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maple glazed carrots on round white plate.
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4.80 from 20 votes

Maple Glazed Carrots With Thyme and Orange Zest

A fresh bunch of carrots roasted with sweet maple syrup and fragrant thyme - and garnished with orange zest - makes this maple glazed carrots recipe irresistible.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Vegetarian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings (change as needed): 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound slender carrots, leaves attached, Note 1 (about 2 bunches if carrots are small and slim)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest (half an orange)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425F/218C. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or foil (if using foil, lightly spray with oil) - for easy clean up.
  • PREPARE CARROTS: Peel carrots (Note 2). If you leave a 1/2 inch of green stems on, be sure the scrub the earth off around the stem (I use a peeler to get most of it off). Try to get all the carrots the same width in order to cook evenly- you may have to slice a few in half lengthwise. Place carrots on pan. Mix maple syrup, oil, thyme and salt in a small bowl. Pour mixture over carrots and toss around to coat evenly.
  • ROAST CARROTS: Roast carrots for 20-25 minutes or until tender. Give them a shake after about 10-15 minutes for even cooking.
  • SERVE: Place carrots on a serving plate. Garnish with orange zest (Note 3) and drizzle lightly with maple syrup (or honey) if you like. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Notes

  1. Carrot options
    • Buy fresh carrots with leaves attached if you want to keep a little bit of the stem at the top (fancy-schmancy). Bagged carrots are fine too. 
  2. To peel or not to peel
    • If you scrub the carrots well, you can skip peeling them. There is no nutritional difference if you peel them or not. You just get a brighter appearance and slightly sweeter taste with peeled carrots. The skin has some bitterness to it.
  3. Variations to try
    • Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon or nutmeg.
    • Omit the thyme or orange zest. If you don't like thyme, dill would be a great substitute.
    • Use maple syrup instead of honey.
    • Try half carrots and half parsnips.
  • Make Ahead: Roast the carrots as per the recipe ahead of time, then reheat at 375F -400F (190C-204C) for 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, serve them at room temperature.
 
Nutrition values are estimates. 
Calories: 95kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 369mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 19030IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg