Roasted Maple Glazed Carrots

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These Roasted Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots are a sweet and savory side dish perfect for your next holiday dinner. Pair them with your favorite main course for perfect Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or weeknight dinner!

Overhead photo of saucy maple glazed carrots sprinkled with flaked sea salt.

Why You’ll Love These Carrots

Carrots are one of our favorite veggies! Not only are they nutritious, but they’re also super versatile and work well in everything from gluten-free carrot cake pancakes to Thai curried carrot ginger soup.

However, in our opinion, one of the best ways to use this vibrant veggie is as a simple side dish with this bourbon glazed carrots recipe!

Easy – With minimal prep time and a quick cook time, this side dish is ready in under and hour. Even better, the oven does all the hard work!
Nutritious – Loaded with fiber and nutrients, this is a tasty side dish you can feel good about.
Versatile – Sweet and savory, these carrots pair well with all your favorite main courses.

Up close photo of maple glazed carrots on a metal platter.

Ingredients You Need

Below is an overview of the ingredients for roasted maple glazed carrots. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details!

Raw carrots, maple syrup, oil, and salt in bowls on a white marble countertop.

Maple Bourbon Glaze – We use our homemade maple bourbon glaze featuring maple syrup or sugar free maple syrup, coconut sugar (or brown sugar), bourbon whiskey, orange juice, ground ginger, and nutmeg.
Whole Carrots – We prefer to use whole, fresh carrots, but baby carrots will also work.
Light Olive Oil – This enhances the natural sweetness of the carrots, helping them caramelize in the oven.

Health Benefits of Carrots

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients! For instance, carrots are:

Rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin K1.
An excellent source of biotin and potassium.
Rich in fiber.

Carrots come in a variety of colors, all filled with nutrients, but did you know that purple carrots have more of the natural pigment anthocyanin that has been shown to reduce inflammation.

Up close photo of a brush glazing raw carrots with a maple bourbon glaze.

How to Make Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots

Scroll down to the recipe card for the complete nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, cholesterol, etc.

Combine the glaze ingredients. Add the maple syrup, coconut sugar, bourbon, orange juice, ginger, and nutmeg to a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine, and bring the mixture to a light boil.
Simmer. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the glaze thickens to a syrup-like consistency, stirring occasionally.

Prep Tip – Short on time? See the recipe card for a quick glaze with ¼ cup maple syrup and a pinch of ginger and cinnamon instead.

Overhead photo of a small soup pot with maple bourbon glaze with a brush.

Up close photo of maple bourbon glaze in a white dish with a brush.

Note: Taste the glaze halfway through simmering, and adjust the seasonings as desired.

Prepare the carrots. Peel and clean the carrots, and cut off the tops. Arrange the carrots in a baking dish, drizzle olive oil on top, and toss to coat.
Add the glaze. Add part of the maple bourbon glaze over the carrots. Season with salt and pepper.

A woman's hand pouring a maple bourbon sauce over carrots in a white baking dish.

Overhead photo of raw carrots in a maple bourbon glaze in a white baking dish.

Roast the carrots. Transfer the baking dish to a preheated oven. After roasting for about 20 minutes, flip the carrots over, and brush the tops with glaze from the pan.
Bake again. Return the baking dish to the oven, and continue to roast until fork-tender. Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon juice, if desired.

A woman's hand with a brush glazing raw carrots with a maple bourbon sauce.

A woman's hand holding a hot pan of white baking dish with maple glazed carrots.

Pro-Tip: Save leftover maple glaze, storing it in the fridge to use with maple bourbon glazed salmon or to freshen leftover carrots later.

Flavor Variations

Feel free to experiment with this recipe to make it your own! Some easy ways to switch it up include:

Adding herbs and spices such as parsley, rosemary, fresh thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, or red pepper flakes.
Swapping the maple bourbon glaze with cilantro pesto.
Swap the bourbon for brandy or apple cider
Skip the glaze, and toss the roasted carrots with pure maple syrup or honey and butter.

More of Our Favorite

Gluten-Free Side Dish Recipes

Common Questions

Do I have to parboil carrots before roasting?

Some people prefer to parboil their carrots before roasting them to prevent them from shriveling in the oven. However, we don’t find it necessary with this recipe!

What should I serve with maple glazed carrots?

Pair these carrots with all your favorite meals such as ham, turkey, herb roasted chicken, and fish.

Can I make this recipe in advance and reheat later?

Yes! Store leftover glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Then, reheat them in an oil skillet over medium-high heat or on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cover with foil if the carrots begin to brown. Also, If the carrots seem a bit dry, add a drizzle of oil or leftover maple bourbon glaze.