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} 

5 minute Candied Walnuts

4.88 from 666 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: $
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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

4.88 from 666 votes (361 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  • Stephanie
    September 27, 2014

    Thanks for this recipe! After googling candied nuts I was not in the mood to have my nuts in the oven for an hour on this beautiful day, after I saw your 5 minute version I was thrilled! It turned out great. Thanks for the heads up on moving fast to seperate them once they are done. I frantically seperated the nuts with two spatulas. It was quite amusing. I’m putting these on my spinach salad I hope the combo works!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 27, 2014

      Oooh let me know how it goes on your spinach salad and I want to know more about this spinach salad of yours! I’m always looking for new ideas you know 😉

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 28, 2014

        Oh wow that sure sounds like an amazing salad! Thanks for reporting back 🙂

        Reply

  • Andrea
    September 23, 2014

    Hello,
    I have made this lovely recipe twice exactly how it says to make it and have somehow messed it up twice. All my sugar clumps together and only sticks to a few nuts, while leaving the unstuck nuts butter covered. It tastes yummy but what am I doing wrong? The butter and sugar separate….. help! I love this and want to get it right! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 23, 2014

      The key is to stir constantly and keep it over medium heat so it doesn’t clump up too quickly. You want to give the sugar a chance to melt but not burn. I sure hope that helps! 🙂

      Reply

      • Andrea
        September 24, 2014

        Thank you for your response. It must be just operator error. I’ll keep trying.

        Reply

        • Andrea
          September 24, 2014

          Third times the charm I guess. I just wasn’t leaving it in the pan long enough, I was too worried about it burning. I tried a little patience the time and it worked a lot better. Thank you.

          Reply

          • Natasha
            natashaskitchen
            September 24, 2014

            Yes!! I’m so glad to hear that 🙂

  • Chelsea
    September 10, 2014

    Yeah… This recipe didn’t work for me. I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t measure anything, or because I ate all the walnuts while they were cooling, or what. But all I ended up with was a bunch of sugary clumps of sugar. Which I ate. Immediately after finishing off the walnuts.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 10, 2014

      Not measuring will definitely affect the outcome. Without knowing exactly how much of what you put in, I’m not sure I can figure out what happened. I’m glad you were able to eat and enjoy them anyway 🙂

      Reply

  • lilah
    August 30, 2014

    hi do you have Oreshki (Орешки) Walnut Печенье recipe?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 30, 2014

      I don’t currently have a documented recipe. My husband made them before but I have no idea how he did it. :-O One of these days… 🙂

      Reply

  • Tricia
    August 11, 2014

    If I was to make a lot of this and put in jars to sell at a school fete how long could I store them for?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 11, 2014

      They would last for several days at room temperature. Keep them away from heat and moisture and they should be good up to a week.

      Reply

  • Smalm
    July 10, 2014

    I made the recipe and I like it a lotbut the mixture of the sugar and butter when put on the parchment paper was pooling at the bottom. Butthis recipe iswell worth it for it’s crunchyand taste SO NICE! I loveit even though it wasn’t perfect. Also it was very nice forI had a lot f walnuts I got from my aunt who has a walnut tree. still tastes like walnuts even with the sugar in it.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 10, 2014

      I had he opposite situation :). I think it helps to cook the nuts slightly longer until you get a better coating on the walnuts. Then you won’t get much pooling at the bottom.

      Reply

  • Ghalia
    July 10, 2014

    When me and my ant looked at this recipe we thought it looked supper delicious and when we made it, it was very delicious.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 10, 2014

      That’s awesome! I’m so happy you liked it 🙂

      Reply

  • Sad
    May 9, 2014

    I thought I was following the recipe, but my spatula ended up melting as I stirred the nuts. Now I have to buy a new spatula and the nuts were ruined and had melted plastic all over them. Officially the worst cooking disaster of the year.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 9, 2014

      Oh no! That’s awful! It sounds like your spatula wasn’t heat proof. There are some spatulas that are only meant to spread frosting and fold ingredients together. Check the label on your next spatula to make sure sure it is heat proof.

      Reply

  • cassie
    January 22, 2014

    made these, very good! fast and easy too.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 22, 2014

      Wooohoooo!!! Yess!!!! (Can you tell I’m happy about your success?). Thanks for a great review 🙂

      Reply

  • Mila
    January 14, 2014

    Hello Tatyana
    I was wondering if it’s possible to substitute sugar for honey…my son is not allowed to have sugar at all

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 14, 2014

      I haven’t tried with honey in this recipe, but I do have another roasted nuts recipe with honey. You might omit the spices for young palates 🙂

      Reply

  • Olga
    January 13, 2014

    Will I have the same results using honey instead?

    Reply

  • Ira M
    January 13, 2014

    This is a must try!!! I a. Grabbing some walnuts and making right away! Thanks for another delicious recipe!!! 🙂

    Reply

  • Binsy
    January 13, 2014

    Hi Natasha,
    I love your website! For a twist on this recipe, try adding a bit of pepper flakes and/or a pinch of rosemary to the nuts when you are mixing in the sugar and butter. It’s delicious!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 13, 2014

      Ooh that does sound delicious. I like the thought of adding some heat to it. Thanks!

      Reply

  • Olio
    January 12, 2014

    Hi Natasha, do u think it will be good if I make it with salted peanuts?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 13, 2014

      You’ll have to be quicker about separating them out since they are smaller unless you want it to be a peanut bark 🙂 but I think it would work

      Reply

  • Iryna B.
    January 12, 2014

    Hi Natasha, love this recipe.
    Do you happened to know how to make honey crisp walnuts? I think they are backed…. When we go to Chinese restaurant they have them with coconut shrimps. Just love them, but have no recipe….

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 12, 2014

      I haven’t. I actually had to google that one but didn’t really come up with anything. If I come across anything like that, I’ll be sure to share 🙂

      Reply

      • Iryna B.
        January 21, 2014

        Thank you!

        Reply

        • Iryna B.
          January 21, 2014

          This could be it! But I remember the waiter said the walnuts were baked with honey… hmm…

          Reply

          • Natasha
            natashaskitchen
            January 21, 2014

            Ooh wow that sounds delicious!

  • Katrina
    January 12, 2014

    Just made some with walnuts and cashews, yum:) my mom is asking me to make some more, delicious, Thank you Natasha: )

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 12, 2014

      Awesome!! Easy, huh? I want some candied cashews. yum!!

      Reply

  • Natalee
    January 12, 2014

    I LOVE these nuts for salads. Thank you

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 12, 2014

      Me too! Me too! 🙂

      Reply

  • Olena
    January 12, 2014

    I love them in salads with lots of greens!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 12, 2014

      Me too! They’re a nice surprise in salad for sure!

      Reply

  • Liz
    January 12, 2014

    I like this recipe. Thank you and have a wonderful Sunday.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 12, 2014

      Thanks Liz! You have a happy Sunday too. I hope it’s a relaxing day for you 🙂

      Reply

  • Mom's Dish
    January 11, 2014

    I love this recipe. I have candied some nuts and they had lots of blah blah blah lol 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 12, 2014

      I tried some other more complicated methods and they weren’t even as good as these easy peasy ones! 😉

      Reply

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