How to Cook a Perfect Cracker Barrel Spiral Ham for the Holidays

The holidays just aren’t complete without a glazed honey ham as the centerpiece of the dinner table. For my family, a spiral cut ham from Cracker Barrel is a cherished tradition. The hickory smoked ham is juicy, sweet, and always a crowd-pleaser.

But cooking a bone-in spiral ham can seen intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before Not to worry! In this article, I’ll walk through my easy, foolproof method for baking a delicious Cracker Barrel spiral ham at home

We’ll cover:

• Selecting and preparing a Cracker Barrel spiral ham
• Step-by-step baking instructions
• How long to cook per pound
• Carving and serving tips
• Glazing ideas to make it extra special

With these simple tricks, you’ll have juicy, flavorful meat and impressive presentation. Let’s get started!

Selecting and Preparing a Cracker Barrel Spiral Ham

Cracker Barrel’s hickory smoked cooked hams come fully cooked so they just need to be heated through. Choose a half ham (6-8 pounds) to easily serve 6-8 people. Or opt for a whole ham (12-14 pounds) for larger gatherings of 10-12.

The night before cooking, remove all packaging and trim off any skin or excess fat. Place the ham flat cut-side down in a shallow roasting pan and cover tightly with foil. This helps the ham better absorb any glaze and keeps it from drying out.

Leave the ham to sit in the fridge overnight which allows the seasoning and brown sugar to better permeate the meat. This extra step is the secret to ultra-flavored ham!

Step-By-Step Instructions for Baking a Perfect Spiral Ham

On the big day, preheat your oven to 325°F. Take the ham out of the fridge and let it come closer to room temp as the oven heats up.

Here’s a simple 4-step method for baking:

1. Add 1⁄2 cup water to the roasting pan. The water prevents any burnt-on drippings or crumbs.

2. Bake for approximately 12 minutes per pound. For a 10 lb ham, that would be 120 minutes (2 hours). Use a meat thermometer to check the inner temp reaches 140°F.

3. Brush with glaze in the last 30 minutes. I’ll share my favorite glaze recipes next!

4. Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to reabsorb for moist, tender meat.

And that’s really all there is to it! The key is using a low and slow 325°F oven to heat the ham gradually without drying it out.

Carving and Serving Your Cooked Cracker Barrel Spiral Ham

The spectacular spiral cut allows you to easily carve perfect slices with a fork at the table. Here are my tips for serving:

• Identify the “face” flat side of the ham and carve slices across rather than along the bone. This gives you a better presentation with thicker slices.

• For juicier meat, carve only about halfway down the bone leaving some meat attached. The outer layer stays moist.

• Use a sharp non-serrated knife to cleanly slice between the spiral cuts.

• Arrange slices on a serving platter and garnish with fresh herbs. Provide a bowl for bone discards.

• Serve slices with pineapple rings, mashed potatoes, asparagus, corn pudding, biscuits – the options are endless!

Your beautiful spiral ham is sure to be the highlight of the meal. Now let’s talk about making it even more special with glazes.

Glazing Ideas to Take Your Cracker Barrel Spiral Ham to the Next Level

A sweet, sticky glaze adds tons of flavor and eye appeal. Brush your favorite glaze on the ham during the last 30 minutes of baking so it caramelizes.

Here are my top homemade glaze recipes:

• Brown sugar & honey – Combine 1 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup honey, and 1 Tbsp maple syrup. Perfectly sweet and shiny.

• Pineapple jalapeño – Mix 1 finely chopped pineapple, 1 minced jalapeño, 1/3 cup brown sugar, and 2 Tbsp lime juice. Sweet heat!

• Cherry cola – Whisk 12 oz cola and 1 cup cherry preserves. Boil until thickened then brush on ham. Kids love this one!

• Spiced orange – Simmer 1 cup orange juice, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp each cinnamon and ginger. Zesty and aromatic.

Feel free to get creative with your own glaze combinations! Spices, fruits, sweeteners, juices and more make for endless options. The tangy sweet glaze completes this holiday showstopper.

Let’s Get Cooking!

Now you’re ready to tackle baking an impressive Cracker Barrel spiral ham with confidence. Prepare the ham the night before for maximum flavor. Bake low and slow, glaze it with something sweet or spicy, and carve neat spiral slices.

I hope these simple tips help you pull off the perfect juicy ham your whole family will love. Share any of your own tried and true ham recipes or ideas below!