Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots with Cider

Serve Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots with Cider at the holiday table this year. This glazed carrots recipe adds a hint of sweetness and some tanginess to the table and pairs well with so many dishes. All you need are about 30 minutes and a handful of ingredients to make them, too! Makes 4 servings, but can be doubled.

My sister and I both have food allergies, but hers are significantly worse than mine.

Whenever I’m cooking, I always wonder how I would fix a dish for her if she was coming to dinner, as she cannot touch a carrot without breaking into hives.

It’s led to some pretty awesome discoveries… like sweet potatoes are delicious in pot pies and orange bell pepper works nicely in a tomato sauce to add some sweetness.

However, this dish is not something I can adapt for her, as the main component is carrots.

Why I love this recipe:

This potluck recipe I have for y’all today was adapted from a friend’s mom, and it is just utterly delightful.

This quick and easy carrot recipe brings a little bit of everything to the table.

You’ve got some sweetness from the carrots themselves, as well as the brown sugar. (But it’s not overwhelmingly sweet… this is DEFINITELY a savory dish.)

The hard cider adds moisture and flavor to the carrots themselves. So doe the stock. And then there’s acidity in the mustard.

When I got to planning our little impromptu Christmas potluck, this recipe popped back into my mind… and I adapted it.

My rendition of these carrots makes for more of a sauce, and the carrots are delightfully sweet when cooked down in it.

More side dishes that are great for a potluck: Fresh Green Bean Casserole from Scratch | Parmesan Broccoli with Pine Nuts | Creamed Cornbread Casserole | Cranberry Chutney | Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles | Honey Roasted Carrots

Looking for more holiday dishes to make? Check out my Thanksgiving Recipe Index for more ideas.

What you need to make this recipe:

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• Sharp knife and cutting board
• Vegetable peeler
• Skillet or saucepan
• Liquid measuring cup
• Wooden spoon

Here’s what you need:

• Carrots—I like to use the regular-sized ones, peel them and chop them down instead of purchasing and using baby carrots.
• Extra virgin olive oil—or another neutral oil. The carrots are going to cook in this.
• Dark brown sugar—to add a bit of sweetness to the carrots without overpowering their natural flavor.
• Alcoholic cider—we recently updated this recipe to use the full can of cider. It will cook down out of the carrots and the alcohol should cook out.
• Vegetable stock—to add a bit more flavor. If you don’t have this and are not a vegetarian (and are not serving vegetarians), chicken stock would also work.
• Spicy brown mustard—or your favorite flavorful mustard. Dijon could work nicely here, too.
• Kosher salt and black pepper—you add these to taste. We like a medium grain kosher salt and to crack our own black pepper, but you do you!

Variations on this recipe:

• Use different carrots. We used the classic orange carrots, but you could easily use yellow or purple carrots or a combination of them here. Baby carrots also work in a pinch.
• Make it gluten free. This carrot side dish recipe should be naturally gluten free, but read the ingredients on your mustard and stock to confirm.

How to make Glazed Carrots with Brown Sugar and Cider

Trim the tops and bottoms off the carrots. Peel them with a vegetable peeler, then chop into 1″ pieces.

Pour the olive oil into a skillet over medium heat.

Once warm, add the carrots and sauté for 5 minutes. They will not be softened yet, but you might have a little bit of color on them.

Sprinkle in the sugar, stirring to coat, and cook for about a minute.

Pour in the cider and stock, and bring to a boil.

Stir in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Stir, stir, stir.

Partially cover the pan, and lower heat to medium low. Simmer for another 15-20 minutes or until the carrots are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.

Remove the lid and continue cooking until the liquid transforms into a thick sauce.

Serve warm, and enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick tips and tricks to the best Glazed Carrot recipe

• Prep it ahead of time. Get those carrots peeled and chopped days in advance, and keep them in the fridge until it’s cooking time.
• Double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
• Make it ahead of time. These keep well in the fridge, so you can make them 1-2 days beforehand then reheat before serving. You might need to add an extra splash of stock if they’re too sticky.
• How to store leftovers: Let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to a week.

Here’s how you can make them: