Christmas Carrots

Harvesting carrots from beneath the snow on Christmas day–our favorite holiday tradition.

Thank you for reading Acre. As an Art Director, gardener and cook, my content is a mix of seasonal recipes, kitchen notes, dinner party curations, and garden updates. I would love to have you join me on the Acre.

As fall begins to wane into winter, the garden slowly empties, leaving only the dense carrot patch. The tops are thick and lush from a full season of growing, the roots beneath them rounding above the soil–a tucked away rainbow of color. I cover this little patch of carrots with a thick layer of straw, tucking them in to withstand the frigid temps of winter.

I was so thrilled when I learned that carrots could be left within the garden bed (A brilliant method from the skilled gardener, Niki Jabbour), nestled beneath thick mulch where they take on the winter chill without freezing. The cold turns carrots’ starches into sugar, making them rich and sweet. I could not wait to give it a try in my own garden. I also knew I wanted the day of harvest to be special, something we could look forward to year over year. What could be more special than harvesting carrots on Christmas Day?

With the carrot patch tucked in, winter arrives and snow falls as it covers the world in white. Out the kitchen window I can see the mound of carrots sleeping in the garden bed, awaiting the perfect day to harvest. I wait through the cold days of November and December, until Christmas Day arrives.

We enjoy a slow and cozy Christmas morning, unwrapping gifts in our PJs. I sip coffee and stare out at the garden, excited to head out to unwrap our Christmas carrots. I pull my boots on over my pajamas, bundle up against the cold and tromp through the soft snow to the resting carrot patch.

I dig beneath the snow and straw to reveal the still green carrot tops, now lightly covered in frost. Gently nudging and tugging, I pull a carrot from the chilly earth. The intense sent of carrots mingles with the smell of cold and snow, the vibrant root captivating against the winter wonderland. It is thrilling to pull root after root, revealing a stunning rainbow of color from the sleeping garden.

With a heavy bunch of Christmas carrots in my arms, we head in to scrub and prep them for Christmas dinner. A simple oven roast with olive oil, salt, and pepper is all that’s needed to bring out their intense sweetness. I top them with a parsley gremolata for a perfect simple side. We finish Christmas Day enjoying bite after bite of garden fresh carrots, as fresh snow covers the world in white again.