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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

    Published: Apr 9, 2022 · Updated: Aug 5, 2023 by Tara Teaspoon · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Pin Recipe
    Brown Sugar and White Wine glazed carrots pin
    Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

    Made with just six basic ingredients, brown sugar carrots take less than 30 minutes to make. This recipe is made on the stovetop, which is great for when your oven is already full!


    Brown sugar glazed carrots are one of my favorite spring, Easter, and holiday side dishes. They take less than 30 minutes to make and they are always a crowd pleaser. 

    The carrots look beautiful, and their sweet aroma will draw all of your guests into the kitchen.

    Jump to:
    • What carrots to use
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • How to Make Glazed Carrots
    • Tips for Making Carrots with Brown Sugar and Butter
    • What Goes With Brown Sugar Carrots?
    • More Carrot Side Dishes:
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    close up of carrots on a platter with flowers and glasses

    I have childhood memories of glazed carrots. Mom would simmer them in orange juice and sugar. They were divine.

    This recipe is my take on Mom's brown sugar butter carrots. They're just as delicious, but I made a few tweaks to the classic recipe.

    What carrots to use

    For brown sugar carrots you can use any shape of carrot. Grab a bag of baby carrots, cut standard carrots or use French style baby carrots with the green tops.

    If you cut standard carrots, peel, then chop into even-sized pieces so they cook at the same time. I like to do 1 to 1 ½ inch rounds or half moons.

    For carrots with green tops, use a clean kitchen sponge or brush to scrub any dirt from the green tips. Then, once cooked they can be eaten along with the orange portion of the carrot.

    As I mention below, you can use rainbow carrots as well. The colors are fun for a holiday meal like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

    variety of carrot shapes for glazed carrots

    Recipe Ingredients

    I opted for something without the zing of orange. I made these brown sugar butter carrots sophisticated by just adding a bit of white wine.

    I add fennel seeds for an extra bit of sophistication.

    I love using baby French carrots for this recipe, but you can also use rainbow carrots or baby carrots from the bag! Or just regular sweet carrots, peeled and cut.

    Rainbow carrots have a similar taste to all other carrots, but have beautiful red, yellow and purple colors. Not to mention, each differently colored carrot has its own health benefits! Think: betacarotene, lutein, lycopene and antioxidants.

    ingredients for brown sugar carrots

    Can the Wine Be Substituted?

    Yes, you can swap the white wine for water or chicken broth if you'd like. You can even use vegetable broth if you'd like to make these vegetarian.

    Can Regular Sugar Be Used?

    I think you need to use brown sugar for this recipe. Brown sugar imparts a caramel flavor to the carrots, whereas regular granulated sugar would just add sweetness.

    Brown Sugar glazed carrots in hands

    How to Make Glazed Carrots

    To make brown sugar carrots, all you have to do is melt your ingredients on medium-high heat, add the carrots to your skillet, cover for 20 minutes, then uncover to let the veggies caramelize.

    That’s it. The recipe really is that easy. I like using a covered skillet like this one, so you don't have to search for a little that fits your fry pan.

    I like to whip out this recipe for family dinners or spring parties with my friends. No matter where I bring these brown sugar carrots, they are always the first dish to be devoured.

    My guests are thrilled, and I am pleased with how easy they were to make!

    table setting with glazed carrots and flowers

    Tips for Making Carrots with Brown Sugar and Butter

    • I like to crush my fennel seeds on a cutting board with the bottom of a heavy pan. You can also use a mortar and pestle.
    • Crushed fennel is also sold at the grocery store, but I find that it has more flavor when I grind it myself.
    • Use rainbow carrots to add color to your dinner spread.

    What Goes With Brown Sugar Carrots?

    These carrots with brown sugar and butter pair perfectly with your favorite holiday entrees!

    • Beef Tenderloin
    • Roast Honey Ham
    • Brown Sugar Ham
    • Roast Leg of Lamb
    • Prime Rib
    close up of glazed carrots

    More Carrot Side Dishes:

    • Beet and Roasted Carrot Salad
    • Miso Glazed Carrots
    • Potato and Carrot Gratin
    • Shredded Carrot Salad

    Rate this recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Scroll to the bottom of the page to rate and comment on this recipe. Leaving comments, questions, and ratings helps other too!

    📖 Recipe

    glazed carrots with brown sugar and white wine

    Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots for Spring

    Tara Teaspoon
    Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are a quick and colorful side dish for your spring dinner.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 8 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Servings 6 to 8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ¼ cup light brown sugar (firmly packed)
    • 2 tablespoons dry white wine (OPTIONAL)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1½ pounds small French or baby carrots
    • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (crushed)

    Instructions
     

    • In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat; add sugar, wine (or replace with water or broth), salt and 3 tablespoons water. Add carrots and stir until coated. Reduce heat to medium and cook, covered, 20 minutes.
    • Uncover and increase heat to medium high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Stir in fennel seeds and serve.
      carrots in a skillet

    Video

    Notes

    • I like to crush my fennel seeds on a cutting board with the bottom of a heavy pan. You can also use a mortar and pestle.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 189mgPotassium: 291mgFiber: 3gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 15755IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1mg
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    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Post updated 4/2022 Recipe Tara Teaspoon, Photography Iain Bagwell, and Tara Teaspoon. Food Stylist Sally Jo O'Brien and Tara Teaspoon. Originally LHJ 03/08.

    Brown Sugar glazed carrots
    Brown Sugar and White Wine glazed carrots

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Mary Bench says

      May 17, 2019 at 7:02 pm

      Beautiful little lovely carrots! Delicious!

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

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