Looks Delic
Feeding a crowd is challenging – especially on a holiday. This Crockpot Ham with Pineapple and Brown Sugar recipe makes it so much easier though. Its juicy sweetness will be a crowd pleaser and with just 4 ingredients and all the cooking being done in the slow cooker it will free up your time to focus on your guests.
Pick-up any size ham at the supermarket and adjust the quantities of ingredients in the glaze and the cooking time up or down as needed. The ham is very sweet so I would suggest keeping the sides savory to balance out the meal. A simple potato and vegetable are the perfect accompaniments.
About the Ingredients
Spiral cut ham – Around the holidays these are easy to come by; I usually grab mine at Costco. Double check the label to be sure the ham isn’t already coated in sugary goodness when you purchase it.
Brown sugar – I use light brown sugar but either light or dark will work.
Maple syrup – Use the real maple syrup here instead of a sugary pancake syrup. You want the hint of maple flavor from this ingredient, not the sweetness.
Pineapple juice – These little Dole 6oz cans work great for this recipe. That way you don’t have a big leftover jug sitting in your refrigerator.
Recipe Substitutions & Variations
Although the recipe suggests cooking a spiral ham, I used a bone-in ham butt instead. It still came out great. The meat will be a little less coated in flavor but plenty sweet. It will cook a little slower than the sliced ham so just watch the temperature and make sure it’s hot all the way through (although the ham comes precooked and ready to eat so feel free to heat it to any temperature you like.)
You could use any sweet juice you prefer if pineapple isn’t your thing. Orange juice, peach juice or guava juice would all taste great too.
How to Make Slow Cooker Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
Remove the ham from its packaging and place it cut side down in your slow cooker. Pat the brown sugar all around the outside of the ham to form a crust.
Pour over the pineapple juice and maple syrup, close the lid and set to cook for 4 hours on low.
When the cooking is complete, remove the ham to a cutting board to slice. Transfer the sauce to the stovetop (or use the simmer setting on your slow cooker if you have one.) Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes to reduce it to a glaze. It won’t get very thick but you could also add a little cornstarch mixed with water if you’d like it thicker. Pour a little of the glaze over your sliced ham and serve the rest in a gravy boat on the side.
The Recipe for Slow Cooker Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
This recipe and all of the delicious details are available on the DinnerAtTheZoo.com blog at Crock Pot Ham with Brown Sugar. If you test out this recipe be sure to leave a note in the comments below. I’d love to hear what you thought. Enjoy!
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