Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts
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This easy recipe for brown sugar candied walnuts makes for a delicious snack or a delicious edible gift from the kitchen. But the best part is you’ll need just 5 simple ingredients and 20 minutes to make a batch of candied nuts.
Not only are candied walnuts an addicting snack, they’re perfect for hostess and neighbor gifts during the holiday season. I’m sure you’ve seen the high price tag for gourmet nuts this time of year.
So you’ll love that you can make this candied walnut recipe at home for a fraction of the price. And how easily it comes together.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
Serve them as a simple game day recipe or for a party snack for your family Christmas party. Or add them to a charcuterie board to enjoy year round.
Be sure to scroll to the serving section to see some of our favorite ways to use these sweet and salty walnuts.
Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts Ingredients Needed
- butter – if using salted butter, you may want to reduce the salt.
- sugars – you’ll need white and brown sugar for this recipe. Make sure to pack the brown sugar when measuring.
- salt – compliments the sweetness of the sugars.
- walnut halves – make sure you buy plain raw walnuts since we’re adding our own sugar and salt.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Candied Walnuts with Brown Sugar
Line a rimmed sheet pan with a sheet of parchment paper and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the sugars and salt.
Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the sugar dissolves and caramelizes. Add the walnuts, and stir so they are coated evenly.
Continue cooking until the sugar mixture is dark amber in color, about 3-4 minutes.
Immediately transfer the caramelized walnuts to the prepared sheet pan, spreading in a single layer. The candy coating will harden fast, so work quickly!
Allow the candied walnuts to cool to room temperature before serving or packaging.
Break apart the cooled candied nuts or chop into smaller pieces to serve on top of salads, desserts, or package in mason jars for gifts.
Tips for Making This Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts Recipe
- Stir the coating constantly – if left unattended, the brown sugar mixture will burn.
- If you buy whole, regular walnuts, you’ll need to chop them or lightly pulse in a food processor beforehand.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Different type of nut – follow the same recipe to make candied pecans, almonds, and cashews.
- Spiced – add ground cinnamon immediately after adding the walnuts to the candy mixture and stir to evenly coat.
- More nutty taste – toast the walnuts beforehand by adding them in a single layer to a baking sheet, then bake at 325 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
- Spicy – add up to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper after adding the walnuts to the caramelized sugar.
- Dark brown sugar – can be used in place of the light. It has a higher molasses content and gives the nuts a richer, caramel-like flavor.
How to Serve Candied Walnuts
There are so many ways to serve these crunchy candied walnuts! Add a handful to your favorite salads for a topper, in a snack mix, or on top of your ice cream sundae. They also make a nice addition to a holiday cheese board or charcuterie board.
The crunchy texture also goes great on roasted vegetables (try them on sweet potatoes, green beans, squash, or brussels sprouts), waffles and pancakes, yogurt bowls, and oatmeal.
How to Store Leftover Candied Walnuts with Brown Sugar
After cooling, keep leftover candied walnuts for up to 1 week on the countertop in an air-tight container, jar, or plastic bag.
More Easy Snack recipes…
- Crunchy Oven Baked Ranch Pretzel Recipe
- Reindeer Snack Mix
- Classic Chex Mix – air fryer + oven directions
- Roasted Ranch Chickpeas – air fryer + oven directions
- Easy Crudite Board with Knorr Veggie Dip
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Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups walnut halves
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat on the stove.¼ cup butter
- Add the white sugar, brown sugar, and salt and stir to combine.¼ cup granulated white sugar, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt
- Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the sugars have dissolved and have started to melt into a thickened caramel.
- Add the walnuts and stir to coat.2 cups walnut halves
- Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until the sugar mixture has taken on a dark amber color.
- Immediately pour the candied walnuts onto the lined baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Work quickly, as the candy coating will harden very fast.
- Allow the walnuts to cool to room temperature, then break apart or chop before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to keep a close eye on the pan and stir constantly to avoid burning the sugar.
- For a deeper nutty flavor, toast the walnuts on a baking sheet in the oven in a single layer for 8-10 minutes at 325°F before making the candied nuts.
- To make spiced nuts, sprinkle with ground cinnamon immediately after adding the nuts to the caramel mixture.
- Substitute other nuts like pecans, cashews or almonds.
- Serving ideas: sprinkle on salads, roasted vegetables (squash, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts), oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, yogurt parfaits and ice cream.
- Store completely cooled nuts in an airtight container on the counter. They’ll keep for about 5-7 days.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
