Candied almonds are easy to make at home. Sugar-coated with lots of cinnamon and vanilla, this simple roasted almond recipe can also be adapted to make candied cashews, peanuts, walnuts, or any mixture of these or other nuts. With six ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time, they are ready to roast to perfection.
🥣Ingredients
Almonds or other nuts
Egg white
Pantry ingredients—vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, Kosher salt
Nut options—cashews, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, or mixed nuts.
Jump To (scroll for more)
- 🥣Ingredients
- 👨🍳How to Make Candied Almonds—Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
- ❓What nuts to use
- 👨🍳Options and variations of spicing
- 🧽Moisture is the enemy of candied almonds—what to do about it.
- 📋Easy homemade candy recipes
- 🍴Other uses of candied almonds
- ❄️Storage of candied nuts
- ❓FAQs
- 📖The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Featured Comment by Michelle:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"My first try. Turned out perfect. I used 3 diff nuts combined. Nice light taste."
Roasting cinnamon-candied almonds will fill your house with the cinnamon and vanilla aroma of a mall, fair, or carnival. These economical candied nuts are perfect for Christmas giving, gatherings, office parties, or just for yourself. What is more personal than a homemade present during the season?
👨🍳How to Make Candied Almonds—Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
1. Mix topping of sugar, cinnamon, and Kosher salt.
2. Mix egg white, vanilla extract, and water. Whip with a whisk until foamy—about 1 minute.
3. Coat the almonds with the egg mixture, add the cinnamon sugar mixture, and mix to coat.
4. Pour the nuts onto a parchment-covered baking sheet with edges. Spread them into a single layer and roast in a 250° oven.
5. Every 15 minutes, flip and stir the nuts, leaving them flattened into a single layer.
6. The total baking time is 1 hour.
For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.
❓What nuts to use
Almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, or mixed nuts are commonly used, but you can use other nuts or any combination you wish.
Do not use nuts that have skins, like red-skinned peanuts. Also, use unsalted or lightly nuts, if possible.
Raw nuts are preferred since already-roasted nuts would be roasted again here, slightly affecting the texture. This is usually a minor issue, and you may still use already-roasted nuts if that is what you have with only a little effect.
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👨🍳Options and variations of spicing
The suggested cinnamon-sugar flavoring is excellent, but you can easily make it your way.
- Double the cinnamon and the vanilla extract—my favorite and what I usually do. I love the both.
- Add a small amount of cumin or cayenne pepper to make them spicy.
- Pumpkin spice mix for a seasonal flavor.
- Use brown sugar to replace half of the white sugar.
- Some people increased the sugar, some decreased, and some will use Splenda for a low-carb keto version.
🧽Moisture is the enemy of candied almonds—what to do about it.
Moisture is the enemy of any candied nuts. The caramelized coating will absorb the moisture from the air and soften the coating. So, seal them tightly in a container with little air when not serving.
If they pick up too much moisture, bake them again in a 200° oven (convection preferred) on a parchment-covered tray. Bake for 5-10 minutes until the coating is melted, then remove from the oven and cool.
📋Easy homemade candy recipes
This recipe is featured in The Christmas Candy Roundup, which includes Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters, Crock Pot Fudge, White Chocolate Fudge, Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls, Christmas Crack Candy, and Pretzel Candies.
5-Minute Fudge
This easy, foolproof 5-Minute Chocolate Fudge recipe only needs three ingredients—sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and your choice of chocolate chips plus optional additives. Perfect for holiday gifts, parties, or snacks.
🍴Other uses of candied almonds
While they are an excellent snack, candied nuts make a great topping for ice cream or salads. Add them to a granola mix or bars for a sweet surprise.
Make them spicy with cumin or cayenne pepper for a game-day watch party.
❄️Storage of candied nuts
Let the candied nuts cool completely, then seal them airtight in small jars with lids for gifts or in a Tupperware-type container. They are good at room temperature for one week.
You can also store the candied nuts airtight in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. To freeze them, be sure they are entirely cooled and sealed airtight for up to two months.
❓FAQs
The best pan is an 18 by 13-inch rimmed half-size sheet pan. An un-edged cookie sheet is not a good idea.
The caramelized sugar coating will stick to almost anything. To prevent it from sticking, cover the bottom of the pan and the edges with parchment paper. Alternatively, you could cover the bottom with a silicone baking mat and oil the sides.
Prolonged exposure to the air is the most common reason candied almonds lose their crunch. They absorb moisture from the air, causing them to be less crunchy. Fortunately, this is easily remedied; please look at the section above about moisture for instructions.
📖The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Candied Almonds
Video Slideshow
Ingredients
- 1 pound Almonds, mixed nuts or other nuts - raw preferred
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon coarse salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°. Prep a half-size sheet pan (18X13) with a large sheet of parchment paper or a silicone mat. Spray the parchment paper with PAM cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix ¾ cup white granular sugar or a combination of white and brown, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of coarse salt.
- Add 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 tablespoon water to a large bowl. Whisk until foamy, about 1 minute.
- Add 1 pound of nuts to the egg mixture and mix until all the nuts are coated. I used almonds, but mixed nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and cashews are good choices.
- Add the sugar mixture to the nuts and mix to coat.
- Pour the nuts onto the prepared baking sheet and spread them into a single layer.
- Place in the 250° oven. Flip and stir the nuts every 15 minutes and flatten them into a single layer each time.
- The total cooking time is 1 hour.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- If possible, use raw unsalted nuts, but roasted unsalted or lightly salted nuts will also work. The recipe post covers nut choices and optional ingredients.
- Use the egg white only.
- Please don't do this without parchment paper or the silicone mat. Even with those, it will tend to stick, so a light coat of PAM cooking spray is recommended.
- You may double the cinnamon and vanilla if you want. Other seasoning options are in the post.
- Don't stop short on cooking, or the nuts will be soft.
- Cool completely before storing.
- Always store airtight. Room temperature for one week refrigerated for 2 weeks or frozen for 2 months.
- One pound of nuts will be about 3 cups. I set the serving size to 2 tablespoons, making about 24 servings in this recipe.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.
Nutrition Estimate (may vary)
Originally Published December 1, 2012. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
ColleenB.~TX. says
I would like to make these to put in Christmas baskets but was wondering if I made them in advance, just how long will they last before they start turning yucky?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Colleen,
Welcome to the blog.
Generally, about a week airtight at room temperature. About 3 weeks airtight in the refrigerator and 2 months frozen.
Personally, they are best the first few days fresh, then they soften a bit. I like that sweet crunch.
Dan
Arlene says
I have a similar recipe. Adding just 1/8 tsp. of cayenne pepper. It gives it a great extra flavor.
Michelle says
My first try. Turned out perfect. I used 3 diff nuts combined. Nice light taste. I prefer a bit more sugar and salt but thats my taste. I will use this recipie for gifts.
rndreao says
Everyone, the author and commenters, are using "degrees" for the oven temperature but do not mention C or F. Given that the temperature is only 200, it really could be either. What is it?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi rndreao,
Welcome to the blog.
Sorry for any confusion. All Temperatures used on this site are Fahrenheit. Conversion is provided in the chart on the FAQ page https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/abbreviations-salts-and-oven-temperature/#oven.
Dan
Lisa Whitman says
Easy and delicious!
Nyky says
I used roasted, salted mixed nuts. Worked perfectly but I had oven at 325 & cooked for 20 mintes stirring at 10. Stirred 10 mins after cooling also
DrDan says
Hi Nyky,
Welcome to the blog.
This is one of those "there are many ways" to do it recipes. But they are always great.
Thanks for the note and Happy Holidays
Dan
Lara says
This past weekend, I ordered a restaurant salad that contained (among other ingredients) candied walnuts. Delicious! Now I can make this recipe and recreate the salad at home. Baby spinach, candied walnuts, bleu cheese crumbles, grilled chicken, strawberries, and a citrus vinaigrette. Yum!
Denise says
Hi, these sound delish!! I live in a very humid climate, air conditioned of course. Still, I'm afraid these might get gooey from repeatedly opening the storage container..thoughts?
DrDan says
Hi Denise,
They are delicious and the whole house smells like the county fair.
There is no really good answer. Refrigerators are moist so not good there.
I would say a smaller air tight container. Smaller is important to decrease the air in the container. And when they start to pick up the moisture too much, back into an oven on parchment paper at about 200 degrees with convection for a few minutes. When they appear to be shiny and the cover melting again, then out of the oven to cool.
I have never done that, they just don't last that long in my house.
Dan
Dea Varner says
Making these right now... for Christmas Eve/Christmas... if they make it that far... I have no doubt they will be amazing....... I added just a pinch of chili powder to give it a wee bit of kick...
Nushka says
Thank you! I made the recipe with a mix of nuts for New Year's celebration and they were delicious.
Heidi Menocal says
I just made these. It was easy and they are delicious. I doubled the recipe and used almonds, pecans and cashews. I think next time I will use less sugar.
Chris says
Time to smoke some nuts!