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My easy candied nuts recipe turns mixed nuts into a sweet, crunchy, moreish snack. They’re addictive and made with 5 wholesome ingredients!
Looking for more elegant snacks? Try my banana chips, peanut butter crackers, candied pecans, and candied almonds next.
Growing up, my friends and I would always sneak candied nuts by the handful when my mom wasn’t looking. It turns out she always knew. Go figure…
Anyway, store-bought glazed nuts may taste great, but they’re loaded with corn syrup and other additives. That’s why I started making them from scratch, and now MY mom is the one sneaking them behind my back!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Make them diet-friendly. Swap the sugar for sweetener, and bam! You have low-carb, sugar-free caramelized nuts.
- Make them on the stovetop or oven. I prefer the stove top method, but when time is of the essence, I’ll make them in the oven.
- Fun to customize. Use whatever nuts you want, and add different spices to change every batch’s flavor.
- They’re great room temp or warm. Like warm nuts, these are fabulous when served warm.
Ingredients needed
- Nuts. I chose to use a combination of almonds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts, but you can use any mixed nuts of your choice. Just note if you use small nuts (like pistachios), you’ll want to check on them often so they don’t burn.
- Sugar. I used white sugar, which gives the nuts a firmer crunch, but if you want them to be softer, use brown sugar.
- Cinnamon. A must for sweet glazed nuts!
- Vanilla extract. Another essential flavor addition.
- Sea salt. Helps balance the sweetness.
- Water. Mixed with the sugar to act as the glaze.
How to make candied nuts
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Make the syrup. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add all of the ingredients (except the nuts) and mix to combine. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
Step 2- Add the nuts. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the nuts and mix to combine. Continue stirring frequently until the nuts are fully coated and the sugar begins to crystalize.
Step 3- Cool. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to sit for 1-2 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir the nuts to break up large clusters. Transfer them to a plate to cool completely.
Can I bake these in the oven?
Yes, you can bake these nuts, but I suggest using egg whites to help them caramelize in the oven. Here’s how to do it:
Preheat the oven to 250F/120C degrees. In a large bowl, whip 2-3 egg whites with water, then add the nuts and toss to coat. Then, toss the nuts in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for an hour (stirring every 20 minutes) or until crisp and caramelized.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Make them sugar-free. Use a sugar-free sweetener. I prefer allulose as it crystalizes the most like real sugar.
- Use different spices. Don’t stop at cinnamon! Try nutmeg, cardamom, pumpkin spice, or even a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat.
- Add a splash of bourbon. The alcohol will cook off, leaving behind sweet notes of caramel and vanilla.
Ways to use candied cinnamon sugar nuts
There is no end to what you can do with glazed nuts. Here are some ideas:
- Portion them in cute jars to give as holiday gifts.
- Break them up on top of spinach salad with warm bacon dressing.
- Sprinkled on almond milk ice cream or healthy pumpkin pie for extra crunch.
Storage instructions
To store: Caramelized nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks or in the refrigerator for up to one month.
To freeze: Freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to two months.
Frequently asked questions
Glazed nuts made with sugar remain sticky if they haven’t been cooked long enough. If you’re using a sugar-free sweetener, you may need to leave the nuts out to dry for a few hours until they fully harden.
More sweet treats you’ll enjoy
Candied Nuts
Ingredients
- 3 cups nuts I used cashews, pecans, almonds and peanuts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Heat a large frying pan or deep pot on medium heat. When hot, add the sugar, salt, cinnamon, and water and mix until fully combined. Allow to heat up, stirring occasionally.
- When the sugar has completely melted, add the nuts and mix until fully incorporated. Watch over the pan and continue stirring often until most of the sugar has been coated and beginning to crystallize.
- Remove pan from the heat and allow to sit for 1-2 minutes. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, stir the nuts once more to avoid overly large clusters and set on a plate or chopping board to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally updated February 2023, updated and republished August 2024
I am looking for a recipe for a vegan scone using spelt flour, baking soda, baking powder, almond milk, coconut oil, salt, maple syrup and lemon juice
LOVE this recipe Arman! I have one similar to it that I haven’t made in awhile and have been thinking about it – I’ll be sharing in my Low Carb Roundup soon!
Thank you so much Adrienne- Such an honour to see you on here, I’m a HUGE fan of your blog and your amazing content! 🙂
You’re too kind, Arman. See you around!
I did a double take with the pregnant comment…lol.
I tend to use honey and sometimes maple sugar for sweeteners, but honestly I’m a moderation gal. I really don’t love artificial stuff and sometimes it gives me a headache. This looks awesome…perfect for snacking! I do love my snacks…
Hahahaha my bad!
Thanks, Michelle- I think Norbu has been quite good with not being artificial unlike those heinous yellow packets!
These look great! Love that they are sugar free too.
Thank you Julia 🙂
These sound really good! I usually use stevia or erythritol.
Thank you! they definitely work with erythritol 🙂
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!
-Cindy
What a great, healthy snack! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Thanks for hosting, Karly 🙂
They sound yummy.
Over from Saturday Sharefest.
Thanks for stopping by, Kate- Appreciate it 🙂
WOW! You are so clever! I really need to make this and stay away from the sugary sweets. I use xylitol for much of my baking. With a diabetic hubby and I have to watch sugar intake (mostly I watch it as it goes IN)…this sounds great! I love that you don’t even bake it. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Weekend Potluck. Score!!!
Thank you for hosting as usual! Ohhhh I’ve started exploring with using xylitol recently- I’m quite the fan! Expect all future recipes to have a sugar free option 🙂
Yay for xylitol!! I made these yesterday.. not using the full amount of sugar..and yes..using xylitol..and less cinnamon. Hubby loves them. They weren’t ‘sticky’ like regular sugar would be but still delish!! Cant wait to see more of your creations!! Rock on Big Man!
Cheers Marsha! I think I need more savoury recipes just to compliment all your sweet ones 😉
You got that right! I definitely need to make more savory dishes…maybe in the new year.
You forgot team no sugar at all, even in honey form. I encountered that team at thanksgiving yesterday. Lord only knows how they feel about bananas.
I love nuts, even more so when you caramelize them.
…….. That poor poor person. Bananas make you fat.
OKAYYYYYY.
Now these. THESE I WANT.
Give me ALL the nuts!
(nuts…balls…you’ve got a theme here…)
You are a dirty dirty birdie.
Please continue.
Oh yes, those nuts look good. I’ve never even considered caramelising anything without white sugar. Great idea. Maybe I should try to get such a sweetened and find out if my body can handle it.
Definitely try it out- test a few different ones and see which you can/can’t handle!
I’m definitely a “real” sugar kinda gal and get mine from either straight raw sugar, or the few you mentioned above like honey or maple syrup. I have boarded the sugar alcohol train too by using xylitol a few times, and thanks to Gigi I’m dabbling with some stevia…but only dabbling because most of it still tastes like a nail polish butt hole. As for artificial sweeteners…I don’t use them, but if they happen to be in something I eat once every blue moon I don’t make it a big deal. Long story short I really like the real deal and need to watch myself because tight pants are so not my thing.
Now that I’ve written you a novel, you must know I think your nuts look delicious.
Which nuts?
do we have norbu here? Ohh i am so looking into it! i love coconut sugar or maple syrup. So great with baking and well… this! Splenda? Well… it’s uh a tummy issue and not really fan. but to each their own
I’ll add that to my ever growing suitcase 😉
PS Word on the street is a huge GF range being released by one of our brand just before Christmas!