Maple-Glazed Carrots With Cinnamon And Butter Recipe

The Dreamiest Maple-Glazed Carrots With Cinnamon And Butter Recipe

Maple-glazed carrots bring a luxurious sweetness to any dinner table, revamping humble vegetables into a culinary delight.

These vibrant orange gems sparkle with a rich, golden coating that promises pure comfort.

The natural sugars caramelize beautifully, creating a glossy and irresistible side dish that elevates simple ingredients.

Warm spices like cinnamon dance alongside maple’s deep, complex notes, generating a harmonious flavor profile.

Kitchen magic happens when butter melds with maple syrup, creating a luxurious glaze that clings perfectly to tender carrots.

Elegant yet uncomplicated, this recipe brings sophistication to your plate without requiring advanced cooking skills.

Home cooks will adore how quickly these carrots come together, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Maple Carrots with Cinnamon Quick View

  • Effortless Flavor Explosion: Slow cooker method transforms simple baby carrots into a mouthwatering side dish with minimal hands-on cooking, letting sweet maple and warm cinnamon create a delectable taste experience.
  • Versatile Texture Magic: Butter and maple syrup combine to create a glossy, caramelized coating that turns ordinary carrots into a luxurious, tender side dish perfect for both casual family dinners and elegant holiday meals.
  • Smart Glaze Customization: Flexible finishing techniques allow cooks to control the sauce's consistency – either by leaving the slow cooker uncovered or reducing the liquid separately, ensuring a perfectly glazed result every time.

What You Need for Maple Carrots

Vegetable Base:
  • Baby Carrots: Sweet and tender vegetables perfect for slow cooking, choose uniform size for even cooking.
Spices and Sweeteners:
  • Salt, Ground Cinnamon: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural sweetness of carrots and add warm depth to the dish.
  • Brown Sugar: Provides rich caramel-like sweetness and helps create a delicious glaze.
Liquid and Coating Ingredients:
  • Real Maple Syrup: Authentic syrup that creates a glossy, natural sweet coating with complex flavor notes.
  • Butter: Adds richness, helps create a smooth glaze, and provides a luxurious mouthfeel to the carrots.

Cook Maple Glazed Carrots Step by Step

Step 1: Prep Carrots

Place of baby carrots into a 6-quart slow cooker.

Step 2: Season Carrots

Sprinkle carrots with:
  • Salt
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Packed brown sugar

Stir thoroughly to coat carrots evenly.

Step 3: Add Maple Syrup

Pour real maple syrup over carrots and toss to distribute completely.

Step 4: Add Butter Cubes

Spread carrots across slow cooker base. Dot surface with cubed butter.

Step 5: Cook and Thicken Glaze

Option 1: Remove lid during final 30 minutes of cooking and set slow cooker to high.

Option 2: Transfer cooked carrots to bowl and pour liquid into saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat, whisking frequently until glaze reduces and thickens, about 5 minutes.

Serve warm and enjoy the sweet, aromatic side dish that combines maple’s richness with cinnamon’s warmth.

Pro Tips for Maple Cinnamon Carrots

  • Select Sweet Carrots: Choose baby carrots that are uniform in size for even cooking and a beautiful presentation.
  • Control Moisture: Keep the slow cooker lid on during most of cooking to prevent carrots from drying out and maintain their tender texture.
  • Balance Sweetness: Adjust maple syrup and brown sugar quantities based on your preferred level of sweetness, tasting as you go.
  • Watch Cooking Time: Cook carrots on low for 3-4 hours to ensure they remain soft but not mushy, preventing them from becoming overly soft or losing their shape.
  • Enhance Flavor Depth: For extra richness, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or a splash of vanilla extract to complement the cinnamon and maple notes.

How to Keep Maple Carrots Fresh

  • Storage: Transfer leftover maple-glazed carrots to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Sealed properly, these sweet carrots will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
  • Refrigeration Method: Store carrots with their glaze in a glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Prevent moisture loss by pressing plastic wrap directly onto the surface before sealing.
  • Reheating Method: Warm carrots gently in the microwave or oven to maintain their tender texture. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Alternatively, reheat in a covered oven-safe dish at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until heated completely. Add a splash of water or maple syrup to keep the carrots moist and prevent drying out.

Maple Carrot Pairing Ideas

  • Pair with Roasted Proteins: Complement the sweet and spicy maple-glazed carrots with roasted chicken, turkey, or pork tenderloin. The caramelized flavors of the meat will harmonize beautifully with the carrots' rich, buttery glaze.
  • Match with Crisp White Wine: Select a chilled Riesling or Gewürztraminer to balance the dish's sweetness. These wines offer a refreshing acidity that cuts through the butter and maple syrup, creating a delightful taste experience.
  • Serve Alongside Nutty Grains: Pair the carrots with wild rice pilaf or quinoa studded with toasted almonds. The nutty undertones will enhance the cinnamon's warmth and provide a complementary texture to the soft, glazed carrots.
  • Complete with Creamy Dessert: Follow the dish with a light vanilla bean panna cotta or apple cinnamon crumble. These desserts will echo the warm spices and sweet notes already present in the maple-glazed carrots.

Flavor Swaps for Maple Carrots

  • Honey Herb Glazed Carrots: Replace maple syrup with honey and add fresh thyme or rosemary for an aromatic herbaceous flavor profile.
  • Spicy Maple Carrots: Incorporate a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to create a sweet and spicy glazed carrot experience with a gentle heat kick.
  • Orange Maple Carrots: Enhance the glaze by adding fresh orange zest and a splash of orange juice for a bright, citrusy undertone that complements the maple sweetness.
  • Balsamic Maple Carrots: Mix in a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to introduce a tangy depth that balances the sweet maple and caramelized carrot notes.
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Maple-Glazed Carrots With Cinnamon And Butter Recipe

Maple-Glazed Carrots With Cinnamon And Butter Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 28 reviews

  • Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Maple-glazed carrots bring sweet warmth to any dinner table, showcasing Canadian maple syrup’s rich elegance. Buttery cinnamon notes and golden caramelization create a simple side dish that elevates your meal with minimal effort and maximum flavor.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds (907 grams) baby carrots

Spices and Seasonings:

  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Sweet and Fatty Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup (60 milliliters) packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 milliliters) real maple syrup
  • ⅓ cup (76 grams) butter, cubed

Instructions

  1. Arrange of baby carrots in a 6-quart (5.7 liters) slow cooker, creating an even layer across the bottom.
  2. Generously season the carrots with salt and ground cinnamon, ensuring complete coverage.
  3. Sprinkle packed brown sugar over the seasoned carrots, gently tossing to distribute the sweetener uniformly.
  4. Drizzle pure maple syrup across the carrots, carefully mixing to coat each piece with the golden liquid.
  5. Strategically place cubed butter throughout the slow cooker, allowing the butter to melt and infuse the carrots during cooking.
  6. Cover and cook on low heat for 3-4 hours until carrots reach a tender yet slightly firm consistency.
  7. For an enhanced glaze, uncover the slow cooker during the final 30 minutes and switch to high heat, allowing the liquid to reduce and caramelize.
  8. If a more controlled glaze is preferred, transfer the cooked carrots to a serving dish and reduce the remaining liquid in a saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking continuously until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.

Notes

  • Sweet and tender baby carrots transform into a luxurious side dish with minimal effort using your slow cooker.
  • Maple syrup and brown sugar create a rich, caramelized glaze that perfectly complements the natural sweetness of carrots.
  • Cinnamon adds warm, aromatic depth to the dish, making these carrots feel like a comforting autumn-inspired treat.
  • Butter enhances the overall richness, giving the carrots a silky, glossy finish that melts in your mouth.
  • Cooking on low heat allows the carrots to become incredibly tender while absorbing all the delicious flavors.
  • Optional glaze thickening techniques provide flexibility for achieving your desired sauce consistency.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 hours
  • Category: Dinner, Side Dish
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 308 kcal
  • Sugar: 26 g
  • Sodium: 378 mg
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated Fat: 14 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 61 mg
Lucas Bennett

Lucas Bennett

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

Simple Everyday Recipes, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Creative Meal Planning, Recipe Testing and Improvement

Education

Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Practical culinary training, fundamental cooking techniques, meal planning, and using fresh, local ingredients.

Lake Superior College, Duluth, Minnesota

  • Program: Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
  • Focus: Cooking methods that promote sustainability, farm-to-table practices, and eco-friendly meal creation.

Lucas Bennett’s cooking journey started in his parents’ kitchen, where he learned to prepare tasty, no-fuss meals from scratch. His culinary passion led him to Fox Valley Technical College, where he gained practical cooking skills.
He then expanded his focus on sustainability at Lake Superior College. Today, Lucas shares easy, approachable recipes designed to make cooking enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star