Description
These Slow Cooker Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are a luscious and easy side dish perfect for any meal. Tender baby carrots are slowly cooked to perfection in a sweet glaze made from maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, and warm cinnamon. This recipe allows the natural sweetness of the carrots to shine through while the slow cooking method creates a rich, caramelized glaze. Garnished with fresh parsley, these glazed carrots are a delightful addition to holiday dinners or weeknight meals alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots
- 2 lbs baby carrots
Glaze
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Lightly grease the bottom of the slow cooker to prevent the carrots from sticking and to facilitate easy cleanup.
- Add Carrots: Place the baby carrots evenly at the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring they form a single layer for even cooking.
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir well to create a smooth, uniform glaze mixture.
- Coat the Carrots: Pour the glaze mixture over the carrots in the slow cooker. Toss gently using a spoon or spatula to coat the carrots evenly with the sweet glaze.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook the carrots on low heat for 4 to 5 hours or on high heat for 2 to 3 hours. Stir the carrots once or twice during cooking to ensure they glaze evenly and cook tenderly.
- Serve: When the carrots are tender and glazed, transfer them to a serving dish. Drizzle any extra glaze from the slow cooker over the carrots and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired, before serving.
Notes
- To make this recipe vegan, substitute unsalted butter with a plant-based butter alternative.
- Adjust sweetness by reducing or increasing brown sugar and maple syrup according to taste.
- For a spiced variation, consider adding a pinch of ground ginger or nutmeg to the glaze mixture.
- If your slow cooker runs hot, cook on low for the shorter time to avoid overcooking.
- Garnishing with fresh parsley adds a nice color contrast and fresh flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
