Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (2024)

  • Quick Snacks and Appetizers
  • Christmas Candies
  • Walnuts

To make these super simple candied walnuts, you just need 2 ingredients: walnuts and sugar.

By

Elise Bauer

Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated September 12, 2023

Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (2)

19 ratings

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Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (3)

In This Recipe

  • How to Use Them

  • Mixing Them

  • Storing Them

  • Cleaning Up

  • No Sticking

  • Storage Hack

Walnuts. Sugar. That's pretty much all you need to make candied walnuts! A dash of salt helps too.

These are very easy to make.

Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (4)

Tricks to Making Candied Walnuts

One trick is to work very fast once the sugar starts melting. Once you mix in the walnuts, the candy syrup cools quickly and the walnuts will stick together.

You have 30 seconds or so to separate them before they are forever bonded by glassy, cooked sugar.

The other trick is to not burn the walnuts when you toast them. (Yes, we've done that before...)

Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (5)

Ways to Use Candied Walnuts

Around the holidays, candied walnuts make a great party snack. You can make them a day or two ahead, and then just set them out in small bowls or serve them alongside a cheese plate for people to snack on.

You can even add a sprinkle of minced rosemary or a dash of cinnamon when you stir in the walnuts for some extra holiday flavor.

Other times of year, candied walnuts are a delightful addition to lunch salads, mixed into bowls of yogurt, or sprinkled over ice cream. They also make a convenient snack to have in your bag when traveling.

Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (6)

Mix It Up!

Don't like walnuts? Use pecans, almonds, or any other nut instead.

You can also double this batch if needed, though your sugar will take a little longer to caramelize. If you need to make more candied nuts, make them in separate batches rather than trying to make them all at once; it's more difficult to quickly separate larger batches before the caramelized sugar starts to harden.

Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (7)

How to Store Candied Walnuts

Let your walnuts cool completely, then store them in an airtight container, like glass canning jar, at room temperature. As long as it's not too humid where you live (Moisture will cause the walnuts to become sticky!), they should stay crunchy for at least a week.

Looking for More Nutty Ideas?

  • Herb Spiced Mixed Nuts
  • Chipotle Lime Mixed Nuts
  • Caramel Walnuts

How to Clean Up When You’re Done

Add water to the saucepan, bring to a boil, then boil until the sugar dissolves. Faster than soaking!

How to Make Sure the Glazed Walnuts Don’t Stick

  • Use a silicone baking mat such as a Silpat.
  • Or line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • It may help to spray your mat or paper with some cooking spray to help from sticking even more.
  • Don’t have parchment or a Silpat? Butter your baking sheet and pour out your nuts on that.
  • We don't recommend wax paper, since the hot sugar will melt the wax, making everything even more sticky.

Try This Brilliant Storage Hack!

Save the packets of silica gel that come in boxes of crackers and cookies. Slip one into the jar or container you keep the candied nuts in. The packet will help absorb moisture from humidity, keeping your nuts from getting sticky.

Salads to Top With Your Candied Walnuts

  • Arugula Salad with Beets
  • Farmer's Market Salad with Peaches and Goat Cheese
  • Mixed Green Salad with Goat Cheese and Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
  • Grape and Walnut Side Salad with Blue Cheese
  • Radicchio Salad with Citrus

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Candied Walnuts

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time25 mins

Servings12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups raw walnut halves

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F:

    Place rack in the middle of the oven.

  2. Toast the walnuts:

    Lay walnuts out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 5 minutes, until slightly darker in color and fragrant.

    If not quite toasted enough, toast for 1 or 2 more minutes. Be careful not to burn them. Remove from the oven and let cool in pan on a rack.

    Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (8)

  3. Get everything ready:

    You'll need to work quickly once the caramelized sugar is ready. So, be sure to have everything prepped and ready to go.

    Place the cooled walnuts in a bowl near the stove. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicon baking mat or parchment paper and place near the stove. Have two forks ready.

  4. Caramelize the sugar:

    Pour sugar into a medium saucepan with a thick bottom and place over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon as the sugar begins to melt.

    Keep stirring until all the sugar has melted and the color is a medium amber, Five to 10 minutes (exact timing will depend on your stove top).

    Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (9)

    Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (10)

    Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (11)

  5. Coat the walnuts in caramelized sugar:

    As soon as sugar has melted and the color is a medium amber, add the walnuts to the pan. Stir quickly and make sure each piece is coated with the liquid sugar.

    As soon as the walnuts are coated with the sugar mixture, spread them out on the prepared baking sheet. Use two forks to separate the walnuts from each other, working very quickly. Sprinkle the nuts with the salt.

    Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (12)

    Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (13)

  6. Cool and store:

    Let the walnuts cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and store for up to a week at room temperature.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
117Calories
8g Fat
10g Carbs
2g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories117
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g11%
Saturated Fat 1g4%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 21mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg1%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0mg2%
Potassium 58mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Candied Walnuts: Easy To Make, Hard to Stop Eating (2024)

FAQs

Can diabetics eat candied walnuts? ›

Avoid nuts covered with sugar or chocolate. However, there are candied nuts you can make yourself using recipes on Diabetes Food Hub®. Or, you can buy pre-packaged snacks, like keto candied nuts, that are a sugar-free sweet treat—but you'll still need to keep track of portions.

Do candied walnuts 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!

What can I do with too many walnuts? ›

10 Simple Ways to Use Walnuts
  1. Plus-Up Cereal or Oatmeal. ...
  2. Make a DIY Trail Mix. ...
  3. Pair with Fruit, Cheese, and Crackers. ...
  4. Swap-in on Salads. ...
  5. Add to Sandwiches and Wraps. ...
  6. Make-Ahead Walnut Pesto. ...
  7. Just Eat a Handful Plain. ...
  8. Top Your Pizza, Pasta, or Roasted Veggies.
Sep 15, 2022

How do you keep candied walnuts from sticking together? ›

Make sure the walnuts are still in a single layer to prevent them from sticking together. Check the walnuts after the second roasting. If they don't look brown and roasted enough, put them back in the oven for an additional five minutes, and if necessary, another two to three minutes.

Do walnuts raise blood sugar? ›

Walnuts are known to help build resistance for insulin, control blood glucose levels and lower the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes. 2. They are rich in dietary fibres. Fibres take long to breakdown and digest, which ensures slow release of sugar in the bloodstream.

What is the best hard candy for low blood sugar? ›

Skittles or gumdrops are patient favorites, but some people prefer a hard candy like Lifesavers, or a chewy sweet like Twizzlers or Starbursts. See the product label for how much of a serving you need to get to 15 grams of carbs.

Can rancid walnuts make you sick? ›

Eating rancid food won't make you sick, but the new molecules that form as oxidation occurs may lead to digestive issues. Rancid foods are also less nutritious because oxidation destroys the good fats and some of the vitamin content.

What can I do with old walnuts? ›

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.

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.

What if I eat 20 walnuts a day? ›

Excessive consumption of walnuts may cause diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain or kidney stones. Due to the phytic acid they contain, too many walnuts may also inhibit the absorption of dietary iron, calcium and zinc. Recommendation: One ounce (10-14) English walnut halves per day.

Is there a downside to eating walnuts? ›

Walnuts are tasty and healthy, but you should eat them carefully. Eating a hundred grams of walnuts will add 654 calories to your daily intake. This will make it difficult to include enough foods from the other major food groups in your diet.

What happens if I eat 2 walnuts everyday? ›

Walnuts have shown promise in heart health for years thanks to their antioxidant content, but emerging research suggests eating this nut may help bridge nutrient gaps among adults and kids alike. Other research supports their benefits for gut health, memory, mood, blood sugar, reproductive health benefits and more.

Why are my candied nuts 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.

Why do you soak walnuts in water? ›

Shruti Bharadwaj, Senior Clinical Dietician, Narayana Hrudayalaya says soaking walnuts helps improve their digestibility and also remove phytic acid and tannin. "Soaking can also help prevent indigestion as it helps reduce gas forming compounds. It also reduces polyphenols and increase nutrient availability.

How long will candied nuts keep? ›

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.

Can diabetics eat candied pecans? ›

Since nuts are low on the glycemic index, pecans can slow the body's absorption of carbohydrates down, which ultimately leads to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels; just ensure you're using unsalted, dry-roasted pecans and not candied pecans that can be high in sugar and added fat.

How much sugar is in candied nuts? ›

Candied Pecans
Amount Per Serving
Sodium 15mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 9g3%
Dietary Fiber 2g7%
Sugars 7g0%
6 more rows

How many carbs are in candied walnuts? ›

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Total Carbohydrate 10.7g4%
Dietary Fiber 2g7%
Sugars 6.7g
Protein 3.8g8%
12 more rows
Nov 23, 2015

Which nuts should diabetics avoid? ›

Avoid nuts that are coated in salt — Dobbins notes that sodium is bad for your blood pressure — and sugar. More bad news if you love the sweet-and-savory combo: Chocolate-covered peanuts and honey-roasted cashews are high in carbs and not the best choice when you have diabetes, Dobbins says.

References

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