Description
These Maple Roasted Carrots with Cranberries are the perfect holiday side dish, featuring sweet maple syrup, tender roasted carrots, and a pop of tart cranberries. The combination of flavors creates a festive and vibrant dish that will complement any holiday meal. Easy to make, yet full of flavor, it’s sure to become a favorite at your table!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb baby carrots (or regular carrots, peeled and cut into sticks)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp maple syrup (pure maple syrup preferred)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- ½ cup fresh cranberries (or dried cranberries if fresh is unavailable)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- 1. Prepare the carrots:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- If using regular carrots, peel and cut them into sticks. For baby carrots, simply trim the ends if needed.
2. Roast the carrots:
- Place the carrots on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and maple syrup, then toss to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the carrots are tender and caramelized.
3. Add the cranberries:
- In the last 5 minutes of roasting, sprinkle the fresh cranberries over the carrots and return the pan to the oven. Roast until the cranberries burst and soften (around 5 minutes).
4. Serve:
- Remove the roasted carrots from the oven and transfer them to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- ou can substitute dried cranberries if fresh cranberries are not available, though fresh cranberries provide a burst of tartness that balances the sweetness of the maple syrup.
- To make this dish ahead of time, roast the carrots and cranberries as directed, and then reheat before serving.
- For an extra touch, sprinkle with toasted pecans or walnuts for added texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Roasting
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe (approximately 1 cup)
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0mg