These caramelized, candied walnuts are quite a treat. Toss them into your salad, over popcorn, or straight into your mouth. Crunch. Crunch.

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These caramelized, candied walnuts are quite a treat. Toss them into your salad, over popcorn, or straight into your mouth. Crunch. Crunch. 

I love this easy method of making the candied nuts where everything goes into the pan at once. Other methods I’ve tried left me with globs of candy on the nuts rather than a more even coating. 

It also roasts the nuts at the same time so you don’t have to pre-toast them, then add them back to the pan to be coated, blah, blah. Who needs extra steps? 

It seriously takes about 5 minutes on the stove and 5 minutes to cool. The finished product is delicious! My husband was sampling them right out of the pan. P.S. This recipe can easily be doubled.   

Ingredients for Candied Walnuts:

1 cup walnut halves/pieces (you can also use this recipe for candied pecans)
1/4 cup white granulated sugar (not coarse sugar)
1 Tbsp unsalted butter

How To Make 5 Minute Candied Walnuts:

1. Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat, add 1 cup walnuts, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 Tbsp butter.

5 minute Candied Walnuts-4

2. Heat over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently (with a heat proof non-plastic spatula) so your mixture doesn’t burn (especially towards the end). When the sugar mixture starts melting, stir constantly until all sugar is melted and nuts are coated.

5 minute Candied Walnuts-5 5 minute Candied Walnuts-6

3. Transfer immediately onto a sheet of parchment paper and separate the nuts right away. Using two spatulas will make this task go faster.

You don’t want to give the nuts a chance to turn into a wad of inseparable delicious goodness unless you are the only person who will be enjoying the wad ;). Seriously, move quickly from the time the nuts are coated until they are separated out on the parchment paper.

5 minute Candied Walnuts-75 minute Candied Walnuts-8

Once the coating hardens (5-7 minutes), you can transfer them to a bowl and either inhale them right then and there or save ’em for a salad or something.

These caramelized, candied walnuts are quite a treat. Toss them into your salad, over popcorn, or straight into your mouth. Crunch. Crunch. These caramelized, candied walnuts are quite a treat. Toss them into your salad, over popcorn, or straight into your mouth. Crunch. Crunch.

Enjoy,  {crunch} pin it to your “recipes to keep forever” board, {crunch. crunch} and let me know how you liked the candied walnuts! {Crunch. Cruuunch. Crunch} 

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

5 minute Candied Walnuts

4.89 from 617 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
These caramelized, candied walnuts are quite a treat. Toss them into your salad, over popcorn, or straight into your mouth. Crunch. Crunch.
Toss these caramelized walnuts into your salad, over popcorn, or straight into your mouth. Crunch. Crunch. I love this easy method of making the candied nuts where everything goes into the pan at once. Other methods I've tried left me with globs of candy on the nuts rather than a more even coating. It also roasts the nuts at the same time so you don't have to pre-toast them, then add them back to the pan to be coated, blah, blah. Who needs extra steps? It seriously takes about 5 minutes on the stove and 5 minutes to cool. P.S. This recipe can easily be doubled.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 1 cup
  • 1 cup walnut halves/pieces, you can also use this recipe for candied pecans
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar, (not coarse sugar)
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat, add 1 cup walnuts, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 Tbsp butter.
  • Heat over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently so your mixture doesn't burn (especially towards the end). When the sugar mixture starts melting, stir constantly until all sugar is melted and nuts are coated.
  • Transfer immediately onto a sheet of parchment paper and separate the nuts right away. Using two spatulas will make this task go faster. You don't want to give the nuts a chance to turn into a wad of inseparable delicious goodness unless you are the only person who will be enjoying the wad ;). Seriously, move quickly from the time the nuts are coated until they are separated out on the parchment paper.
  • Once the coating hardens (5-7 minutes), you can transfer them to a bowl and enjoy!
Course: Appetizer, snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Candied Walnuts
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $

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P.S. If you haven’t allready, make sure to try our honey roasted almonds. They are also amazing

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Maurice Barr
    March 18, 2024

    Add some salt as they cool .
    Super easy recipe!
    Will try pecans and almonds next!

    Reply

  • Caprice R West
    February 28, 2024

    I was thinking that crushing them a bit and sprinkling them over Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream with caramel, whipped cream and a cherry would be fabulous! So while they cool I’m off to the store. Can’t wait 😁

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 28, 2024

      That’s a brilliant idea, Caprice! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Cat
    February 22, 2024

    Thank you Natasha for this easy and fast way to make use of that bag of walnuts I didn’t get to using over the holidays. First try worked great, second time also great but let an extra minute to see if even better….very good both ways. Second try of course a bit harder sugar crunch. Very glad to find your version of this sugared walnut recipe!!!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 22, 2024

      You’re very welcome, Cat! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply

  • Mary Koehler
    February 18, 2024

    do you need to soak (for how long) the walnuts in water and let dry before making the candied walnuts

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 18, 2024

      Hi Mary! I do not soak them.

      Reply

  • Vicki Brookes
    February 5, 2024

    I use this recipe all the time and it works perfectly. I love the addition of these walnuts to a carrot cake or a chocolate banana cake. It provides a solid crunch to some smoothness and I’m all about textures. With any leftovers, I throw them into my oatmeal or vanilla yogurt and “pretend” I’m getting my nut nutrition!!! It’s lovely so thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 5, 2024

      That’s a great idea to add to carrot or banana cake! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and use it often, Vicki!

      Reply

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