6-8medium-sized organic carrots(the most important thing is to have the carrots a uniform size so they cook at the same rate)
6-8stripsbacon
½cupmaple syrup
Black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°. Prepare a baking sheet with sides by lining with parchment paper or aluminum foil. You can also use a nonstick pan for easier cleanup.
Wash, dry and trim the carrots. If using carrots with greens, cut off the tops. If you aren’t using organic carrots, peel them with a vegetable peeler.
Take a strip of bacon and wrap each carrot tightly without overlapping the bacon. Tuck the ends under.
Brush each bacon wrapped carrot with maple syrup, coating well.
Season with pepper. Here you can add other seasonings that your family likes such as thyme or parsley.
Bake 20 minutes then remove from oven and brush with more maple syrup. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the carrots are tender.
Notes
Tips & variations for maple bacon wrapped carrots
Make sure to use 100% maple syrup, not pancake syrup, as this is what gives the carrots all their flavor.
Buy organic carrots if possible so they don't have to be peeled. All the goodness is right under the skin and it sure speeds up the prep time.
Use medium-sized carrots if possible but the organic ones with the greens, that are slightly thinner, work well too.
I like to line my pan with parchment paper or foil as the glaze can create a sticky mess that is hard to scrub off of the pan. Nonstick pans would also work great.
Want even more flavor? Add a sprinkle of thyme along with the pepper prior to roasting. Other complementary herbs are rosemary, sage and parsley.