Chef John's Bourbon-Glazed Carrots

These bourbon-glazed carrots are Chef John's recipe for rich, sweet, and savory veggies cooked with butter and brown sugar for a holiday side dish.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 292 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 pounds carrots, peeled, cut into equal-sized pieces
• 0.5 cup butter
• 0.33333334326744 cup brown sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
• 0.5 cup bourbon whiskey
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves for garnish

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until foaming. Add carrots and salt; cook and stir in hot butter until liquid evaporates and carrots begin to brown around the edges, 5 to 6 minutes.

Step 2

Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in bourbon carefully. Cook and stir until bourbon is almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in brown sugar; cook and stir until carrots are almost cooked through, about 5 minutes more.

Step 3

Increase heat to medium-high and cook until glaze thickens, 15 to 30 seconds. Season with ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Transfer carrots to a serving dish and garnish with thyme leaves.