How to Candy Nuts (EASY RECIPE) (2024)

Learn how to candy nuts with this candied nuts recipe that incorporates sugar and spice. This yummy no bake treat is a perfect gift to give for the holidays.

Are you ready to impress with a holiday gift that’s as easy to make as it is delicious? Look no further than this sugar & spice candied nut mix!

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, this recipe will surely become a favorite for gift-giving or holiday snacking.

Making your own flavored nut mixes might not be something you have considered for the holidays, but once you try this delicious nut mix, you will have a difficult time giving these sugared and spiced holiday nut mixes away.

What Are Candied Nuts Made Of?

Candied nuts are made by coating raw nuts in a mixture of sugar, spices, and egg whites and then baking them until golden and crispy.

This creates a sweet, crunchy treat perfect for snacking or gifting.

Kitchen Equipment Needed to Candy Nuts

Mixing bowls- For mixing the nuts and spice mixture.

Measuring cups and spoons- For measuring the spices and nuts.

Baking sheet- For baking the nuts in the oven. I recommend the Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet for your holiday baking projects.

Parchment paper or silicone baking mat- For lining the baking sheet.

Whisk- For whisking the egg whites and spices.

Wooden spoon- For stirring nuts.

Airtight containers or packaging materials- For storing or gifting candied nuts.

How to Candy Nuts

You can scroll down to see the complete ingredient list and step-by-step instructions.

Preparation: Preheat your oven and line a baking sheet.

Mix Spices: Whisk together sugar, water, egg white, and spices.

Where is The Best Place to Buy Nuts for Gifts?

If you have a membership to Costco or Sam’s Club, you can buy these ingredients in bulk to save on your cost per pound.

I also found this Reddit thread on where to buy the cheapest nuts and thought it had some incredible suggestions that I wouldn’t have thought of to reduce the price on buying nuts in bulk.

What Are the Best Nuts for a Holiday Nut Mix?

You can choose any combination of mixed nuts that you might love or just keep things simple and roast only your absolute favorite. I’m just using three of my favorites in this recipe- pecans, almonds, and walnuts.

My favorite varieties of nuts include candied pecans, almonds, and walnuts.

What Other Spice Combinations Can I Try With These Candy Nuts?

These nuts are tossed with some of my favorite holiday spices- cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and allspice.

Feel free to try building your own spice combination.

Add cardamom for a Middle Eastern twist or smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.

Mix in ginger and cloves for a festive touch, or add a hint of cayenne for some heat.

You can even experiment with Chinese five-spice or curry powder for more adventurous flavors.

How Long Do Candied Nuts Last?

Properly stored in an airtight container, these candied nuts can last up to two weeks, making them an ideal make-ahead gift for the holiday season.

How Do You Make Candied Nuts Not Sticky?

To prevent your candied nuts from becoming too sticky, spread them out in a single layer on the baking sheet and stir them every 15 minutes while baking.

How Do I Package Nuts for Gift-Giving?

This time of year, the craft stores are loaded with food packaging for your gifts. I love to check the seasonal aisles in my local craft stores.

The important thing is that they are airtight, especially if you are giving a large amount as a gift.

While these paper boxes make a cute display, but buying nut tins in bulk will help your nuts stay fresher longer.

What Dishes Can I Enhance With These Candied Nuts?

Looking for more recipes to incorporate candy nuts? I’ve got you covered!

Sprinkle these candy nuts over salads like my strawberry pecan salad for added crunch and sweetness.

Honestly, any fruit and candied nut combo works well in a spinach salad.

You can use them as a topping for a thick smoothie bowl or slow cooker apple oatmeal (steel cut recipe).

These can also be incorporated into dark chocolate brownies with sea salt for a fun baking twist, or simply enjoy them alone as a satisfying treat any time.

Add these over ice cream with caramel, toffee, or chocolates for topping for an indulgent treat. If you feel ambitious, this roasted plum ice cream with cinnamon would be another fantastic option.

What Other No Bake Christmas Treats Can I Make for the Holidays?

For other easy no-bake gifts, I recommend these gluten-free cake mix cookies, this easy microwave peanut brittle, or my peppermint cheesecakes in jars.

Candied Nuts

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

This easy nut mixture is created from spices in your pantry and is perfect for your holiday snacking or giving.

Ingredients

3/4 cup granulated sugar (you can use white or brown sugar)
3 tablespoons water
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Coarse salt for sprinkling
2 cups pecans, halves
2 cups whole almonds
2 cups walnuts

Instructions

Prep oven and baking sheet. Heat oven to 250°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the beaten egg white, water, sugar, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice, and nutmeg to a large mixing bowl and whisk until evenly combined.
Add the pecans, almonds, and walnuts to the sugar mixture and gently toss until the nuts are evenly coated.
Spread the nuts in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes. Every 15 minutes, remove the nuts and stir them. When the cooking time is done, the nuts should be fragrant, and the sugar coating cooked.
Transfer the baking sheet to a wire cooling rack and sprinkle liberally with coarse salt while still hot.
Allow the nuts to come to room temperature. The sugar coating will continue to harden and dry once the nuts cool.
Once cooled, store the candy nuts in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Notes

Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to make these into sweet & spicy nuts.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nordic Ware Naturals Big Baking Sheet, 2 Pack

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 845Total Fat: 72gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 62gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 337mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 11gSugar: 30gProtein: 19g

TELL ME: What did you think of this candied nut recipe?

Recipe updated: February 26, 2024

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FAQs

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

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Why are my candied almonds not crunchy? ›

Usually if the almonds are soft after candying it means that they weren't cooked for long enough.

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How long do homemade candied nuts last? ›

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.

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Why are my candied nuts wet? ›

If your candied pecans are sticky, it is likely because the sugar syrup coating has not completely hardened. The syrup may still be wet, or it may have started to crystalize. If the syrup is still wet, you can try putting the nuts in the oven for a few minutes to help the syrup harden.

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Why are my candied almonds chewy? ›

Again, you likely didn't bake the almonds for long enough. The almonds will also be slightly soft when they're still warm, so if you've sampled them before they've cooled completely to room temperature wait a little longer before eating them.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Ba-dum-dum. Okay, all bad dad jokes aside, these candied walnuts will last quite a while. All nuts do go rancid eventually, but as long as you cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container, they should be good for about a month. You might also like our Candied Pecans recipe or Candied Almonds!

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How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and let them rest. You can remove the pecans to a baking sheet to cool faster if you like. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

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What if candied nuts are too soft? ›

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.

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How do you get salt to stick to raw almonds? ›

Place nuts in a strainer and rinse well with filtered water. Make sure you get all the nuts wet as it is the water that helps the salt to stick. Place rinsed nuts in a bowl and toss well with sea salt.

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How many cups is a pound of pecans? ›

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

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Do all nuts go rancid? ›

A: Nuts can't expire; however, they can change in taste or go rancid. Nuts contain much-unsaturated fat, an oil that makes nuts likely to go rancid. Nuts spoil faster when exposed to light, air, or heat. No fuss; cool, dark, and air-sealed are the three trifectas to storing nuts properly.

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Can you substitute pecans for walnuts in baking? ›

Walnuts can generally be swapped in equal amounts for pecans and are well-suited for most baking and cooking applications, offering a similar texture and comparable flavors.

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What are candied almonds made of? ›

Combine sugar, water, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Add almonds; cook and stir mixture until liquid evaporates and leaves a syrupy coating on almonds.

What are Persian candied nuts? ›

Noghl (Iranian Persian) or Nuql (Afghan Persian) (Persian: نقل), also Mlabbas (Syrian Arabic) (Arabic: ملبس), are sugar-coated almonds, a traditional Syrian, Iranian and Afghan confection. It is made by boiling sugar with water and rose water and then coating roasted almonds in the mixture.

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What are sugared almonds made of? ›

NOTE: There are approx. 180 pieces of sugar almonds in 500 g bag. Roasted almonds, sugar, flour, gum arabic, vegetable gum, vanillin, colours (102, 110, 122, 124, 133, 142, 151). May contain traces of treenuts, peanuts, sesame, soy and dairy products.

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What is another name for candied almonds? ›

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.