Air Fryer
Air Fryer Honey Roasted Carrots
Sticky caramelised carrots in 20 minutes. Why the honey can burn and when to add it, and why the hot finish at the end is what actually makes them.
Ingredients
- 1kg carrots
- 2 tbsp runny honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1-2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
- Salt and black pepper
Method
- Peel the carrots and cut them lengthways into even batons.
- Toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Add the honey and thyme leaves and toss again until every baton is glossy.
- Tip them into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry at 180°C (355°F) for 15 minutes, tossing the basket halfway.
- Turn up to 200°C (390°F) for a final 3-5 minutes to caramelise the edges, watching so the honey does not burn.
Notes
- Honey burns in a fan oven. If yours runs hot and the glaze catches, cook the carrots in just the oil and seasoning and toss them in the honey for the last 5 minutes instead.
- Even batons matter more than thin ones. Thick carrot ends and thin tips in the same batch means burnt tips and raw middles — cut the fat end into quarters and the thin end in half.
- Single layer. Piled carrots steam and go soft without ever caramelising.
- The last few minutes at 200°C (390°F) is what makes them. Fifteen minutes at 180°C (355°F) gives you cooked carrots; the hot finish is what gives you sticky dark edges.
- Chantenay or baby carrots can go in whole with no chopping, and take about the same time.
- Air fryer models vary. Treat the times as a guide, go by colour and crispness, and adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Watch it
More Air Fryer Vegetables
Air fryer models vary in power and basket size, so treat the times here as a guide — go by colour and crispness rather than the clock, and adjust the seasoning and glaze to your taste.
Recipe source: Quantities and method from Cook Simply (cooksimply.co.uk): 1kg carrots cut into batons with 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, fresh thyme, salt and pepper, air fried at 180°C (355°F) for 15 minutes with a shake halfway, then 200°C (390°F) for a final 3-5 minutes to caramelise. Their own caveat is carried through: if the air fryer runs hot and the honey catches, cook in oil and seasoning alone and toss in the honey for the last 5 minutes. Corroborated against Recipe This and Tower Housewares, who also cook at 180°C (355°F) for 12-15 minutes and also shake halfway.