There’s nothing like the crunch and sweetness of candied walnuts, a snack, salad topper, cocktail nibble, or homemade gift. With a thin glassy sugar coating and endless varieties of spice and seasonings, this candied walnuts recipe is a MUST have. It's the easiest way to take nuts from simple to extravagant. Full tutorial and video below.
Recipe by Mahy on September 30, 2025
Prep time: PT5M
Cook time: PT5M
Rating
5 stars (5 reviews)
Keywords
candied nuts, candied walnuts, candied walnuts recipe, Caramelized nuts, how to make candied walnuts
Ingredients
1 cup Walnuts (fresh)
2 Tablespoons Butter (unsalted)
2 1/2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
pinch sea salt
1 cup Walnuts (Preferably toasted for 2 minutes in a dry skillet)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
pinch salt
Categories
side
Snack
Cuisine
American
English
French
Steps
Stovetop: Quickest
In a skillet over medium heat, add the walnuts, butter and sugar. Add cinnamon if using.
Mix them together and keep tossing around the skillet until the sugar dissolves.
At the point drop the heat to low and keep mixing until the sugar mixture looks caramelized and golden.
When it turns golden, it's ready.
Spread the mixture right away on baking sheets that are lined with a sheet of parchment paper.
Make sure to spread the mixture in one layer.
Let the walnuts cool for 3-5 minutes before breaking them up.
They will be crispy and perfect when cooled. When cooled entirely, store it in a jar or airtight container.
Oven (Baked Candied Walnuts) :
Make a syrup: Combine sugar and a small amount of water and warm until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in flavorings (cinnamon, espresso, cayenne). Finally stir in some toasted walnuts and mix to coat.
Bake low & even: Spread coated walnuts on a parchment-lined sheet and bake at 300°F for about 15 minutes, stirring halfway. The until nuts will look caramelized and glossy. Let them cool and you'll notice the coating will harden into a crisp shell.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 255 kcal
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 22 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Trans Fat: 0.1 g
Cholesterol: 8 mg
Sodium: 25 mg
Sugar: 11 g
Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
Reviews
Angela Campos on 2025-11-12 (5 stars): This Candied walnut recipe turned out amazing! It was easy to make, and the kids love them, perfect for the holidays!
Tammy on 2025-11-12 (5 stars): I love candied walnuts, and this recipe is so perfectly easy. I made a batch to top off all of my holiday pies but I've snacked through half already haha!
Janie on 2025-11-11 (5 stars): These walnuts were ridiculously addicting to snack on! I added them to my oatmeal cookies too!
Ben on 2025-11-11 (5 stars): These are fully awesome! I made a batch last night, and I've already put them on my ice cream and my pancakes.
Beth on 2025-11-11 (5 stars): My husband really loves walnuts. Could I make it with those?`
