Everyday cooking
Honey and butter roast carrots
Carrot pieces roast with a little honey and butter until their edges colour.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Servings / pieces
- 4
- Topic
- Everyday cooking
Carrots become sweeter in the oven and develop roasted flavour on their cut surfaces. Divide them into similar-sized pieces and coat lightly with honey and melted butter. The glaze should cover the vegetables thinly rather than forming a heavy sugary layer on the tray. Turn again after baking to distribute the clinging juices. The quantities make four side portions with potatoes, rice or a roast. Very slender carrots can remain whole, while thick ones need splitting lengthways so they cook at a similar rate. Check the thickest piece rather than relying on the colour alone.
Method
Step by step
- 01
Cut carrots
Heat the oven to 200 °C conventional heat. Peel carrots and cut into roughly 5 cm lengths. Halve or quarter thick pieces lengthways so their thickness is similar.
- 02
Mix glaze
Melt butter in a small saucepan or carefully in the microwave. Mix with oil, honey, salt and pepper. Keep the mixture fluid enough to distribute easily.
- 03
Spread on tray
Toss carrots with the glaze in a large bowl. Spread in one layer on the tray with small gaps between pieces. Distribute remaining glaze evenly.
- 04
Roast carrots
Roast on the middle shelf for 25–30 minutes, turning after 15 minutes. The edges should brown while the carrots remain firm enough to lift without breaking.
- 05
Check tenderness
Test the thickest carrot with a knife tip. It should be tender. Cook longer if needed, covering very dark edges loosely. Turn through the warm glaze and serve promptly.
Times are a guide. Your hob, oven and ingredients affect the result; use the cooking cues as well as the clock.
Prevent burnt honey
Honey browns faster than the vegetables. Moderate oven heat and a thin coating help control dark spots. Keep black, bitter deposits off the finished carrots. If the tray becomes dry early, add 1–2 tbsp water at the edge rather than more honey.
Size matters more than the timer
Young thin carrots soften sooner than thick winter carrots. Split large ones lengthways to reduce differences. A tray of small pieces may need less time. Testing the thickest part with a knife is more reliable than glaze colour, which can darken before the vegetables soften.
Kitchen questions
One more question?
Can I omit honey?
Yes. Carrots have their own sweetness. Omit it and roast with the same oil and butter quantities; the surfaces will be slightly less glossy.
Can I use maple syrup?
Yes, in the same small quantity. It changes the flavour. Watch for early darkening and turn the carrots halfway through.
