Make this sweet and flavorful Slow Cooker Apple and Clove ham for the holiday dinner!
I have been so excited to share this Slow Cooker Apple and Clove Ham recipe with you! It’s the type of recipe that makes me fall in love with the slow cooker ever more. I don’t think there is a better flavor combination than this. The apples, apple juice, brown sugar and clove make a sauce that cooks into the ham, and with the ham being spiral it makes for even more flavor added to the ham with the juices going in between the slices.
I bought a 10 pound ham, it looked like it would fit in my slow cooker, but it was a bit large. I cut an inch off the bottom then it fit perfectly. I used that extra ham for other recipes during the week. Apple juice is used as the liquid in this recipe, though apple cider would be good too.
Below is what the ham looks like before cooking, after unwrapping the ham it really takes just a minute to get this cooking.
And after:
Can you see the sauce that is bubbling around the edges? It has so much flavor, it’s sweet but not overly sweet since some of the saltiness of the ham is in it.
The sauce thickened a bit after it cooled. If you want a thicker sauce you could add a cornstarch slurry to it, I didn’t think thickener is needed though. If you watch my video you will see how amazing the sauce looks over the ham, I added no thickener.
Below is the video of the making of this meal. You can follow me on YouTube here.
Are you making ham for your holiday dinner? I plan to make this ham for years to come, it’s that good. The leftovers are amazing, from grilled ham and cheese to spilt pea soup, none of this will be wasted. Have a great weekend!
- 8-9 lb. spiral ham (I used a 10 lb. ham and cut a piece of the bottom so the lid would fit)
- 1 cup apple juice or cider
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 (21-oz.) cans apple pie filling
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- 6-quart or larger
- Add the ham to the slow cooker. Pour over the apple juice. Sprinkle over the brown sugar
- Spread over the apples, and sprinkle over the cloves.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve the ham slices topped with the apples and sauce.
- Enjoy!
You may also like: Slow Cooker Holiday Green Beans
I can’t wait to try this for the Hampton, Thanks
Do you think I could use pineapple instead of apple?
I don’t see why not!
Which type of ham do you use for this recipe a fresh ham or a cooked ham?
I would use a pork shoulder picnic ham. It should be cooked. Here is a good photo of the type I would use if I didn’t get a spiral. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/2015/12/09/slow-cooker-brown-sugar-ham/
So your saying the ham should already be cooked. Would a spiral ham work?
Yes, spiral ham would work fine 🙂
Can i just use cut up apples? My husband cannot have any sugar added of any kind? Please let me know
I think that would work, slice them pretty thin.
I was just wondering why you put everything in one at a time. Could you mix it all up and just pour over it?
You can if you want, I don’t do it because the slow cooker will bubble up the ingredients and combine the flavors anyway.
Does it have to be a spiral ham? Could you use a regular ham?
yes, any ham would work fine!
Okay I really want to try this for Christmas. I’m making a 19 lb ham in roaster oven. How would you make the recipe work for that?
I ran into the same problem. I’m using a very large cooking pot, and mixing following the same recipe putting the oven on 200 for 6 hours.
same here except I was going to do 250?
This ham was amazing at my holiday table. A kid and adult crowd pleaser. Followed recipe exactly and was absolutely delicious. Thank you!!
what would be the difference using apple cider or apple juice
Not much! Use what you have 🙂
Has anyone made this in an Instant Pot and any suggestions on how to do it?