Candied Walnuts Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Nov 10, 2021, Updated Feb 21, 2024

5 from 11 votes

8 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

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 do you keep candied walnuts from sticking together? ›

How to Make Sure the Glazed Walnuts Don't Stick. Use a silicone baking mat such as a Silpat. Or line your baking sheet with parchment paper. It may help to spray your mat or paper with some cooking spray to help from sticking even more.

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 long will candied nuts keep? ›

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

How do you make candied nuts not 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.

Why do you soak walnuts in water? ›

Shruti Bharadwaj, Senior Clinical Dietician, Narayana Hrudayalaya says soaking walnuts helps improve their digestibility and also remove phytic acid and tannin. "Soaking can also help prevent indigestion as it helps reduce gas forming compounds. It also reduces polyphenols and increase nutrient availability.

How long to soak walnuts before cooking? ›

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.

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 do my walnuts taste funny? ›

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 odor and flavors. Rancid nuts are not unsafe, but they have a sharp flavor most people find unpleasant. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet.

How do you make walnuts softer to eat? ›

Soak your nuts and seeds anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 or 3 hours, or even overnight in the refrigerator. In general, harder nuts will take longer to soften. If your recipe calls for soaked nuts or seeds and you are low on time, try to squeeze in 20 minutes minimum, or just do a really good job rinsing them.

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.

How do you store homemade candied nuts? ›

Store in an Airtight Container

One of the most important things you can do to keep your candied pecans fresh is to store them in an airtight container. An airtight container will prevent air and moisture from getting in, which can help preserve the crunch and flavor of the pecans.

How quickly do nuts go rancid? ›

The general rule is that most nuts retain quality for a few months. However, this does not mean that nuts will remain in good condition for an extended period. Shelled nuts stored at room temperature are expected to last six to nine months. Non-shelled nuts will last for four to six months.

Why won't my candied nuts dry? ›

If your nuts don't harden fully, that means the sugar wasn't cooked long enough and didn't caramelize. Cook the nuts longer next time!

Why wont my candied fruit harden? ›

If the sugar mixture is not cooked to the proper temperature (the hard-crack stage 300-310° F {149-154° C.} or if you are working in a kitchen with high humidity, chances are your candy is retaining too much moisture.

What are candied nuts called? ›

Candied almonds or Praline are nuts (usually almonds) of French origin, that have been cooked in a special way, so they end up coated in browned, crunchy sugar.

How do you package candied nuts? ›

Cool nuts on a parchment lined baking sheet. Package in miniature cellophane bags and gift to your friends!

Should I soak walnuts before baking? ›

Astringent, mouth-puckering taste…

By soaking and dehydrating them, this will be greatly reduced. This is because when soaking walnuts, the tannins are rinsed away, leaving behind a softer, more buttery nut. The soak water from nuts and seeds should always be discarded and never used as water in a recipe.

How do you store an open bag of walnuts? ›

Once you open the bag, transfer the walnuts to an airtight container to maintain freshness and then place them back in the refrigerator or freezer. If you buy bulk walnuts, either in-shell or shelled, place the walnuts in an airtight container for long-term cold storage.

How do you store a large bag of walnuts? ›

They have turned rancid if they have a strange odor similar to paint thinner. Throw away rancid walnuts! Store shelled or unshelled walnuts safely in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place. The refrigerator is a great choice as walnuts will remain fresh for up to three months.

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