Description
Juicy ham slow-cooked with cranberries, orange juice, and warm spices. A festive yet simple main dish perfect for holidays, gatherings, or Sunday dinners. The citrus-cranberry glaze makes every slice tender, flavorful, and show-stopping.
Ingredients
1 fully cooked bone-in ham, 6–7 lbs
1 cup (240 ml) orange juice, freshly squeezed preferred
Zest of 1 large orange
1 ½ cups (150 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar, light or dark
½ cup (120 ml) cranberry sauce, whole berry preferred
¼ cup (85 g) honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, for thickening glaze)
2 tablespoons cold water (optional, for slurry)
Instructions
Prepare the ham: Pat dry, trim excess fat if desired, and place flat-side down in crock pot.
Mix sauce: In a bowl, combine orange juice, zest, cranberries, sugar, cranberry sauce, honey, mustard, and spices. Stir well.
Pour & coat: Pour mixture over ham, coating evenly.
Slow cook: Cover and cook on low 4–6 hours or high 2–3 hours. Baste with juices hourly.
Make glaze (optional): Simmer 2 cups cooking liquid in saucepan. If desired, add cornstarch slurry to thicken.
Serve: Transfer ham to platter, glaze, garnish with orange slices and cranberries, slice, and serve hot.
Notes
Use bone-in ham for maximum flavor.
Spiral hams need more frequent basting to stay moist.
Taste glaze before cooking; adjust sweetness as needed.
Don’t overcook—ham is pre-cooked, you only reheat and infuse flavor.
Glaze also works as a condiment for sandwiches or veggies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–6 hours (low) / 2–3 hours (high)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker (Crock Pot)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~6 oz cooked ham per person
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 1250 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
Keywords: cranberry orange crock pot ham, slow cooker holiday ham, orange cranberry glazed ham