Candied Walnuts Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Nov 10, 2021, Updated Feb 21, 2024

5 from 10 votes

7 Comments

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This candied walnuts recipe is easy to make with six ingredients. They are even more delicious than the nuts you can get at the mall or fair, and they’re freezer-friendly so you can make a batch and enjoy them for months as a snack, on top of salads, etc.

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I have a thing for candied nuts, pecans, almonds, it if it’s a nut I’ve candied it. So of course, I had to share my recipe for the best candied walnuts.

I love using these candied walnuts for salad (like this kale salad, Brussels sprout salad, etc), as a sweet snack, or to give as gifts to neighbors and friends around the holidays.

This Candied Walnuts Recipe is easy to make with six ingredients, and they’re are even more delicious than the nuts you can get at the mall or fair.

They also freeze very well, so you can make a batch and enjoy them for months!

Candied Walnuts Recipe (3)

Candied Walnuts: Ingredients & Substitutions

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  • Raw Walnuts.Use raw, unsalted walnuts in this recipe. I don’t recommend any substitutions, although I have had other people using a variety of nuts with great success (try these candied pecans and candied almonds).
  • Egg white.I do not recommend making any substitutes for the egg white.
  • Vanilla Extract.Technically youcan substitute 1 TBS water for the vanilla extract, although I donot recommend that substitution. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar. Regular granulated sugar and organic cane sugar are the two varieties I have used to make these cinnamon sugar almonds.
  • Fine Sea Salt. If you only have iodized table salt, you will need to cut the amount of salt in half.
  • Ground Cinnamon.Use a high-quality ground cinnamon for the best flavor.
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How to Make Candied Walnuts

This recipe is simple, but it’s important to follow the recipe exactly for the best results.

Begin by preheating the oven to 250 degrees F and lightly greasing a large baking sheet. (Do not use parchment paper or foil, bake directly on the greased pan).

Then, combine the dry ingredients together in a small bowl (sugar, salt and cinnamon, and set it aside).

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Next, whip the egg white and vanilla together in a large bowl with a whisk until thick and frothy (about 1 minute).

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Then, add the walnuts to wet mixture and stir until they are evenly coated.

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Once the walnuts are coated, sprinkle the dry ingredients over the walnuts and stir until evenly distributed. Make sure to scrape any extra cinnamon sugar mixture off the sides and bottom of the bowl and incorporate it into the candied walnuts.

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Then, spread the walnuts evenly in a single layer, on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Important note: Even if the candied walnuts look done after 45 minutes trust me and bake for the full hour. This is very important to they remain crispy.

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After one hour remove the walnuts from the oven, give them a final stir and let them cool on the baking sheet or enjoy them warm.

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Store

This recipe makes a lot of candied walnuts. I always make the full recipe, enjoy some, then freeze the rest for later. I like to have them on hand to pull out and to have candied walnuts for salads or to eat as a snack.

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Freeze

I love freeze these candied walnuts for salad! Here’s how:

  1. Let the candied walnuts cool completely
  2. Transfer to a freezer-friendly, airtight container.
  3. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  4. Let thaw at room temperature and enjoy! They thaw very quickly, and even taste great frozen!
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Serving Suggestions

I can’t keep my family away from these candied walnuts, so many end up getting eating warm, straight off the baking sheet. Here are some other suggestions for the ones that do make it past the first 10 minutes out of the oven:

  • Serve with this balsamic vinaigrette to use the candied walnuts for salad.
  • Sprinkle some on these roasted beets! SO GOOD!
  • Add a few to this kale salad, burrata salad, brussel sprouts salad, spinach salad and this roasted vegetable quinoa salad!
  • Sprinkle some on top of these overnight oats with yogurt!
  • They make a great topping for the best homemade vanilla ice cream (or this Paleo vanilla ice cream).
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Candied Walnuts Recipe FAQs

How long do candied walnuts last?

These last for up to 1 week at room temperature, 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and 2 months in the freezer.

Why are my candied walnuts soft?

If they are soft you likely did not bake them long enough. Follow the directions exactly. If you did and still ended up with soft almonds, it’s likely your oven isn’t heating to the correct temperature. Use an oven thermometer to check and make sure it’s heating properly.

Should candied walnuts be refrigerated?

No, they can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, this recipe easily doubles, just be sure to bake it on two separate baking sheets in a convection oven or in separate ovens (if you have a double oven).

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Candied Walnuts Recipe (16)

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Candied Walnuts Recipe

Laura

This Candied Walnuts Recipe is easy to make with six ingredients. They are even more delicious than the nuts you can get at the mall or fair, and they're freezer-friendly so you can make a batch and enjoy them for months as a snack, on top of salads, etc.

Course Appetizer, condiment, Dessert, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 16 Servings (1/4 cup)

Calories 226

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Cook Time1 hour hour

Total Time1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet. (Do not use parchment paper or foil. Bake directly on the greased pan).

  • In a small bowl, combine sugar, sea salt, and cinnamon, set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, whip egg white and vanilla with a whisk until frothy (about 1 minute).

  • Add walnuts to wet mixture and stir until evenly coated.

  • Once walnuts are coated, sprinkle the dry ingredients over the walnuts and stir until evenly distributed. Make sure to scrape any extra cinnamon sugar mixture off the sides and bottom of the bowl and incorporate it into the walnuts.

  • Spread the walnuts evenly, in a single layer, on the prepared baking sheet.

  • Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Even if they look done after 45 minutes trust me and bake for the full hour.

  • After one hour remove the walnuts from the oven, give them a final stir and let them cool on the baking sheet or enjoy them warm.

  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the freezer.

Video

Notes

*16 oz walnuts equals 4 cups.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Walnuts. Use raw, unsalted walnuts in this recipe. I don’t recommend any substitutions, although I have had other people using a variety of nuts with great success (try these candied pecans and candied almonds).
  • Vanilla Extract. Technically you can substitute 1 TBS water for the vanilla extract, although I do not recommend that substitution. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar. Regular granulated sugar and organic cane sugar are the two varieties I have used to make these cinnamon sugar almonds.
  • Fine Sea Salt. If you only have iodized table salt, you will need to cut the amount of salt in half.
  • Ground Cinnamon. Use a high-quality ground cinnamon for the absolute best flavor.

Store

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Freeze

  1. Let candied walnuts cool completely.
  2. Transfer to a freezer-friendly, airtight container.
  3. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  4. Let thaw at room temperature and enjoy! They thaw very quickly, and even taste great frozen.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

Try these recipes

Cinnamon Sugar Pecans (Candied Pecans)

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Candied Almonds (Cinnamon Roasted Almonds)

Kale Salad Recipe

Easy Overnight Oats with Yogurt

Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Candied Walnuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

When candied pecans are warm, they might be a bit sticky, but once they cool, the sugar coating should harden. If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove.

Why are my candied walnuts soft? ›

Let the candied nuts cool for at least 20 minutes or until completely cool. You don't want to package warm nuts or the moisture will cause condensation which will soften the candy coating.

How much sugar is in candied walnuts? ›

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Sugars 6.7g
Protein 3.8g8%
Vitamin A 0.3µg0%
Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
12 more rows
Nov 23, 2015

Do candied walnuts go bad? ›

Yes, candied nuts can go bad. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month for best results.

Why are my candied nuts grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

Why are my candied pecans still sticky? ›

The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts. How do you fix candied nuts that are too soft and sticky? You can place them back into the oven for 5 to 15 minutes or until they dry out more. They will continue to firm and dry out as they cool.

How long to soak walnuts to make them soft? ›

Experts agree that to reap the benefits, one should soak the walnuts for about 6-7 hours or overnight. And on an average, a healthy individual can have 3-4 soaked pieces of walnuts.

How do you soften walnuts quickly? ›

So, if you forget or don't have the patience to wait 8 hours while the walnuts soak (I certainly don't), I suggest boiling them! This will soften them really quickly (only about 15-20 minutes, as opposed to 8+ hours of soaking) so they blend well and you end up with a silky smooth and creamy walnut milk.

How do you make walnuts softer to eat? ›

Soaking the walnuts makes them softer and gives it more of meat-like texture. The reason for soaking the sun-dried tomatoes is that they are really hard if not soaked.

Do walnuts raise blood sugar? ›

Walnuts are known to help build resistance for insulin, control blood glucose levels and lower the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes. 2. They are rich in dietary fibres. Fibres take long to breakdown and digest, which ensures slow release of sugar in the bloodstream.

Can diabetics eat walnuts? ›

The most important nuts for people with diabetes are probably the ones that improve cardiovascular health: almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, namely. If you only incorporate a few nuts into your diet, choose these ones. But be sure to avoid the salted varieties.

Are walnuts good or bad for diabetics? ›

Walnuts also contain fiber. There is evidence that both insoluble and soluble fiber can help improve blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol, and lower the risk of some of the complications of diabetes. Walnuts are available in grocery stores or for purchase online.

Can you eat nuts 2 years out of date? ›

A: Nuts can't expire; however, they can change in taste or go rancid. Nuts contain much-unsaturated fat, an oil that makes nuts likely to go rancid. Nuts spoil faster when exposed to light, air, or heat.

Can rancid walnuts make you sick? ›

Eating rancid food won't make you sick, but the new molecules that form as oxidation occurs may lead to digestive issues. Rancid foods are also less nutritious because oxidation destroys the good fats and some of the vitamin content.

How can you tell if walnuts are rancid? ›

Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odors and flavors. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet. If your walnuts smell like paint thinner, you know they're rancid.

Why are my candied almonds chewy? ›

If your sugared almonds are sticky rather than crunchy on the outside, it's likely because you didn't bake them for long enough. Next time, bake the almonds for an additional 5 minutes. Just don't be tempted to increase the oven temperature as that could result in burnt almonds!

How do you fix soggy nuts? ›

Spread the stale snacks out on a cookie sheet and place in a 350o F oven. Let them bake for about 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled the snacks should be crispy and refreshed. You can use this method with fresh nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, etc.

How do you get moisture out of nuts? ›

You Can Dry Nuts/Seeds in the Oven

Set your oven to the lowest temperature possible. Dry nuts for 30 minutes to 1 hour on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Remove a nut/seed, cool it and taste.

Why are my candied almonds not crunchy? ›

Don't under bake the candied almonds, and be sure to turn them every 20 minutes. And perhaps the most important tip: let the cool before digging in! As they cool, they'll firm up and get crunchier. So if you taste one fresh from the oven, don't be alarmed if it's still a bit soft.

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