Best Coca Cola Ham Recipe

Cooking ham in coca cola may seem odd, but after trying this recipe you won't make ham any other way. It's sweet, sticky, juicy and DELICIOUS!

ham sliced in half showing centre on wooden board with parsley and apple sauce

Coca Cola Ham

If you think about it, cola ham totally makes sense. Most ham recipes use a sugary glaze, because pork takes on sweetness (like brown sugar or honey) insanely well. For the longest time I used to boil ham in water before roasting. But as of recently I've switched to cola and haven't looked back. By boiling ham in cola you lightly infuse it with a sweet flavour. It offers an added layer of flavour you miss out on if using water. The coke itself takes on other spices really well too, which we'll get into in just a sec.

What does gammon cooked in Coke taste like?

In all honesty you don't get an overwhelming taste of Coke once this is cooked. It's more about the hint of sweetness it brings.

Can I use Diet Coke?

I HIGHLY recommend using full sugar cola. As I said, this is more about the sugar than it is the actual flavour of cola. Diet coke has a much more acidic taste to it which would through off the balance of flavours.

overhead shot of sliced ham on wooden board with knife and pot of apple sauce

Slow Cooker Cola Ham

Gammon vs Ham

Just to clear things up quickly, here in the UK an uncooked ham is called a Gammon, then named a Ham once cooked. My understanding that a ham is a ham in the US, which makes much more sense 🤣

When it comes to cooking gammon the 3 easiest methods are either: roasting, boiling then roasting or slow cooking then roasting. My preference is to slow cook then roast. I find the ham comes out the juicest and most tender with an initial slow cook. It also gives time for the cola and spices to work their way into the surface of the meat.

Can I boil cola ham?

You can boil then roast. This is my second favourite method (more on this in the recipe card). I don't recommend just roasting cola ham as the cola doesn't cling particularly well to the ham, even if you baste throughout.

Process shots: add gammon to slow cooker (photo 1), pour in coke (photo 2), top up with water if needed (photo 3), add onion, carrot, cinnamon, star anise and peppercorns (photo 4), put lid on (photo 5), slow cook (photo 6).

6 step by step photos showing how to slow cook cola ham

How to Roast Ham

Once you've slow cooked the gammon (now ham) it will be completely cooked through, and it will have picked up some flavour, but we want more. Now it's time to roast.

First things you'll want to do is score the fat. This serves two purposes: first is it will allow the glaze to infuse the fat and work its way to the meat. Second is it will prevent the ham from bending/shrinking. Just like pork chops, when ham cooks the fat shrinks and tends to bend the meat. Scoring in a diamond shape will help prevent this.

Do you have to put cloves on ham?

Short answer is no, but it does inject flavour and adds a nice garnish. I tend to add them here, simply because the flavour pairs nicely with the cola.

Process shots: score fat with sharp knife (photo 1), stud with cloves (photo 2).

2 step by step photos showing how to prepare gammon

Cola Ham Glaze

Alrighty, let's talk glaze. This is largely made up of brown sugar and honey, but I also like to add in a little cola, just to add a hint of flavour that'll round everything off nicely. Alongside this I like to add dijon mustard. Mainly because honey and mustard is one heck of a combo, but also because it adds a gentle background heat which cuts through the sweetness of the glaze.

To make the glaze just simply simmer everything in a pot until the sugar dissolves and a glaze starts to form.

From there grab a brush and slather it over the ham, saving a bit to reglaze half way through roasting.

Process shots: make glaze (photo 1), brush over ham (photo 2), fully coat ham then roast (photo 3).

3 step by step photos showing how to glaze ham

Serving Cola Ham

Once it's out the oven it's crucial to let the ham rest. I usually let it rest for around 15mins. This gives chance for the meat to rest and retain its juices. It'll still be piping hot in the middle, don't worry!

From there, if you've got the patience you can remove the cloves. I tend to just slice it up and let people remove their own. Up to you.

How long does leftover ham last in fridge?

It'll last 2-3days tightly sealed in the fridge, longer at your discretion. Perfect to add to my Cream Cheese Pasta or in my English Muffin Breakfast Sandwiches!

ultra close up shot of glaze on ham with cloves stuck in

ham on wooden board next to parsley and apple sauce

For another roast dinner centrepiece check out my Herb Roasted Spatchcock Chicken!

Alrighty, let's tuck into the full recipe for the cola ham shall we?!

How to make Coca cola Ham (Full Recipe & Video)

ham on wooden board next to parsley and apple sauce

Slow Cooker or Large Pot with Lid (see notes)
Baking Tray & Aluminium Foil
Small Pot & Wooden Spoon
Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
Cooling Rack
Tongs

Cola Ham

▢ 3lb / 1.4kg Boneless Gammon Joint (smoked or unsmoked, skin on or off - see notes)
▢ 50 fl oz / 1.5litres / 2.6 pints Coca Cola (NOT diet or zero, must be full sugar)
▢ 1 medium Onion, quartered
▢ 1 medium Carrot, quartered
▢ 2 Star Anise
▢ 1 3" stick or 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
▢ 1/2 tbsp Black Peppercorns

Glaze

▢ 1/3 cup / 65g Brown Sugar
▢ 1/4 cup / 50g Honey
▢ 1/4 cup / 60ml Coca Cola (save before adding to ham to cook)
▢ 3 tbsp Dijon Mustard
▢ handful of Cloves

Add gammon to slow cooker and pour over cola until just about covered, saving 1/4cup/60ml. Top up with water if needed. Add in onion, carrot, star anise, cinnamon and peppercorns. Place on the lid and cook on high for 4 hours.
Meanwhile, in a small pot over low-medium heat combine sugar, mustard, honey and leftover cola. Simmer for 5mins until the sugar dissolves and it starts to thicken, stirring frequently. It will continue to thicken as it rests.
Remove ham from slow cooker and place on a wire rack above a tray or plate (to catch juices). Make sure it's fat side up. Once cool enough to handle, score the fat in a criss-cross style to create large diamonds. Be careful not to slice into the ham. Stud a clove at the tip of each diamond.
Place ham on a foiled baking tray. Scrunch up some foil to prop the ham up so it doesn't fall over if you need to. Brush around 2/3 of your glaze all over the ham.
Place in the oven at 200C/390F for 15mins, take out and reglaze with leftover glaze then pop back in the oven for another 10mins or so until it starts to caramelize and lightly char.
Allow the ham to rest for 10-15mins (important) then slice up. Can remove cloves before slicing if you wish!

a) Safe Temp for Gammon - The centre should reach 145F/62C after slow cooking, as it's cooked from raw. The oven time is mostly to caramelize the outside, but will continue cooking the meat.

b) Skin on Ham - If your joint has skin on, leave it on to slow cook then carefully slice off after, leaving as much fat on the ham as possible.

c) Can I make this on the stove instead of the slow cooker? - You can simmer the gammon on the stove in all of the ingredients used above. You'll want to do it for approx 20mins per pound (40mins per kg). So for a 3lb/1.4kg gammon it'll take 60mins (add 15-20mins if simmering straight from fridge). Refer to above recommend internal temp.

d) Leftovers - Perfect for ham sandwiches! Just allow the ham to completely cool then tightly cover in the fridge. I usually keep it for 2-3days, but work to your discretion.

e) Calories - shared between 6. Overestimate as assumes all the cola is consumed.

Nutrition Facts

Coca Cola Ham

Amount Per Serving

Calories 425 Calories from Fat 76

% Daily Value*

Fat 8.39g 13%

Saturated Fat 2.686g 13%

Trans Fat 0.001g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1.091g

Monounsaturated Fat 3.876g

Cholesterol 85mg 28%

Sodium 2166mg 90%

Potassium 612mg 17%

Carbohydrates 53.25g 18%

Fiber 1.2g 5%

Sugar 49.31g 55%

Protein 35.58g 71%

Vitamin A 1742IU 35%

Vitamin C 2.2mg 3%

Calcium 46mg 5%

Iron 2.31mg 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition is based on the absence of salt unless stated as a measurement in the ingredients. Cost is worked out based on ingredients bought from UK supermarkets, then divided by the number of servings. In both instances these values are just for guidance. Please check out my FAQ Page for more info.

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