Maple Glazed Carrots

These flavorful and colorful Maple Glazed Carrots are wonderful to complement your holiday meals. The combination of cardamom and thyme with maple syrup gives a sweet and robust taste.

No matter what you serve with the delicious and heartwarming maple glazed carrots, I promise it will be a major hit! I love carrots, especially sweet roasted carrots! What is so special about them? Come on, look at the caramelized glaze of them. Get ready to try out an insanely easy and flavorful ride to your taste buds.  

Are you still looking for Thanksgiving sides?  These maple glazed carrots will be a big hit, they are easy to prepare. Serve them along with my Lentil Meat Balls, Vegan Mac And Cheese, Mash Potatoes, and Vegan Tiramisu for a mouthwatering Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter Dinner.

Carrot Health Benefits

The carrot or Daucus carota is a root vegetable that is often hailed as the world’s healthiest food. It’s crispy, tasty, and full of nutrients. See Are Carrots Good For You?

Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant chemicals are abundant in carrots. They reduce the incidence of certain cancers, can support immune function, and promote wound healing and digestive health when consumed as part of a well-balanced diet. See How To Grow Carrots. Here are some health benefits of carrots that you must know.

Improves Vision

Carrots are full of vitamin A, and vitamin A deficiency can cause xerophthalmia, an increasing eye disease. When light levels are dimmer, xerophthalmia can result in trouble seeing or night blindness. If we do not face a deficiency of vitamin A, we have fewer chances of being blind.

Carrots also have antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, both of these two can work together to stop any age-related macular degeneration.

Helps Prevent Cancer

Increased free radicals in our bodies can lead to different types of cancer. Dietary carotenoids are available in yellow, orange, and red organic, all of which are pigments with antioxidant effects found in carrots and other vegetables. 

They are known to lessen this risk by acting as antioxidants. Carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin are two examples. Vitamin A and beta carotene could also help.

Provides Digestive Health

An average-sized carrot has 1.7 g of fiber, which corresponds to 5–7.6% of a person’s regular fiber requirements, depending on their age and gender. Meanwhile, 3.58 g of fiber may be found in 1 cup of sliced carrots.

Adequate fiber intake can help in the correct functioning of our digestive system as a whole. People who consume a high-fiber diet have a lower risk of colorectal cancer than people who consume a low-fiber diet.

Assists On Controlling Diabetes

Around 10% of the weight of a carrot makes up its carbohydrates, with sugar accounting for half of the carbohydrate content and fiber accounting for the remaining third. Carrots, both raw or boiled, have a low glycemic index which can lead to a blood sugar increase. 

People with diabetes can utilize the GI index to figure out which foods will raise their blood sugar levels. Eating a high-fiber diet with carrots may assist in preventing type 2 diabetes from developing. 

Healthy Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that consumers consume less salt and more potassium-rich foods, such as carrots. Potassium aids several cardiovascular problems such as blood vessel relaxation, lowering the risk of high blood pressure, etc.

A medium-sized carrot has around 4% of a person’s regular potassium intake. Consuming high-fiber vegetables, like carrots, can reduce the risk of many cardiovascular diseases and decrease the levels of low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol. Read More.

Maple Glazed Carrots Ingredients

• Maple Syrup: I love to have maple syrup because it’s less processed and has more antioxidants and minerals in it. 
• Non-dairy butter (I used Earth Balance): Vegan butter brands like Earth Balance are plant-based butter that tastes exactly like butter.   
• Fresh Thyme: I used thymes because of the depth of flavor and aroma it creates, which easily goes well with any type of vegetable. 
• Cardamom or Cinnamon: Cardamom is a spice that is widely used for sweet and savory dishes. It has a sweet, strong aroma texture with hints of mint and lemon. If you don’t have cardamom near you, you can add some cinnamon as it has a delightful, sharp, and sensual fragrance. 
• Salt: We all know it’s a must-have flavoring agent. You can use sea salt or pink salt with this dish. 

How To Make Glazed Carrots With Maple Syrup

This healthier version of glazed carrots will definitely be a hit, brown sugar glazed or honey glazed carrots are the traditional way of preparing glazed carrots but using maple syrup is a much healthier version.

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly line a baking tray with parchment paper, spray or brush with oil.
• Wash and peel carrots, leave carrots whole or then cut in half lengthwise.
• Mix maple syrup, melted vegan butter, water, thyme, cardamom or cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl and add carrot to the mixture and toss to coat.
• Place carrots on a baking tray in a single layer and bake for 30 minutes turning every 10 minutes or until carrots are tender and caramelized. Remove and enjoy!

What to Serve with Maple Glazed Carrots?

This maple glazed carrots recipe is always a crowd-pleaser as you can see it’s like a delicious bowl of candies even your kids will love to enjoy. It’s so healthy and delicious that you find the carrot platter empty at the end of the meal. 

• The maple glazed carrots recipe will perfectly go with Thanksgiving Dinner, so you should plan on doing it this year for sure! 
• I love to have them with Crispy Baked Tofu or Crispy Baked Potatoes. 
• For a basic Sunday special meal, you can try preparing some Vegan Mac and Cheese and serve the maple-glazed carrots beside. 

Other Amazing Carrot Recipes

• Carrot Cake Donuts With Ginger
• Gluten-Free Vegan Carrot Cake Pancakes
• Gluten-Free Vegan Carrot Cake
• Air Fried Carrots
• Carrot Dogs
• How To Freeze Carrots
• Candied Carrots
• Vegan Carrot Raisin Salad

Is Maple Syrup Vegan?

Usually, it’s a yes, but not always. 

Maple syrups is a natural product prepared from the sap of maple trees, which will lead you to the conclusion that it’s vegan-friendly. However, plenty of maple syrup brands sell versions that include animal products. 

In the time of procession, the maple syrup, the sap boiling water evaporates, which leaves a thick sugary syrup, but it also produces a lot of foam. 

• Some producers defoam it with animal fat, although it’s not the only choice. Nowadays, producers use vegetable oil to defoam the syrup instead. 
• Some producers use honey or dairy butter to add flavors to their syrups, making them non-vegan products. 

The best way to know the maple syrup vegan is to check out the label closely and research the companies. Here are some possible labels list to know about the maple syrup,

• Artificial or natural flavors.
• It will have the title “Maple-Flavored Syrup” instead of “100% Pure Maple Syrup”.
• If it’s not labeled as organic or vegan, or vegan-friendly maple syrup. 
• It will include ingredients like “honey,” “caramel, or “sweet cream.”

Can I Substitute Maple Syrup for Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe?

Absolutely! If you don’t have maple syrup available near you, you can try out honey instead. You can also use corn syrup to make this amazing dessert. 

How to Store Cooked Carrots?

• Prepared carrots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. 
• You can also keep the carrots in the freezer bags and seal them in the freezer for at least 6 months. 

How to Prepare Maple Glazed Carrots Ahead of Time?

• Peel, rinse, and coat the prepared carrots with maple syrup mixture up to 4 to 5 hours before you are ready to roast them. Keep them covered, and it’s not required to keep them in the refrigerator. 
• If you are trying to prepare this dish in advance, you can make these two days ahead. 
• To reheat the dish, keep them in the microwave, loosely covered for four minutes, stirring frequently. 
• Reheat the carrots on the stove-top. To do it, put the glazed carrots in a saucepan and add ¼ cup of water. Cover the carrots, stirring frequently, and bring them to a simmer. Take off the lid and cook the carrots, frequently stirring until you get the thick glaze texture for about 5 minutes.  

Tips and Tricks Maple Glazed Carrots

• Feel free to add some garnish like thymes, chives, rosemary, or oregano to get some kick of flavors. 
• For better results, choose medium-sized carrots with a deep orange texture. Avoid tiny or thin carrots as they will cook faster and won’t get the beautiful caramelized texture. 
• Prepare the carrots in advance so that you can easily prepare them for dinner when there are other things to do. 
• To check the cooked carrots while baking, get a fork and pierce the thickest part of the carrot after 25 minutes of cooking. If it goes through easily, then it’s perfectly cooked.  

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