Make Candied Walnuts

Candied walnuts are often found in salads or served as a tasty snack. These sweet nuts can also top a rich cheese, such as brie, or be packaged in a jar and given as a gift. You can make them on your stove or bake them in the oven, and even switch things up by using brown sugar in place of the usual white sugar.

Ingredients

Quick Candied Walnuts

• 1 cup (108 g) walnuts, shelled
• ¼ cup (50 g) white sugar
• 1 tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter

Traditional Candied Walnuts

• 1 cup (108 g) walnuts
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) light corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon (12 g) sugar
• ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
• ¼ teaspoon (½ g) ground black pepper
• Pinch of cayenne pepper

Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts

• 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter
• 2 cups (216 g) walnuts
• ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons (4 g) ground cinnamon

Steps

Making Quick Candied Walnuts

1. Heat a non-stick pan. On your stovetop, place a medium size non-stick skillet on the burner. Turn the heat to medium, and allow the pan to fully heat, which should take approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Add the walnuts, sugar, and butter, and cook. When the pan is heated, stir in 1 cup (108 g) of shelled walnuts, ¼ cup (50 g) of white sugar, and 1 tablespoon (14 g) of unsalted butter. Allow the mixture to cook for approximately 5 minutes on medium, stirring often to ensure that it cooks evenly.
   • You want to cook the walnut mixture until the sugar melts and all of the nuts are coated with the syrup.
   • It’s especially important to stir the mixture near the end of the cooking time because that’s when the nuts are most likely to burn.
   • You can easily double the recipe if you want.
3. Remove the nuts from the pan and separate. When all of the walnuts are coated in the sugar and butter syrup, take the pan off the burner. Transfer the nuts from the pan to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Make sure to separate all of the nuts as you lay them out because they will stick together in a clump if they’re touching when they cool.
   • Use two spatulas or wooden spoons to separate the nuts quickly so they don’t have a chance to stick together.
4. Allow the nuts to cool and serve. Once the walnuts are spread out in a single layer, let them cool for approximately 10 minutes or until the coating on the outside hardens. Place them in a bowl, and serve as a snack.
   • If you don’t plan to eat the candied walnuts right away, be sure to store them in an airtight container.

Baking Traditional Candied Walnuts in the Oven

1. Preheat the oven and grease a baking sheet. To ensure that the oven is hot enough when the walnuts are ready, set the temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius) and allow it to fully preheat. Next, grease a large baking sheet with a nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
   • Make sure that you know how your oven indicates that it’s reached the desired temperature. Many models flash an indicator light or beep to alert you.
2. Mix the walnuts and other ingredients in a bowl. Add 1 cup (108 g) of shelled walnuts, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of light corn syrup, 1 tablespoon (12 g) of granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon (3 g) of salt, ¼ teaspoon (½ g) of ground black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper to a medium size bowl. Stir together to ensure that all of the nuts are fully coated.
   • If you don’t have light corn syrup on hand, you can substitute maple syrup.
3. Spread the walnut mixture on the sheet and bake. Once the nuts are coated, transfer them to the greased baking sheet. Place the nuts in the oven, and allow them to bake until they are golden brown and the coating is bubbling, which should take approximately 15 minutes.
   • The nuts may clump together, so use a spatula or wooden spoon to separate them when you place them on the baking sheet.
   • Because the coating may spread as it heats, it’s a good idea to check on the walnuts at regular intervals during baking. Separate any nuts that wind up clumped together.
4. Cool the nuts and transfer to storage container. When the walnuts are golden brown, remove the pan from the oven, and allow the nuts to cool completely on the sheet, which should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place in a bowl for serving, and transfer to an airtight container to store them.
   • The candied walnuts can be made up to three days in advance.

Preparing Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts

1. Heat the butter in a large pan. Add 2 tablespoons (28 g) of butter to a large skillet, and heat it on medium. Allow the butter to melt completely, which should take approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
   • The butter will melt more quickly if you cut it into pieces before adding it to the pan.
2. Mix in the walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and cook. When the butter is melted, stir 2 cups (216 g) of shelled walnuts, ½ cup (100 g) of brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons (4 g) of ground cinnamon into the pan. Let the mixture heat on medium until the sugar dissolves, which should take approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
   • Be sure to stir the mixture constantly as you’re waiting for the sugar to melt so it doesn’t burn and the nuts don’t stick together.
3. Remove the nuts from the pan and allow to cool. After the brown sugar has dissolved, remove the nuts from the skillet with a spatula or slotted spoon and set them on a silicone baking mat. Let them cool for an hour, so they’re completely cooled and the coating has hardened.
   • If you don’t have a silicone baking mat, you can use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
   • Store the candied walnuts in an airtight container. They can last for up to two weeks.

Tips

• While candied walnuts are delicious as a snack on their own, you can also use them as a topping for salads and ice cream sundaes.
• Candied walnuts also make an ideal homemade gift for the holidays. Place some in a decorative plastic bag, and tie off with a ribbon to ensure that the package is airtight.

Things You'll Need

Quick Candied Walnuts

• A medium non-stick pan
• A wooden spoon or spatula
• A baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• An airtight container

Traditional Candied Walnuts

• A large baking sheet
• Non-stick cooking spray
• A medium size bowl
• A wooden spoon or spatula
• An airtight container

Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts

• A large skillet
• A slotted spoon or spatula
• A silicone baking mat
• An airtight container

Related Articles

• Make Frosted Walnuts
• Make Maple and Pecan Muffins

Sources and Citations

See also

• Make Walnut Paste
• Harvest Black Walnuts
• Make Pickled Walnuts