Description
This Slow Cooker Maple Glazed Carrot recipe transforms simple carrots into a sweet and savory side dish, perfect for holiday meals or any cozy dinner. Carrots are slowly cooked with butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and warm spices to create a tender, flavorful glaze that enhances their natural sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 pounds baby carrots (or 1 1/2 pounds whole carrots, peeled and sliced)
Glaze
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Garnish
- Fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the carrots: If using whole carrots, peel and slice them into evenly sized pieces for uniform cooking. Baby carrots can be used as is. Place the carrots into the slow cooker evenly.
- Make the glaze: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, maple syrup, cubed butter, salt, ground cinnamon, and pepper. Mix well until the sugar begins to dissolve and the butter is partially melted.
- Cook the carrots: Pour the glaze mixture over the carrots in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or until the carrots are tender and the glaze has thickened into a lovely syrup coating the carrots.
- Serve: Carefully stir the glazed carrots to coat them evenly. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with fresh thyme if desired for an added aromatic touch.
Notes
- For firmer carrots, reduce the cooking time slightly.
- If you prefer a less sweet dish, reduce the brown sugar and maple syrup by half.
- Fresh thyme adds great flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved depending on your serving needs.
- Use unsalted butter if you want to control the salt level more precisely.
Keywords: slow cooker carrots, maple glazed carrots, slow cooked carrot recipe, holiday side dish, maple syrup carrots, autumn vegetable side