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Slow Cooker Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 65 reviews
  • Author: Hannah
  • 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 Cooking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Slow Cooker Maple Glazed Carrots are a sweet and tender side dish perfect for any meal. Baby carrots are cooked slowly in a flavorful mixture of maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, and warming spices, resulting in perfectly glazed, fork-tender carrots with a rich autumnal flavor. This effortless slow cooker recipe lets the natural sweetness of the carrots shine while creating a luscious maple glaze that clings to each piece. Garnish with fresh thyme for a lovely herbal touch.

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

Instructions

  1. Prepare the carrots: Add the baby carrots to a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker. If using whole carrots, peel and slice them beforehand.
  2. Mix the glaze ingredients: In the slow cooker, sprinkle the brown sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, and pepper evenly over the carrots. Stir gently to combine and coat the carrots with the dry ingredients.
  3. Add maple syrup: Pour the maple syrup over the carrots and mix well to ensure all the carrots are evenly coated with the sweet glaze.
  4. Top with butter: Cut the butter into small cubes or pats and distribute them evenly over the surface of the carrots.
  5. Slow cook the carrots: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours, until the carrots become fork-tender. Stir the carrots one to two times during cooking if possible to redistribute the glaze.
  6. Thicken the glaze: To achieve a thicker glaze, either remove the lid during the final 30 minutes of cooking and increase the heat to high, allowing the liquid to reduce, or transfer the cooked carrots to a bowl and keep warm. Pour the cooking liquid into a saucepan and simmer it over medium-high heat, whisking for about 5 minutes until the glaze thickens.
  7. Garnish and serve: Once the glaze has thickened, return the carrots to the slow cooker or serve them immediately. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired and enjoy warm.

Notes

  • Use baby carrots for convenience or peel and slice whole carrots for a more rustic feel.
  • Stir the carrots during cooking if possible to ensure even cooking and glaze distribution.
  • For a thicker glaze, removing the lid during the last 30 minutes helps evaporate extra liquid.
  • The glaze can also be thickened separately on the stovetop to avoid overcooking the carrots.
  • Fresh thyme adds a lovely herbal note but is optional.
  • This dish pairs wonderfully with roasted meats, poultry, or as part of a holiday meal.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6th of recipe (approximately 4-5 oz)
  • Calories: 130 kcal
  • Sugar: 16 g
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Fat: 6.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 15 mg

Find it online: https://cookesrecipes.com/slow-cooker-maple-glazed-carrots-recipe/