Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (2024)

Candied walnuts are great addition during holiday season to your salads, or for gifting! These are great snacking option too. So easy to make, you don’t want to miss this.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (1)

What I Love About This Candied Walnuts Recipe?

  • This old-fashioned candied walnuts recipe uses egg white to help bind the sugar to walnuts. The delightful blend of sweet, salty and crunchy makes these super addictive. So hard to stop eating. We bet you can’t eat just one!
  • A dish is only as good as the ingredients. Use best quality nut you can possibly get. You can easily swap it with other nuts like pecans, cashews or macadamias.
  • It’s not like the sticky version of candied nuts. These are sweet, drier than the sticky ones you can imagine. And it’s better than the sticky version.
  • So what’s wrong with the recipes that use just walnuts and sugar to make candied version of nuts, you may ask? Well one – the nuts gets coated in heavy and hard sugar glaze on the nuts. This classic version has light, crunchy sweet coating from sugar. A hint of cinnamon and salt is added to balance out the sweetness from sugar. So these walnuts aren’t super sweet and aren’t heavy as well.
Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (2)
  • The recipe also doesn’t yield super sweet glazed nuts! We have kept the sugar quantity just about right to give you delicious nuts with enough candy coating that is delightfully sweet!
  • If you are someone who loves your candied nuts to be super sweet, we recommend you to double the sugar. But let me warn you, if you double the sugar you’re gonna have super sweet walnuts that tastes almost like candy. You won’t even taste the nuts, sugar is going to be over powering!
  • Amazing to sprinkle over salads, even better to munch on for snacks in the afternoon. You can crush the walnuts and sprinkle it over ice cream or any desserts.

Ingredients Needed

Readily available ingredients from your pantry is all you need –

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (3)

Walnuts– make sure you pick raw, unsalted walnuts. Whole walnuts are great, butchopped ones can be used too.

Sugar(white and brown) – I like to use a mix of both white granulated sugarand brown sugar. Do not use powdered sugar. Granulated sugar gives bettertexture on walnuts.

EggWhite – Egg white beaten to stiff peaks is used in the recipe to helpbind the sugar mix to the walnuts.

Water– a teaspoon is all you need to add to egg white to help it beat.

CinnamonPowder – Spices like cinnamon adds a nice flavor and taste to nuts. Youcan also add a hint of cayenne pepper to add a kick if you like.

SeaSalt – A pinch of sea salt in any sweet dish always enhances its taste.Make sure you use fine sea salt and not table salt.

Vanilla Extract – don’t miss out on pure vanilla extract.

How to Make Candied Walnuts?

Prep candy coating – in a bowl mix granulated white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon powder and salt. Mix and keep aside until use.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (4)

Whisk egg whites – to another dry bowl pour egg whites. Add a teaspoon of water. Whisk egg whites until its frothy, fluffy cloud like consistency.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (5)
Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (6)
Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (7)

Prep the walnuts – to fluffy egg whites bowl add raw walnuts. Pour in vanilla extract. Gently fold in to coat walnuts in egg whites evenly.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (8)
Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (9)

Add in all the sugar mix and fold until all walnuts are evenly coated.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (10)
Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (11)

Bake walnuts – spread sugar coated walnuts onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper (or silicon baking mat). Bake in pre heated oven at 300 F for about 30 -35 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes interval. You’ll have to bake these until the coating on the nuts is hardened.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (12)
Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (13)
Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (14)

Store& Serve – remove baked nuts from the oven. Let it cool completely.Serve these candied walnuts immediately as salad topping or as snack.

Or store itin air tight containers for later use or for gifting purpose.

How Long Can Candied Walnuts Be Stored?

The bestpart of candy walnuts is you can make these ahead as it stores well. You canstore completely cooled candy walnuts in air tight container for up to 2 weeksand pack these up in freezer air tight boxes and freeze for about 2 months.

Can I Use Other Nuts?

Yes, absolutely. This recipe works great with pecans, macadamia nuts or even almonds just like walnuts.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (15)

Ways to Serve Candies Walnuts

Snack on it – these candy walnuts aregreat to snack on. It’s ‘kinda’ healthy snack, I mean its nut right!

Salad topper – great option for saladtopper. Any kind of salad can be topped with these candies nuts. It adds anextra crunch and sweetness to your salad!

Gifting option – these are great forunique holiday gifts. Pack these in little treat bags, tie cute ribbons aroundsand gift to your family and friends.

Sprinkle on desserts – crush candied walnuts in a food processor (not too fine) and use the crushed candy nuts to sprinkle over ice cream or any other desserts.

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (16)

MORE GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTING RECIPES –

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Christmas Popcorn

S’mores Puppy Chow

All Purpose Seasoning Salt

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Pretzel Hershey Kisses

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

Don’t forget to Subscribe toCurryTrailRecipes below to get our newest recipes delivered straight to your inbox.

LOVE THIS RECIPE? KEEP IN TOUCH AND DON’T MISS OUT ON ANY OF CURRYTRAIL RECIPES! FOLLOW ME ONINSTAGRAM,PINTEREST,FACEBOOK,TWITTER.

HAVE YOU TRIED ONE OF MY RECIPES? I’D LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU’VE MADE! TAKE APICTURE AND USE THE HASHTAG#CURRYTRAILON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE! I’LL DO A HAPPY DANCE IF YOU TRY MY RECIPE AND SHARE IT WITH US!

5 from 7 votes

Candied Walnuts

Jyothi Rajesh

Candied walnuts are great addition during holiday season to your salads, or for gifting! These are great snacking option too. So easy to make, you don’t want to miss this.

Print Recipe Pin RecipeRate this Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Course Snacks

Cuisine American

Servings 4 cups

Calories 873

Ingredients

  • 4 cups 12 ounces raw walnuts
  • ¼ cup granulated white sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions

  • Prep candy coating – in a bowl mix granulated white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon powder and salt. Mix and keep aside until use.

  • Whisk egg whites – to another dry bowl pour egg whites. Add a teaspoon of water. Whisk egg whites until its frothy, fluffy cloud like consistency.

  • Prep the walnuts – to fluffy egg whites bowl add raw walnuts. Pour in vanilla extract. Gently fold in to coat walnuts in egg whites evenly.

  • Add in all the sugar mix and fold until all walnuts are evenly coated.

  • Bake walnuts – spread sugar coated walnuts onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper (or silicon baking mat). Bake in pre heated oven at 300 F for about 30 -35 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes interval. You’ll have to bake these until the coating on the nuts is hardened.

  • Store & Serve – remove baked nuts from the oven. Let it cool completely. Serve these candied walnuts immediately as salad topping or as snack.

  • Or store it in air tight containers for later use or for gifting purpose.

Video

Notes

  1. Use raw walnuts, not roasted salted ones.
  2. Sugar quantity used here does not make super sweet walnuts. If you want to make sweet candy walnuts use more sugar (double the sugar).
  3. To add more flavors, along with cinnamon add ½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper if you like extra kick.

Nutritional Info– Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 873kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 19gFat: 76gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 310mgPotassium: 546mgFiber: 8gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 4mg

Did you make this recipe?Follow @CurryTrail and tag #CurryTrail to share your creation!

Candied Walnuts Recipe (Perfect for gifting) (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep candied walnuts from sticking together? ›

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.

How long are candied walnuts good for? ›

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.

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.

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

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.

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 to soak walnuts before cooking? ›

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.

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.

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.

What is the best way to store 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.

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 do my walnuts taste funny? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

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 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.

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.

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.

Should I soak walnuts before baking? ›

Astringent, mouth-puckering taste…

By soaking and dehydrating them, this will be greatly reduced. This is because when soaking walnuts, the tannins are rinsed away, leaving behind a softer, more buttery nut. The soak water from nuts and seeds should always be discarded and never used as water in a recipe.

How do you store an open bag of walnuts? ›

Once you open the bag, transfer the walnuts to an airtight container to maintain freshness and then place them back in the refrigerator or freezer. If you buy bulk walnuts, either in-shell or shelled, place the walnuts in an airtight container for long-term cold storage.

How long to soak walnuts in salt water? ›

Soaking raw nuts and seeds is such a quick simple thing that it doesn't really need instructions. Just add good nutrient rich sea salt or pink Himalayan salt (both have their health benefits) to water, toss in your nuts and let sit about 8-12 hours until softened.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5717

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.