Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (2024)

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Candied Walnuts are so easy to make with just a few ingredients. An addictive snack and perfect to top an ice cream sundae. This is a version of my mom’s secret recipe and a favorite to add to holiday gift baskets!

Walnuts are delicious but toasted walnuts are even better. This simple candied walnuts recipe adds a second step that toasts the walnuts with the brown sugar coating and they are the most delicious candied nut that I’ve ever tried!

Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (1)

Table of Contents

Ingredients for Candied Walnuts

Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (2)

  • Brown Sugar
  • Butter
  • Water
  • Kosher Salt
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Walnut Halves

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How to Make Candied Walnuts

Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (3)

  1. Add brown sugar, butter, water and salt to a pan and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (4)2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat and boil about 1 minute.

3.Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

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4. Quickly mix in walnuts until well coated using a silicone spatula.

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5. Pour onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer. A silpat is a silicone baking mat that is perfect for everything from baking cookies to frozen pizzas.

  • Bake for 20 minutes.

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6. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

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7. Break apart and serve immediately.

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How to Store Candied Nuts

Candied nuts will last about a week at room temperature in an airtight container (these are my favorite deli containers for storing everything). Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 3 months.

Nuts are best served at room temperature.

Recipe Variations for Candied Nuts

  • Pecans can be substituted for walnuts.
  • Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the brown sugar mixture.
  • A pinch of red pepper can also go in with the brown sugar mixture for a sweet and spicy candied nut.

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Serve candied nuts as an appetizer along with our Spicy Chex Mix for holiday gatherings and it’s also a great addition to a desserts table.

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I make holiday goodie baskets for family and neighbors every Christmas and these Candied Walnuts are going to be the favorite this year. I found these super cute jars with lids from Amazon and they are perfect for making a homemade treat something special.

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Delicious Walnut Treats

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Two Tone Fudge

Layers of butterscotch and chocolate fudge loaded with crunchy walnuts. This is a holiday favorite from my mother in law's recipe box.

Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (14)

Easy Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

Simple chocolate chip cookies loaded with crunchy walnuts. An easy treat for any day of the week and delicious enough for a holidays and celebrations.

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Walnut Brownies

Rich, fudge brownies filled with toasted walnuts and caramel chips for a decadent and delicious dessert.

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Walnut Cinnamon Twists

All the flavors of a cinnamon roll in a light and fluffy bread twist with crunchy walnuts and a sweet drizzle of icing.

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Add candied walnuts to your favorite cookies, to top ice cream, or just as a tasty snack but they are also a delicious addition to salads.Once you see how easy and delicious these candied nuts are, you will be making them again and again.

IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPEAS MUCH AS I DO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ANDA FIVE STAR REVIEW, AND BE SURE TO HELP ME SHARE ON PINTEREST!

Yield: 5 cups

Candied Walnuts

Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (18)

Candied Walnuts are so easy to make with just a few ingredients. An addictive snack and perfect to top an ice cream sundae. This is a version of my mom's secret recipe and a favorite to add to holiday gift baskets!

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cups brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 cups walnut halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
  3. Add brown sugar, water, butter and salt to a pan and place over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until all combined.
  4. Bring to a boil and cook for about 1 minute.
  5. Remove from heat, quickly stir in vanilla and walnuts. Mixing until well combined.
  6. Pour onto lined baking sheet and spread into a single layer.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes.
  8. Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Break apart and store in an airtight container.

Notes

Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Best served at room temperature.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 399Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 30gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 225mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 3gSugar: 13gProtein: 8g

Nutritional calculations are estimated and may not be accurate.

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Candied Walnuts {Easy Recipe} - Miss in the Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied walnuts soft? ›

Let the candied nuts cool for at least 20 minutes or until completely cool. You don't want to package warm nuts or the moisture will cause condensation which will soften the candy coating.

Why are my candied pecans soft on the stove? ›

If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

Do candied walnuts go bad? ›

Yes, candied nuts can go bad. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month for best results.

Why are my candied pecans sticky? ›

If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove. To fix them, place the nuts back into the skillet and cook a bit longer.

How long to soak walnuts to make them soft? ›

Experts agree that to reap the benefits, one should soak the walnuts for about 6-7 hours or overnight. And on an average, a healthy individual can have 3-4 soaked pieces of walnuts.

How do you soften walnuts quickly? ›

So, if you forget or don't have the patience to wait 8 hours while the walnuts soak (I certainly don't), I suggest boiling them! This will soften them really quickly (only about 15-20 minutes, as opposed to 8+ hours of soaking) so they blend well and you end up with a silky smooth and creamy walnut milk.

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.

Can you boil pecans to make them soft? ›

A final way to crack open pecans is to soften the shells first. Fill a saucepan with water and turn your stovetop to high. Wait until the water boils. Then, bring the boil to a simmer by slightly turning down the heat.

How do you soften pecans? ›

Soak your nuts and seeds anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 or 3 hours, or even overnight in the refrigerator. In general, harder nuts will take longer to soften. If your recipe calls for soaked nuts or seeds and you are low on time, try to squeeze in 20 minutes minimum, or just do a really good job rinsing them.

Can you eat nuts 2 years out of date? ›

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.

Can you eat year old walnuts? ›

Hello No please don't consume nuts after expiry date as they contain essential fatty acids which get oxidized and can harm your health.

How can you tell if walnuts are rancid? ›

Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odors and flavors. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet. If your walnuts smell like paint thinner, you know they're rancid.

Why do you soak pecans in water? ›

"Essential nutrients like iron, protein, calcium, and zinc are better absorbed by the body when you soak the nuts. The water removes the phytic acid present in acids which causes indigestion. So, soaking nuts helps in digesting them properly and reaping the benefits of these nutrients.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

Why are pecans bad for dogs? These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

How many cups is 1 pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

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.

How do you harden soft nuts? ›

Just toasting them in a dry pan or oven should be enough to revive them, but they'll also go in any recipe that requires nuts. We got through most of ours by toasting them with spices, to eat as nibbles or to add crunch to soups, stews and salads.

Why are my candied almonds chewy? ›

If your sugared almonds are sticky rather than crunchy on the outside, it's likely because you didn't bake them for long enough. Next time, bake the almonds for an additional 5 minutes. Just don't be tempted to increase the oven temperature as that could result in burnt almonds!

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