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These candied carrots come together with just a few ingredients for a favorite complement to meals. These carrots are tender, caramelized, and sweet, and an easy side dish option for weeknight dinners and special occasions alike. 

Prep: 5 mins Cook: 15 mins Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4-6 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs carrots (10-12 medium carrots, or 5 cups baby carrots)
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup brown sugar or pure honey
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon fine or flaked salt
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or other herbs

Instructions

  1. (Skip this step if using baby carrots). Peel the whole carrots and cut the ends off. Slice the carrots into rounds or pieces about ¼-inch thick. The closer in size each round is, the more even they will cook. You should have roughly 5 cups of carrots once they’re cut. 
  2. Place a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat; add the carrots and water to the skillet. Bring the water up to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer. Place the lid on the skillet and let carrots cook until they are fork tender but not mushy, 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Once the carrots are fork tender, drain the carrots in a colander. Then return the carrots to the same skillet and place it over medium heat. Add the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. 
  4. Stir to combine the ingredients and cook until the sugar thickens slightly and coats each carrot, about 5 minutes.
  5. Remove from the heat and transfer the candied carrots to a serving platter. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Notes

For dairy free, swap out the butter for an equal amount of coconut oil, plant-based butter, or olive oil.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: ⅙ of recipe or ~¾ cup
  • Calories: 116
  • Fat: 4 g
  • (Sat Fat: 3 g)
  • Sodium: 268 mg
  • Carbohydrate: 20 g
  • (Fiber: 3 g
  • Sugar: 14 g)
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg

Dietary

© The Real Food Dietitians
Recipe By: Ana Ankeny