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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
Making these tomorrow to go in a broccoli craisin red onion salad with a raspberry vinegarette. I know they’ll be the star of the salad!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I hope you love this recipe!
I was very saddened by this recipe. I have made many batches using other recipes, but thought I would give this one a try. Unfortunately, the coating has a terrible mouthfeel and mostly refused to coat the nuts. Leaving the sugar all over the pan. Also, I feel it would be much enchanced with a pinch of salt and a dash of spice. There are better recipes. Thanks anyway..
Hi Alyssa, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t have the same results. I haven’t had that experience but I am happy to help troubleshoot. Be sure you use the same proportions and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes. If you start off on lower heat, it will take longer for the sugar to melt and glaze to form. Also, if you use too high of heat, the sugar will burn before it has a chance to incorporate and coat the nuts. I hope that helps. You can add a dash of salt and spice to change the flavor profile up a bit.
I added a pinch of cayenne and an ounce of bourbon before adding the nuts. The bourbon helped melt the sugar and added small taste profile.
Super easy recipe. Thank you
Iβm so happy you enjoyed that, Daniel. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hahaha inhale, thats about right!!! Thx for sharing!!
You’re so welcome, Christine!
Making caramel has alway been a disaster for me but this with NO water worked perfectly I just waited there was a moment when I thought I was going to get a grainy mess then suddenly beautiful liquid caramel coating the nuts super easy dried glossy and perfectly brittle thank you going on my waffles tomorrow
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Quick and easy!
Will try it with a little bourbon and salt.
Iβm so glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome and so easy. Especially wonderful for salads. Love that you don’t even need to heat the oven (ahem…house) when it’s hot outside. Thanks for sharing! π
Isn’t that the best! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
I added a half teaspoon cardamom,pinch cinnamon,pinch sea salt and oh yum,doubled recipe tooβ
I don’t know if it’s because I made a whole pound at once but mine was not very coated and honestly it wasn’t very good.
Hi, it is most likely due to overcrowding the pan. I would suggest making it in batches with the proportions stated in the recipe for best results.
Made these last night for a homemade version of a Potbelly salad that includes apples, dried cranberries, candied walnuts & bleu cheese over spinach. The nuts turned out great, with the addition of a small amount of water (2 tbs.) to dissolve the sugar. The leftover nuts will be used to top vanilla ice cream!
That sounds amazing! I’m so happy you enjoyed that, thank you for sharing your awesome review with me.
I make these all the time for my salads and pairs well with goat or Gorgonzola cheese! It is super easy and lasts well in the refrigerator! Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Just made a batch to have for salad toppings. Iβm not sure they will make it to tonightβs salad. They are so delicious and super simple to make. Thanks for the easy and amazing recipe.
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review π
Great recipe especially since walnuts are .50cents for a 1pd bag. Any other ideas?
HI Szewczyk, check out all of our walnut recipes here.
I love these. I add chili powder and cayenne pepper to give them a kick
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing that!
Super delicious and super easy! I used all brown sugar and probably a bit more than 1T butter. The butter melted, but the sugar didn’t really. So I added about 1.5T of water to the mix to help melt the sugar and bring everything together. The water steamed/boiled off, leaving the nuts with a nice caramel flavor. Thanks for this great recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Kathryn!
Perfect, Thank you for the tip. I will add the little bit of water to help it melt. thank you
absoulely most perfect candied walnuts!!! I did some pecns also that also are awesome…. I used aluminum foil instead of parchment paper and it orked great!! thanks Natusha!
You’re so welcome! I’m happy you enjoyed that!
I just finished making 3 batches (separately). Two walnut batches and one pecan, then mixed them together. The first batch turned out sort of granular. It definitely helps to add a small amount of water- it dissolves the sugar and then boils off. I saw where someone added Bourbon. I added about 1 1/2 Tablespoons of Frangelico- absolutely amazing. Natasha thanks so much for this simple but delicious recipe!
Iβm so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
These were fast & excellent. I used European butter first and they were out of this world. When I made a batch with regular butter I realized what a difference the butter makes! Thank you for this recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that! Thank you for the wonderful review, Cathy!!
Fabulous idea to add some water!
I had ended up with a crumbly mix of brown sugar next to my walnuts when I read the comments and followed the suggestion of adding 2 tblsp of water – that did the trick! Turned out perfect : )
I’m so happy that worked for you! Thanks for that feedback, Ann!
Thank you Ann, i will do that.
I went looking for a recipe for candied walnuts to top a salad and loved the fact that this receipe could be done in 10 minutes. My whole family loves them. I have made them for my parents and sister who loved them and have asked for them as Christmas presents. I have mixed walnuts and pecans together with great results.
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes.
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. Thatβs so great! Thank you for the wonderful review!!
Hi Natasha, can i use brown sugar in place of the white sugar. Thank you
Hi Elsie, I recall at least 1 reader mentioned using brown sugar with great results π I hope you love the candied walnuts!
Great, Thank you
Hi Natasha,
I just had a few minutes and found this recipe, whipped up a batch, i added just a sprinkle of cardamom and ginger, with a dash of cayenne and salt. Amazing. They are perfect for our harvest salad tomorrow for Thanksgiving.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Thank you!!!
Easy, delicious recipe. It would be nice if this recipes included how to store finished nuts.
Hi Alison, It is best to store the nuts in a cool dry environment. I keep them in Tupperware in my pantry and they last about a week. Do not refrigerate or they can become sticky from the moisture in the refrigerator. It also is not ideal to keep them in a humid environment