Candied Walnuts
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Published Dec 20, 2021, Updated Nov 20, 2024
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These candied walnuts are sweetened with coconut sugar and made without egg whites! They’re crunchy, addicting and come together in about 15 minutes. Perfect for snacking, as a salad topping or a homemade gift.
I am a sucker for candied nuts. As you know I am a salad lover through and through and the one thing that instantly levels up a salad? Candied nuts. This recipe comes together in no time at all and can be used in a variety of ways. Enjoy!
Why You Need to Try This Recipe
- This recipe comes together in just 15 minutes!
- It’s a super simple recipe made with just 6 ingredients.
- It’s a delicious snack, salad topping or homemade gift.
Ingredients Needed
- raw walnut halves – we are using raw walnuts and toasting them before mixing with the seasonings for the best flavor.
- coconut sugar – regular sugar works too. I don’t recommend substituting for a liquid sweetener.
- water – to make a simple syrup to coat the nuts with.
- ground cinnamon – the perfect spice pairing.
- vanilla extract – a flavor enhancer.
- salt – to bring all of the flavors together.
How to Make Candied Walnuts
Start by toasting the walnuts. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake for 10 minutes or until the walnuts are fragrant and a bit darker in color. This process can go quickly so watch carefully to make sure they don’t burn! Remove from the oven to let cool.
While the walnuts are cooling, combine the coconut sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat while stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar dissolves, add the cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt. Stir to combine. Let the mixture bubble for about 1 minute and then add the walnuts to the sugar mixture. Stir quickly to make sure each nut is coated with the sugar mixture.
As soon as the walnuts are fully coated, spread the nuts on the lined baking sheet. Use a spatula or two forks to separate the walnuts from each other if you don’t want them to stick together in clumps. They cool and harden quickly so you’ll have to move fast!
How to Use Candied Walnuts
If you’re at a loss of how to use candied walnuts, have no fear, there are a ton of ways to use them!
- Enjoy on their own – these are such a tasty snack on their own! Obviously they are coated with sugar so I try to just have a few as a treat.
- As a salad topping – probably my favorite way to use these nuts is as a salad topping! They are delicious on just about any salad but I love them on my easy spinach salad, Christmas Salad, strawberry salad, or my fig salad with arugula.
- Give as a gift – I love giving (and receiving) homemade gifts! Package these up in a cute jar with a gift tag and you have a simple housewarming or holiday gift.
How to Store Leftovers
Let walnuts cool completely at room temperature or in the fridge. The longer you let them cool, the crunchier they will be.
More Walnut Recipes to Try
- Creamy Walnut Pasta Sauce with Spaghetti Squash Noodles
- Pear Salad with Walnuts, Avocado and Grilled Chicken
- Summer Berry Salad with Maple Walnuts
More Nut Mixes to Try
- Sweet and Savory Party Nuts
- Candied Pecans
- Healthy Trail Mix
- Maple Cinnamon Trail Mix
- Pizza Trail Mix
- Chunky Monkey Trail Mix
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Candied Walnuts
Ingredients
- 3 cups raw walnut halves
- 1 cup coconut sugar, regular sugar works too
- 1 ½ Tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spread walnuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes until darker in color and fragrant. Make sure to watch towards the end so they don’t burn! Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes.
- While your walnuts are cooling combine coconut sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the sugar begins to melt (about 4-5 minutes), stirring occasionally.
- When the sugar begins to dissolve add cinnamon, vanilla and salt and stir to combine.
- Once the sugar is dissolved completely, let the mixture bubble for about 1 minute then add in the walnuts. Stir quickly to make sure each piece is coated with the sugar mixture.
- As soon as the walnuts are fully coated, remove from heat and spread the nuts back onto the lined baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a spatula or two forks separate the walnuts from each other if you don’t want them to stick together. You’ll need to work quickly as the nuts will start to cool and harden.
- Let walnuts cool completely at room temperature or in the fridge. The longer you let them cool, the crunchier they will be.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
made this for the first time today. They were delicious. Will be making these for Christmas as small gifts for snacking on. Thanks.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them, Isabel. Making these as Christmas gifts is such a great idea. Thank you for making them and coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I have made pretty much the same recipe for 7-8 years. When I am in a hurry, or I want to make a personal-sized portion, I mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and microwave it for 15-20 seconds at a time and stir in between. I don’t need much water since it’s not being boiled.
They are usually done in 1-1:30 minutes total. I can eat them as soon as they cool.
Sounds amazing, Shannon! Thanks for sharing your tip of making it in the microwave, glad it turns out great for you!
I made these for myself because I like healthy-ish snacks and my boyfriend–who is strictly a candy guy–ate them all! I just made them again with half the amount of coconut sugar and they’re still delicious. We’re eating them by themselves, mixed with regular nuts, and on top of ice cream. Love this recipe.
Ah yay!! This makes me so happy to hear, Lelo. So pumped you both enjoyed these candied walnuts. Thanks so much for letting me know!!
So easy and festive!
Thanks, Jennifer!
These were awesome! My family loves them! My new favorite treat!
These were incredibly easy to make and full of flavor. I ate half of them in one sitting lol. #sendhelp I highly recommend making these. They are truly so delicious. Thank you Brittany for all your recipes. Happy Holidays.
Aida
Aw yay!! So happy to hear these walnuts were a success, Aida. Thanks so much for trying them out and coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
These came together so quickly. The flavor is incredible. Will be serving these on my charcuterie board this Christmas Eve.
I have made a lot of EBF recipes but these were so easy and so delicious! Thank you so much for your website and recipes! I love it!