Give This Canned Vegetable The Yam Treatment For A Cheap Dessert You'll Actually Crave

It really is all about the practicality. Because canned carrots are cheap, shelf-stable, and ready to use, they are a canned food that can become an easy dessert when your sweet tooth hits and the fridge is empty. And while canned carrots get the reputation of being a bit bland, this only makes them good at taking on the flavors of whatever you season them with, so it isn't hard to make make them taste sweet and decadent. Brown sugar infuses them with more sweetness and caramel notes, butter adds a little richness, and then cinnamon, nutmeg, or a even a little ginger will give the dish the warm and spiced flavor that we associate with candied yams.

How to make this canned vegetable work

You'll just need to be mindful about the fact that canned carrots don't need the same cooking time that you'd usually set aside for your favorite candied yam recipe. Unlike fresh yams or sweet potatoes, canned carrots are already cooked so they're very soft; you only need to warm them and glaze them. Cook them the way you would yam or sweet potatoes and you risk them turning into mush. First, drain the canned carrots thoroughly (any excess liquid will thin out the glaze), then set them aside while you make the syrup.

You can then follow this three-ingredient candied yam recipe for a basic dessert, or make the dish a little warmer with some added cinnamon and nutmeg. Melt down some butter in a skillet and add brown sugar, a little salt, and your chosen spices. Let the syrup bubble for a few minutes until the sugar dissolves and the glaze looks glossy, then add the carrots and gently toss them over medium-low heat until the glaze reduces — this should only take a few minutes. Throw in a little vanilla extract if you want an extra dessert-like flavor, or garnish with nuts like pecans to bring a nice, crunchy contrast to the soft vegetable. That's all it takes to whip up this sweet dish.