Easy Candied Walnuts Recipe

A wonderfully sweet and salty snack, Easy Candied Walnuts Recipe make a great addition to any cheese plate. Equally amazing sprinkled on salads and perfect for gift giving, you won’t believe how simple they are to make.

Every year, as the holiday season approaches the spiced nut carts start popping up around town. Mainly at outdoor shopping complexes or in the city but, wherever they are, I can smell them from a mile away. I love them. I go nuts for the nuts, it reminds me of the roasted chestnut carts steaming away on the corners of New York City at Christmas time.

Right now, let’s get back to the nuts. And by nuts, I mean the Cinnamon Candied Walnuts I promised.

Candied Walnuts are really handy to have in your back pocket, literally. You may need them to broker a deal on a parking space, to win that last pair of suede gloves or to give to a last minute surprise holiday guest during the holiday season. You know those people that pop in without notice, they happen.

Super Simple Ingredients

• Nuts – It all starts with the nuts. I like to use whole walnut halves for my candied nuts. You can substitute with pecans to make Candied Pecans, if you prefer.
• Sugar – I love the rich flavor of brown sugar. You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar. It caramelizes beautifully and goes well with the buttery flavor of the walnuts.
• Seasoning – You can keep it simple with cinnamon or you can go with something a bit more trendy like Chai Spice Mix.
• Eggs – The egg whites act as a binding agent helping the cinnamon sugar mixture adhere to the nuts. They also help the coating become glossy and and crisp when baked.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

How To Make Candied Walnuts

Candied Walnuts are a super addicting snack that’s crazy easy to make from scratch. The cinnamon adds a subtle spice and the vanilla is lightly fragrant. It’s like a Snickerdoodle cookie but in crunchy nut form. You only need about 5 minutes of prep time to make your nuts!

1. In a large bowl, mix together the nuts, egg whites, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon with a wooden spoon.
2. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet lined with a sheet of parchment in a single layer and bake at 350˚F for 12-15 minutes until the candy coating is bubbling and thick.
3. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and cool completely.
4. Break the nuts apart and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Candied Nut Variations

Though the ingredient list is short and sweet you can mix things up a little when adding flavor to your candied walnuts by adding any of these additions or substitutions.

• Substitute the brown sugar with 1/3 cup maple syrup for Maple Candied Walnuts
• Substitute the brown sugar with 3 tablespoons honey
• Add 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper with the cinnamon for a Spicy Candied Walnut recipe
• Substitute the brown sugar and cinnamon with 1/3 cup Cinnamon Sugar for an extra punch of cinnamon flavor

What To Serve With Candied Walnuts

We like to serve the best candied walnuts with an amazing cheeseboard or Charcuterie Board for the holidays or to top this crazy amazing Pear Salad!  They’re also a great lunchbox snack with your Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Uncrustables Sandwich for a little sweet treat that’s not actually candy. 

You could also sprinkle them on these Green Beans for a sweet and savory side dish or crush them to top this easy Butternut Squash Risotto!

More Easy Food Gift Ideas

You could also make a batch of these sweet and spicy almonds to go with the walnuts and a jar of caramel sauce for the ultimate holiday treat.

• Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe
• Slow Cooker Candied Nuts
• Orange Marmalade
• Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe

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