This Easy Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe is a sweet and savory side dish perfect for spring. Pair it with all your favorite main courses for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or weeknight dinners!
Why You’ll Love This Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe
Carrots are one of our favorite veggies! Not only are they nutritious, but they’re also super versatile and work well in everything from gluten-free carrot cake pancakes to Thai curried carrot ginger soup.
However, in our opinion, one of the best ways to use this vibrant veggie is as a simple side dish with this bourbon glazed carrots recipe!
- Easy – With minimal prep time and a quick cook time, this side dish is ready in under and hour. Even better, the oven does all the hard work!
- Nutritious – Loaded with fiber and nutrients, this is a tasty side dish you can feel good about.
- Versatile – Sweet and savory, these carrots pair well with all your favorite main courses.
Ingredients You Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients for this oven baked glazed carrots recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Maple Bourbon Glaze – We use our homemade maple bourbon glaze featuring maple syrup or sugar free maple syrup, coconut sugar (or brown sugar), bourbon whiskey, orange juice, ground ginger, and nutmeg.
- Whole Carrots – We prefer to use whole, fresh carrots, but baby carrots will also work.
- Light Olive Oil – This enhances the natural sweetness of the carrots, helping them caramelize in the oven.
Health Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients! For instance, carrots are:
- Rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin K1.
- An excellent source of biotin and potassium.
- Rich in fiber.
Carrots come in a variety of colors, all filled with nutrients, but did you know that purple carrots have more of the natural pigment anthocyanin that has been shown to reduce inflammation.
Flavor Variations
Feel free to experiment with this recipe to make it your own! Some easy ways to switch it up include:
- Adding herbs and spices such as parsley, rosemary, fresh thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, or red pepper flakes.
- Swapping the maple bourbon glaze with cilantro pesto.
- Swap the bourbon for brandy or apple cider
- Skip the glaze, and toss the roasted carrots with pure maple syrup or honey and butter.
Prep Tip – Short on time? See the recipe card for a quick glaze with ¼ cup maple syrup and a pinch of ginger and cinnamon instead.
How to Make Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots
Scroll down to the recipe card for the complete nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, cholesterol, etc.
- Combine the glaze ingredients. Add the maple syrup, coconut sugar, bourbon, orange juice, ginger, and nutmeg to a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine, and bring the mixture to a light boil.
- Simmer. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the glaze thickens to a syrup-like consistency, stirring occasionally.
Note: Taste the glaze halfway through simmering, and adjust the seasonings as desired.
- Prepare the carrots. Peel and clean the carrots, and cut off the tops. Arrange the carrots in a baking dish, drizzle olive oil on top, and toss to coat.
- Add the glaze. Add part of the maple bourbon glaze over the carrots. Season with salt and pepper.
- Roast the carrots. Transfer the baking dish to a preheated oven. After roasting for about 20 minutes, flip the carrots over, and brush the tops with glaze from the pan.
- Bake again. Return the baking dish to the oven, and continue to roast until fork-tender. Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon juice, if desired.
Pro-Tip: Save leftover maple glaze, storing it in the fridge to use with maple bourbon glazed salmon or to freshen leftover carrots later.
Common Questions About This Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe
Some people prefer to parboil their carrots before roasting them to prevent them from shriveling in the oven. However, we don’t find it necessary with this recipe!Â
Pair these carrots with all your favorite meals such as ham, turkey, herb roasted chicken, and fish. Â
Yes! Store leftover glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Then, reheat them in an oil skillet over medium-high heat or on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.Â
Cover with foil if the carrots begin to brown. Also, If the carrots seem a bit dry, add a drizzle of oil or leftover maple bourbon glaze.
More of Our Favorite
More Gluten-Free Side Dish Recipes
Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 5 people 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Make this easy maple glazed carrots recipe for a sweet and savory nutritious side dish perfect for holiday meals or weeknight dinners!
Ingredients
Maple Glaze (see notes for alcohol free option)
- ½ cup maple syrup or sugar free maple syrup
- ¼ to ⅓ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- ¼ cup pure bourbon whiskey (see blog about gluten free brands)
- 1 Tablespoon orange juice or 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- Optional pinch nutmeg
Carrots
- 8 to 10 medium to large whole carrots (1.25 to 1.5 lbs)*
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons light olive oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh herbs and lemon juice, to garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the maple syrup, coconut sugar, bourbon, orange juice, ginger, and optional nutmeg over medium heat. Bring to a light (soft) boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20-30 minutes or until the glaze thickens into a syrup-like consistency. Note – Taste sauce halfway through simmering, adjust seasoning with kosher salt, if desired. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Peel and clean the carrots. Then cut off the tops.
- Place whole carrots in a 9×13 baking dish and drizzle with oil. Toss until carrots are completely covered with oil.
- Brush or drizzle ¼ cup maple bourbon glaze (save glaze for other uses, if desired) over the carrots until well coated. Season the carrots with salt and black pepper.
- Place in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove, turn and brush with glaze from the pan.
- Return to the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. For softer carrots, bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve warm.
- Store glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in an oiled skillet or 375 degrees F oven until warmed through. If the carrots seem a little dry, add a drizzle of oil or the leftover maple glaze.
Notes
Substitute Tips – For a quick alcohol-free version, skip making the glaze and use ¼ cup maple syrup and a pinch of ginger and cinnamon instead. 1.25 to 1.5 lb baby carrots may be substituted.Â
Baking Tips – For easy clean up, line the pan with aluminum foil.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: Stove Top, Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 104
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 133.8 mg
- Fat: 3.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.2 g
- Fiber: 3.7 g
- Protein: 1.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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