Sweet Brown Sugar Candied Carrots are a delicious Fall tradition but can be enjoyed year round. This lip licking recipe is a favorite and you will know why after you taste them. Perfectly coated glazed carrots are wonderful to serve at dinner.
I’m a huge fan of most recipes for Candied Carrots but I love this quick and simple Instant Pot recipe for glazed carrots. It allows you to make them even quicker and easier than before.
This sweet carrots recipe is a delicious and a flavorful way to spruce up your roasted carrots. Not only that, but they make for a great holiday side dish! Think Easter, Thanksgiving, and Family Gatherings too!
You’ll have even the pickiest of eaters cleaning these orange things off their plate in no time.
Traditional candied carrots request you to baste the carrots over and over again through a long cooking process in the oven.
Continually basting the carrots ensures they do not dry out while cooking and it adds depth of flavor into the carrots. This recipe gives you all of that delicious quality flavor without the added work!
Ingredient List:
- Baby Carrots
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Spices: Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg
The list is quick and simple. You can substitute garden carrots for baby carrots but you will need to wash, peel and chop carrots into smaller bite size pieces.
What are Candied Carrots
Carrots are a sweet vegetable all on their own, but added a bit of brown sugar and fall spices to them is a great thing!
It’s like magic when these flavors combine to make a delicious mouthwatering Candied Carrot.
On our Holiday Table we always have Candied Carrots or Brown Sugar Carrots.
It’s just a tradition that we love and look forward to. I’m forever basting carrots in the oven to get the perfect candied carrot. But not any more!
Cooking everything just got easier when you add the Instant Pot to your bag of tricks.
This recipe cooks up in just 3 minutes. To be fair there are a couple of minutes to pressure up, but only a few. 😉
Brown Sugar Carrots are a favorite recipe for my husband, he just loves them, even more than I do I think!
How to make Candied Carrots?
Candied Carrots can be made a number of ways from the stove, to oven and now Instant Pot. Make sure to see the directions below in the recipe card for each one.
Instant Pot Directions:
- Heat Instant Pot to Saute’ and wait for the front panel to read “hot”
- Add Butter and allow to melt. Press Cancel or Turn off Instant Pot.
- Stir Brown Sugar into Melted butter and then add carrots
- Stir carrots to coat in sweet brown sugar glaze
- Add water and close lid and set Instant Pot to Pressure Cook High for 3 minutes.
- Quick Release pressure and serve immediately.
Stove Directions:
In a sauce pan melt butter and add brown sugar and spices. Add carrots and ½ cup water. Cook over medium heat until carrots are fully cooked, stirring occasionally so sugars do not burn.
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What are Brown Sugar Carrots?
Brown Sugar Carrots and Candied Carrots are the same thing.
The recipe is all very similar with ingredients. Some recipes will use a pumpkin pie spice in place of the individual spices.
What do I serve Candied Carrots with?
Candied Carrots can be served as a side dish with any meal. From a holiday table to any given night of the week.
But don’t stop there. These are also excellent served with a roasted chicken breast, or on the side to a stunning steak.
How to Reheat Candied Carrots
Candied Carrots are easily reheated on the stove with a little water and a dab of butter. Heat over medium/high heat until desired temperature is reached.
Can Candied Carrots be prepared the day before?
If you are using garden carrots you can peel and cut your carrots to get them ready. Other wise this recipe is so simple there is no need to prepare ahead.
Can I add in extra ingredients?
Oh yes! We love to add Bacon and Pecans to this recipe. The sweetness of the brown sugar with bacon is magic in your mouth. And who doesn’t love Pecans? It’s a Win Win!
Quick Tips
Depending on how “done” you enjoy your cooked carrots you can adjust the cook time. If you want a little more of a bite in your carrot, drop the cook time to 2 minutes.
Carrot Fun Facts:
A medium-size carrot has 25 calories, 6 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. The veggie is an excellent source of vitamin A, providing more than 200% of your daily requirement in just one carrot.
Check out these other Side Dish Recipes!
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Roasted Green Beans
- Potatoes and Carrots
- Roasted Garlic Potatoes
- Herbed Green Beans and Potatoes
Carrot Recipes
- Candied Carrots from Devour Dinner
- Carrot Raisin Salad from Art of Natural Living
- Carrot and Pecan Salad from Palatable Pastime
- Carrot Cake Loaf from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Carrot Cake Waffles from The Spiffy Cookie
- Carrot Granola Muffins from That Recipe
- Carrot Kumquat Muffins from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Carrots Au Gratin from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Quick and Easy Pickled Carrots from Jen Around the World
- Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Carrots from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Spicy Vegan Carrot Dip from Magical Ingredients
- Vietnamese Zucchini and Carrot Salad with Peanuts from Karen's Kitchen Stories
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Candied Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 b Bag of Baby Carrots
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Tbs Butter
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Clove
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ¾ Cup Water
Instructions
- Heat Instant Pot to Saute' and wait for it to read "hot"
- Add Butter and allow to melt. Press Cancel or Turn off Instant Pot.
- Add Brown Sugar, and spices
- Stir
- Add Carrots and stir to coat
- Add water
- Close Lid and set to Manual for 3 minutes
- Quick Release pressure and serve immediately.
- Stove Top Directions:
- In a sauce pan melt butter and add brown sugar and spices. Add carrots and ½ cup water. Cook over medium heat until carrots are fully cooked, stirring occasionally so sugars do not burn.
- Oven Directions
- In a bowl, melt butter and add brown sugar and spices. Add carrots and ½ cup water and stir, coating carrots. Place carrots in an 8x8 pan into a 350 degree oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove and stir. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until desired softness. Stir to coat carrots and serve.
Notes
Hannah
Would I double all the ingredients if I make 2 bags of carrots?
Devour Dinner
Hi Hannah, whenever doubling the ingredients, I would suggest doubling all the ingredients.