Cooker Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrot Recipe
This Amazing Slow Cooker Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrot recipe features tender, naturally sweet carrots cooked low and slow, coated in a rich, buttery glaze made from maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hint of spice. Perfect as a comforting side dish for holidays or any dinner, these carrots are effortlessly delicious and beautifully glazed with minimal hands-on time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (high) or 5-6 hours (low)
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes (high) or 6 hours 10 minutes (low)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots
- 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 (Optional)
- Fresh thyme sprigs
Instructions
- Prepare Carrots: Add the baby carrots (or peeled and sliced whole carrots) to a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker, spreading them evenly at the bottom.
- Mix Glaze Ingredients: In the slow cooker, sprinkle the brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper over the carrots. Stir gently to combine the dry ingredients with the carrots, ensuring even coating.
- Add Maple Syrup: Pour the maple syrup over the carrots and stir or toss gently to coat all the carrots evenly with the syrup and spice mixture.
- Add Butter: Cut the butter into cubes or pats and distribute them evenly over the top of the carrot mixture. This will melt during cooking, enriching the glaze.
- Cook Carrots: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours, until the carrots are fork-tender. For best texture, if possible, stir the carrots once or twice during cooking to help them cook evenly and absorb the glaze.
- Thicken Glaze: To create a thicker glaze, choose one method: either remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking and switch to the high setting, or transfer the cooked carrots to a bowl and keep them warm, then pour the cooking liquid into a small saucepan and simmer over medium-high heat. Whisk the liquid until it reduces and thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Serve and Garnish: Return carrots to the slow cooker or serve from the bowl, and if desired, garnish with fresh thyme sprigs for a lovely herbal aroma and presentation. Serve warm as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- Using baby carrots keeps preparation minimal, but if using whole carrots, peeling and slicing ensures even cooking.
- Stirring occasionally during cooking ensures the glaze coats all carrots uniformly and prevents sticking.
- If you prefer a thicker glaze, don’t skip the thickening step after cooking.
- Fresh thyme garnish adds a subtle herbal note and makes the dish more visually appealing.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with roasted meats or holiday dinners.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe (approx. 4 oz)
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: slow cooker carrots, maple glazed carrots, brown sugar carrots, slow cooker side dish, holiday side dish, easy carrot recipe
