Slow Cooker Candied Carrots are an easy sweet side dish that will go great with your holiday meal!
This month I found a great recipe to convert to the slow cooker from a book I found at the library called Down Home Southern Cooking. The recipe in the book boiled the carrots first, with the slow cooker that step is not needed.
I start with a 2-pound bag of whole carrots. I used a wavy cutter to slice them, I think I got this wavy cutter at pampered chef, but I don’t see it available there anymore. Here is a wavy cutter that is similar. I love this cutter, I use it often for salads for carrots and cucumber. Of course, this recipe can be made without the wavy cutter, just use a regular knife.
This recipe has just a few simple ingredients: carrots, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt.
Toss all those ingredients in the slow cooker.
After 3 hours on high, this is what the carrots look like. They still have great color!
This is a great side for the holidays. Many people don’t care for sweet potatoes (what?) and this side is a great alternative. I don’t know about you, but I have so many parties I have to bring a few sides to in the next week.
I hope you have a great weekend! I have another great holiday side coming up on Monday, see you then!
Slow Cooker Candied Carrots
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. carrots peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions:
- Place the carrots in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg. and salt.
- Pour in the water and stir.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Robin says
Can you use a Instant pot?
Sheryl says
Love this! Would baby carrots be okntonusw?
Sarah Olson says
Yes, though you may need to cook a little longer.
Nancy says
I haven’t tried this yest but I am going to today. I love carrots cooked this way. I know they are going to be delicious.
DVCSSR says
Why not just buy the wavy cut carrots in a bag at the market.
Elizabeth says
I plan to fix this recipe.
Lorraine Ramsey says
these are wonderful and so easy to prepare. I also use orange juice for liquid and even throw in shredded coconut.
Gregory says
New to slow cookers and this site. Would there be problems if I substituted bourbon for water?
Sarah Olson says
I would do half water half bourbon. It may be too strong with all bourbon.
Melissa says
I have a potluck tonight and would like to try this recipe. If I cook on low for 5 hours think this would suffice? I’d like to start the slow cooker on my lunch hour and have it done just before the potluck lol
Sarah Olson says
It’s hard to tell without trying! I apologize. It may work if the carrots aren’t too thick. Sometimes carrots take longer to cook on low.
Nicole says
If you replaced the water with butter wouldn’t it burn? My crockpot gets very hot on high.
Sarah Olson says
I think it will be fine. Butter is pretty liquidy once melted. You could add a splash of water to be sure.
Jennifer Mays says
These carrots look delicious and I would love to make them for thanksgiving. We are going to a dinner with 29 people. If I triple the recipe, how long would you need to cook them for?
Sarah Olson says
I’m thinking 4 hours on high.
Barbara says
Can you use frozen carrots, or will it change the cooking time?
Sarah Olson says
I think the cooking time would only be about 20 minutes longer, frozen veggies cook fast. I have never tried this recipe with the frozen carrots, if you have luck with frozen carrots in recipes, then I think it should do fine.
Abby says
I noticed there’s no butter here…. do you use butter when you cook them in a slow cooker or only when you cook them on the stove top ??
thanks for a yummy recipe
Sarah Olson says
I did not use butter in the recipe, though it would be great, I debated it. If you use butter, use less water. I do have a butter nut squash recipe that uses only butter as a liquid, you see it here: https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-cinnamon-sugar-butternut-squash/