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

Ingredients
- 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!
P.S. If you haven’t allready, make sure to try ourΒ honey roasted almonds. They are also amazing
I wanted to dress up a wedge salad and only had chopped walnuts. Due to ingredients on hand I used 1T of butter (only had salted), and 1/8 granulated sugar/1/8 brown sugar with 1C of the chopped walnuts. I did end up using 2 teaspoons of water as the sugar wasnβt melting the way I wanted. (Patience is not my strong suit. π). Bottom line…amazing!!!
Wow! I’m so happy you were able to make that work Tammy! Thank you for sharing your steps with us!
If you make a big batch for salads, how would you recommend storing them to keep them crunchy?
Hi Carol, They should last at least a week in an airtight container or even a ziploc bag. Just make sure they have fully cooled to room temp before storing.
I made three batches for my quilt guild meeting. They vanished in minutes! This recipe is going into my files as a favorite go-to, especially when time is short.
Thatβs great Jean! Iβm happy to hear how much everyone enjoys the recipe. Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
This recipe is a great easy way to candy nuts! I added a dash of nutmeg and a dash of salt.
I make beet greens sautΓ©ed in a little olive oil flavored with shallots. After I take the greens out and put them in a serving dish, I sprinkle them with crumbled goat cheese and these candied walnuts.
I’m glad you enjoy the recipe so much! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers Steven!
Love this. Goes great with vanilla ice cream
Yum, that sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing! π
I had the same issue with the sugar not carmelizing and I know I just had regular table sugar. I don’t know if it has to do with the fact I have a glass top range (which I don’t really like) Anyway a couple tablespoons of water added, which I let steam off, resolved the issue.
Hi Melinda, I wonder if it took longer to heat up with your glass top? I’m glad it resolved with a little water. Thanks for sharing! π
Hi Natasha. I made two batch yesterday with peanuts. And today 2 batches peanuts again and 2 batches walnuts. Amazing recipe. Totally addicted. Reminds me of my childhood. My late grandmother used to make these with chunks of coconut or just peanuts and finely grated ginger. Deliciouss!! Happy easter.
Hello Monique! I’m happy to hear this recipe is a favorite for you. Thanks for sharing your wonderful review and have a great Easter! π
Hi! I just roasted walnuts using your 5 minute recipe, and added pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds….wow. Bringing this to church for coffee and snack time. Lovely! I even added ginger and cinnamon, and decreased the sugar a little, adding a little corn syrup that I wanted to use up. I will be making these again!
Hello Julie! That sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
Thank you, a thousand times thank you! My husband loves candied nuts on cereal and in salads, etc. And the ones in the store were so expensive. Tried this recipe and we loved it. Made a full batch of walnuts and half batch of pecans. Delicious!
My pleasure Karen! I’m happy to hear how much you both love the recipe! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
I used regular granulated sugar and it didn’t coat the walnuts very much and turned into hard crunchy bits… Tasted ok though but too crunchy.
Hi Jan, I haven’t had that experience, so it is difficult to say why. Be sure to use the same proportions stated in the recipe and since not all stove tops are created equal, it may just have needed to stay on the heat a little longer until the sugar melted.
Try adding a tablespoon or two of water oncthe walnuts have had a chance to toast a bit helped the caramel to form and worked great!
Thanks for sharing that with us!
Okay I donβt know what happened…I followed the recipe exactly (I think) they looked so good but tasted burnt? Very bitter, it didnβt seem like I had the burner on too high since it took forever to melt and once it was melting I stirred it around some more then put on foil to cool, they didnβt smell burnt, they still donβt smell burnt… what did I do wrong I want to try again
Hi Madeline, I haven’t had that experience but I am happy to help troubleshoot. From some research online, it could just be the nuts you are using. Taste them raw and see if there is any bitterness. Sometimes if nuts are too fresh and insufficiently dried, they can taste more bitter naturally. I would suggest letting them sit uncovered for at least a day before using fresh nuts in a recipe.
I make these with a sugar called Allulose to keep myself in ketosis. I add a tablespoon or two of bourbon and stir till it burns off or I’ve added cocoa powder, with or without the bourbon, all good. Hard to go wrong with nuts and sugar!
By the way, I found you a few years back when I first made the strawberry layer cake, I’m very happy for your success – seems I see you all over Facebook now. π
I’m glad to hear the recipe was a success! Thanks for following and sharing your great review and thoughtful comments Peggi!
I stumbled upon your recipe and have made multiple batches. I gave away some for gifts (they loved them) and I’ve used different kind of nuts. At the end of one batch, I stirred in some vanilla and sprinkled some cinnamon on it, then tossed it a few times. SO yummy and easy. I admit, I’ve eaten most of the batches myself. Thanks so much for sharing!
You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Stumbled on the recipe from Pinterest. Yummy as is, family ate them right off the wax paper! Next time will try the brown sugar and cinnamon combo. Can’t get any easier. And no reaching in the oven every 5 minutes to stir!
Thanks for the post,
Angie H
I’m happy to hear how much your family enjoys the recipe Angie! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review!
My regular granulated sugar never melted either. Turned brown though. Added a little water and that helped melt it kinda. Strange cuz I’ve caramelized sugar before. But the walnuts came out ok with bits of sugar lumps around as extra sweets. >_<
Hi KC, this can happen if you use a larger granulated sugar such as raw or organic sugar – it doesn’t melt as easily.
Made this as part of our light starter for Christmas Day. Candied walnut pieces, rocket, parmesan shavings, fresh orange segments and a slug of balsamic. So tasty and just right before a big meal.
Oh yum! That sounds delicious Sandy! Thanks for sharing!
My sugar never melted. It just stayed granulated. What did I do wrong? π
Hi Julie, did you possibly use a different kind of sugar (coarse granules like an organic or raw sugar maybe?) Also, if the sugar is not melting, try increase the heat – maybe the skillet just wasn’t warmed enough. I hope that helps!
Has anyone used salted butter? Will it taste odd if salted butter is used?
Hi Connie, I haven’t tested with salted butter but it should still work.
I used unsalted butter but added Himalayan (pink) sea salt and a sprinkle of Ceylon Cinnamon. Easy and delicious!
Awesome… so quick and easy β₯οΈ
Iβm glad you enjoy the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
This recipe is so simple and delicious. Will try using pecans next! Great gift idea too.
Iβm happy to hear how much you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
I did double my batch and I used brown sugar instead of regular sugar which tasted really good! When you said to use two spatulas to separate the nuts, I used a plastic/rubber spatula to mix them in the skillet. I didn’t notice until I was almost done that it melted the spatula! I finished off with a wooden spoon. I ate a few and it tastes okay. This is something you should mention and alter your recipe.
Hi Lisa, I’ve done that before!! Make sure your spatula is heat proof. Some spatulas are only meant to spread frosting while the silicone ones are heat proof.