Homemade Candied Nuts

Don’t you just love the smell of the candied nuts at the mall or a fair? You can do it at home with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions.

Editor’s note: This recipe was originally published December 1, 2012. It has been updated with re-edited text and photos. The instructions have been clarified but not materially changed.

I always have a hard time resisting candied nuts. Plus, they make the perfect “hostess gift” for that holiday party.

And nobody will believe you did it yourself at home. What could be better? Plus it’s an easy cook. A 2/10 (maybe a 1/10) skill level. It’s time to impress your friends with your cooking ability.

I started by looking at crock pot recipes since they are always easy… right. Nope, they were more work. You had to go back to the pot frequent to stir for hours.

There were stovetop methods, but they are full of “cooking stuff” that increased the skill (read more likely that I would mess up) and more importantly, the work level was higher.

The oven recipes are the obvious choice. I have no specific “inspiration” recipe here since there were many that were close to what I do.

My Rating

Worthy of holiday giving.

Pro Tips: Notes on Candied Nuts

The Nuts

Be sure to use raw nuts not roasted. I used almonds but pecans or walnuts all should be fine, and I put that option in the recipe.

The Coating

There are several variations suggested out there. Some use all or half brown sugar for the white sugar.

Some increase the sugar; some decrease it. Some are using Splenda as part of the sugar (low carb/diabetics).

Some double the cinnamon or added a little cumin for that “sugar and spice” taste.

A few increase cooking time to make the nuts crisper. But I think this latter group has oven temperature issues.

Check Out Other Christmas Candy Recipes

Preheat oven to 250. Prep a large baking pan with a large sheet of parchment paper that overhangs all edges of the pan.

Mix 3/4 cup sugar (white or a combination white and brown) with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well.

One egg white in a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon water. Whip with a whisk until foamy. About 1 minute.

Add one pound of raw nuts and mix until nuts are coated. I used almonds, but pecans or walnuts would be great also. How about a mixture?

Add the sugar mixture to the nuts and mix to coat.

Pour the nuts onto the parchment paper covered pan and spread into a single layer.

Place in the 250-degree oven. About every 15 minutes flip and stir the nuts and then flatten into a single layer again. Total cooking time 1 hour.

Remove from oven and allow the nuts to cool on the parchment paper.

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4.6 from 20 votes

Homemade Candied Nuts

Don't you just love the smell of the candied nuts at the mall or a fair? You can do it at home with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 10 mins

Author: Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Servings/Adjustment: 10

Ingredients

• 1 pound raw nuts - (almonds, pecans or walnuts)
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 250. Prep a large baking pan with a large sheet of parchment paper that overhangs all edges of the pan.
• Mix 3/4 cup sugar (white or a combination white and brown) with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well.
• One egg white in a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon water. Whip with a whisk until foamy. About 1 minute.4
• Add one pound of raw nuts and mix until nuts are coated. I used almonds, but pecans or walnuts would be great also.
• Add the sugar mixture to the nuts and mix to coat.
• Pour the nuts onto the parchment paper covered pan and spread into a single layer.
• Place in the 250-degree oven. About every 15 minutes flip and stir the nuts and then flatten into a single layer again. Total cooking time 1 hour. Remove from oven and allow the nuts to cool on the parchment paper.
• Remove from oven and allow the nuts to cool on the parchment paper.

Recipe Notes

Tips:

1. Be sure to use raw nuts.
2. Use nuts of your choice.
3. Use the egg white only.
4. Do not do this without parchment paper.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Candied Nuts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 337 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 24g 37%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.001g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.001g

Sodium 103mg 4%

Potassium 8mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 25g 8%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 17g

Protein 8g 16%

Vitamin C 0.1%

Calcium 7%

Iron 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Have a question or something not clear? Ask in the comments.

 

Nutrition is for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.

All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated.

Originally Published December 1, 2012