rest at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Recipe notes

  • Add 3 tablespoons of the ham liquid from the slow cooker (or water).
  • Let ham rest at least 5 minutes before serving.

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