Vegan Caramelized Carrots Recipe

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
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Updated on 05/24/22
Easy vegan caramelized carrots recipe

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 7 mins
Total: 17 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
117 Calories
9g Fat
10g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 117
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 45mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 140mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Whether you are looking for an easy gluten-free and vegan side dish or just an easy way to get your kids to eat their carrots, look no further. Try these simple, sweet glazed carrots. They are quick to prepare and made with just a few ingredients. 

Glazed carrots can be prepared with a bag of store-bought ready-to-eat baby carrots, or you can slice full-size carrots by hand or by using the slicer attachment on a food processor.

In this super-easy side dish, carrots are glazed with a bit of vegan margarine (check the label to make sure your margarine is vegan) and brown sugar. The combination results in an almost caramelized taste. Carrots are naturally sweet, so just a touch of extra sugar turns this carrot dish into a real treat. With just three ingredients, it's a breeze to prepare. If you're not eating dairy-free or vegan, you can use real butter in this simple side dish. 

For grown-ups, you can finish off your carrots with a bit of fresh minced thyme or mint for a beautiful and tasty garnish. These simple glazed carrots would also make a suitable gluten-free and vegan holiday side dish or a welcome addition to a vegan or vegetarian meal. If you are serving them at an autumn party and want to add a fall touch, sprinkle dried cranberries over the glazed carrots. A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg added just before serving adds some warming spices to the carrots.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for caramelized carrots
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. If you're using baby carrots, you'll need to steam them first until they are almost tender. Use a vegetable steamer or place about an inch of water in a pot and simmer the covered baby carrots for about 10 minutes. You don't want them to be cooked all the way, but you just want to give them a bit of a head start.

    Steam
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. If you're using regular carrots, slice them fairly thin. They should be about 1/4-inch thick; otherwise, they won't cook all the way or you'll need to also lightly steam them first. 

    Slice carrots
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck 

  4. Melt the margarine over low heat in a skillet. Once melted, add the steamed carrots or sliced regular carrots. 

    Melt margarine
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Increase heat to medium-high and add the sugar.

    Increase heat
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Allow the carrots to cook, stirring frequently until they are soft and slightly darkened on the edges.

    Allow carrots to cook
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

    Transfer to serving plate
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Tip

  • Any leftover carrots can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a few days.