Easy Candied Nuts Recipe + VIDEO - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

The Recipe Rebel / Appetizers

written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 5 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings 18

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Last updated on June 1, 2020

These Easy Candied Nuts are just 6 ingredients and less than 30 minutes start to finish! They are sweet and salty with a hint of cinnamon — perfect for an edible holiday gift!

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Table of Contents

  • How to make Candied Nuts:
  • How to store and freeze Candied Nuts:
  • How to customize this Candied Nuts recipe:
  • Easy Candied Nuts Recipe

I will admit, the last few years I haven’t really done a whole whack of Christmas baking and candy making and homemade gifts because, well, kids are crazy.

This year, we have a 1 year old, 3-almost 4 year old, and a 6 year old, and it’s busy. And I don’t like busy (you can ask anybody) — I’m an introvert big time and when I don’t have enough time to recuperate and refill, I start to feel a little crazy myself.

And so, I let go of the expectations that I will spend hours and hours baking and prepping and making edible gifts with cute labels for every person we see ever, and I don’t make homemade Christmas cards and I give myself a little leeway.

But I so badly want to make space for good, homemade treats, so for me this year is all about finding those easy recipes that are just as fun and delicious as the sugar cookies you have to spend 18 hours chilling and rolling and cutting and baking.

Easy Candied Nuts Recipe + VIDEO - The Recipe Rebel (3)

All that to say these Candied Nuts are on that list.

They are easy (really), with just 6 ingredients and super customizable.

They look cute in a small glass jar with a simple ribbon, which means minimal wrapping for you.

They are perfect for snacking or an appetizer or dessert, or even to top a salad.

They are gluten-free and vegetarian. Plus, nuts are full of healthy fats and protein 🙂

How to make Candied Nuts:

Making these Candied Nuts is relatively easy, as long as you have a thermometer. There are other methods but using a thermometer to check if the candy is ready by far the easiest.

Your best bet is to get a clip on candy thermometer like this one. Then you’re on your way to perfect candy coating!

Simply simmer the sugar and milk (I haven’t tried this recipe with non-dairy milk, so I can’t advise on that), until it reaches the correct temperature, stir in the flavorings (cinnamon, vanilla and salt – but you could mix this up if you wanted!), then stir in your nuts.

Feel free to mix up the nuts to suit your tastes — our favorite are almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans and peanuts.

Easy Candied Nuts Recipe + VIDEO - The Recipe Rebel (4)

How to store and freeze Candied Nuts:

  • You can store these at room temperature in an air tight container (I love to keep them in mason jars as they look so pretty!) for up to 1 week.
  • To freeze, place in a large freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Eat them right out of the freezer or allow to thaw for 10-15 minutes on the counter.

How to customize this Candied Nuts recipe:

I mentioned a few options earlier, but here are some ideas to take this candied nuts recipe to the next level:

  • ¼ teaspoon of salt will give it just the slightest hint of salt, ½ teaspoon will give it a more pronounced sweet/salty flavor.
  • Add in a pinch of cayenne for a bit of spice!
  • Use only your favorite nuts — there’s no reason you need to use a mix! If you love almonds, use just almonds, or pecans, or walnuts, etc.
  • Add more cinnamon, and a pinch of ginger, cloves and nutmeg for a fall spice blend — just start with a teeny tiny amount so you don’t overdo it!

Easy Candied Nuts Recipe + VIDEO - The Recipe Rebel (5)

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Easy Candied Nuts

written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 5 votes

These Easy Candied Nuts are just 6 ingredients and less than 30 minutes start to finish! They are sweet and salty with a hint of cinnamon — perfect for an edible holiday gift!

Easy Candied Nuts Recipe + VIDEO - The Recipe Rebel (7)

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Review

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Snack

Servings 18

Calories 189cal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
  • 6 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups mixed nuts almonds, pecans, brazil nuts, peanuts, cashews

Instructions

  • In a medium pan over medium heat, whisk together the sugar and milk and heat until boiling.

  • Without stirring (resist the urge to touch it!), let the mixture boil on medium heat until it reaches 242-248 degrees F or firm ball stage on a candy thermometer. This took about 10 minutes for me. You can also test it by dropping a small amount into a glass of very cold water — if it forms a firm but pliable ball, it’s ready.

  • Stir in cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Add nuts and stir until coated.

  • Spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet and separate or let harden in large chunks — whatever you prefer.

  • Let cool until candy coating is firm, then store in an air tight container for up to 1 week at room temperature, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Company’s Coming.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 189cal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.9mg

Keywords candied almonds, candied pecans, edible gifts

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Claudia Wood says

    OMG these are good. First of all, this was a rescue mission. I made another recipe and it was almost tasteless. Then I found yours and thought maybe I could start with what I had already made. So I got the sugar and milk on the boil and then discovered I had no candy thermometer. Seems the meat thermometer survived our move but not the candy thermometer! So I brought it to a boil and gave it about ten minutes, tried the drop in water and hoped I was correct. I stirred in the nuts and they are now cooling. I managed to burn my tongue being impatient…lol. They are amazing and now I am not sure I want to give them away!!

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Glad it worked for you Claudia!

      Reply

  2. Christina says

    Can you use Planters Mixed Nuts? Or is it better to use un salted nuts?

    Reply

    • Ashley Fehr says

      You can use salted nuts, they will just be a little saltier 🙂

      Reply

  3. Cathy Shultes says

    This would be the perfect gift for my coworkers! Can you tell me if I should be using raw nuts or roasted nuts for this recipe

    Reply

    • Ashley Fehr says

      Either would work, but roasted would give the nuts great flavor!

      Reply

  4. Robyn says

    I’m not sure if I am completely missing it, but how much makes a serving?
    I need to count carbs for insulin dose..
    There doesn’t seem to be a crazy big amount of carbohydrates.
    I’m very excited to make some and share as gifts, but I know I will end up eating some myself?
    Thank you for sharing,
    Robyn

    Reply

    • Ashley Fehr says

      Hi Robyn! I’m sorry it’s not more specific. The recipe makes about 18 servings. Since you need exact numbers your best bet would be to weigh the entire batch after making, and then divide the entire weight by 18 servings. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  5. Kentuckylady717 says

    SORRY, I went back and there it was….how did I miss it the first time?? There are 2 recipes showing at one time…I guess that was how I missed it…..
    Don’t know if my computer has an issue or that is the way you have it !!

    Reply

    • Ashley Fehr says

      So glad you found it! I don’t see two recipes at one time but there might be something happening that I don’t see.

      Reply

  6. KENTUCKYLADY717 says

    They look delicious.
    No, haven’t tried them , but sure plan on it…

    Would love to see video’s where you make them…..that would be cool.
    I love to watch videos of how you make and put things together….

    Reply

    • Joyce says

      Hi love the recipe! Wondering if I can use salted roasted nuts? If so I will also cut down the salt, but how much, in the recipe.
      Thank you,
      joyce

      Reply

      • Ashley Fehr says

        If you are using salted nuts I would likely omit the salt completely.

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Easy Candied Nuts Recipe + VIDEO - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

How long do candied nuts last? ›

How Long Do Candied Pecans Last? Store your candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If you give them as a gift, be sure to include storage instructions.

What are frosted nuts? ›

featured in 4 Tasty Gift Ideas For Holiday Seasons. These crunchy and sweet candied nuts are perfect for snacking or adding to salads and baked goods! Coated in a mixture of sugar, egg whites, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, they're baked to perfection.

Are caramelized pecans gluten free? ›

Easy stovetop candied pecans made with just 4 simple ingredients! Crispy, crunchy, and perfectly sweet, they make a fabulous vegan and gluten free snack!

Why are my candied nuts grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

Why are my candied nuts soft? ›

Usually if the almonds are soft after candying it means that they weren't cooked for long enough. However, this recipe cooks all of the water out of the sugar syrup and then takes it a step further where the the sugar then re-caramelizes allowing the almonds to harden.

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!

How long can you store homemade candied nuts? ›

Candied pecans will keep tightly sealed in an airtight container for one to two weeks.

Can you refrigerate candied nuts? ›

Storage Instructions: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. Freezing Instructions: They freeze well in an air-tight container for up to two months. Nuts: use any kind of nuts with this recipe, like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios.

Is it OK to eat frozen nuts? ›

You'll want to be sure they're in a well-sealed bag, and labeling them with the date is not a bad idea, either. You can cook with them straight from the freezer too ― no need to heat up, unless you want a toasted nut flavor. Almonds are good for one year in the freezer. Up to six months in the freezer.

What are candied nuts called? ›

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.

What are the Christmas nuts? ›

Receiving a handful of walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds was a coveted gift, symbolic of prosperity and good luck. Over time, this tradition has continued, with nuts becoming a staple of our Christmas fare.

Can celiacs eat pecans? ›

Yes, all single-ingredient nuts are gluten-free. That means the label will list just one ingredient, the nuts. Gluten-free nuts include (but are not limited to) peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, chestnuts, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, pine, macadamia and Brazil nuts.

Can celiacs eat caramel? ›

Regardless of the starting material, caramel is considered gluten- free. Even if made from wheat or barley it is highly unlikely that it would cause an otherwise gluten- free food to contain 20 ppm or more gluten.

What are glazed pecans made of? ›

Candied pecans make a fabulous snack for holiday guests and parties. These glazed pecans are coated with a buttery brown sugar syrup and then baked to crunchy perfection. All you need is to boil butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar together, add the pecans, and then bake until brown.

Do I need to soak raw nuts before roasting? ›

Don't buy the overly oiled concoctions you find in canisters at the grocery store or spend double what you should on whatever seasoned nuts your health food store is offering. Get your nuts raw—they're already expensive enough! —and roast them yourself. Just be sure to soak them first.

How to make sugary nuts? ›

Place nuts and sugar in a saute pan on medium heat. Use a rubber spatula to toss the nuts frequently until sugar melts and caramelizes into a golden brown color. Remove nuts from pan and spread out onto a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. Cool completely before serving.

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