Home > Appetizers > 5 Minute Candied Walnuts

5 Minute Candied Walnuts

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

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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 635 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

Final Final Picmonkey Hashtag banner

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 creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

4.88 from 635 votes (361 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Sissy Gerstler
    July 26, 2024

    Thank you so very much for your quick 5 minute recipe for candied walnuts, it really did make my day.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 27, 2024

      You’re very welcome!

      Reply

  • Sara Wright
    July 24, 2024

    This is fun to do with your kids. So easy to make. I added 50% more walnuts to spread the sugar component out more.

    Reply

  • Marcella
    July 5, 2024

    These topped my carrot cake for a pot luck. It stole the show. Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 5, 2024

      What a great idea!

      Reply

  • Mary O
    June 17, 2024

    Was looking for a quick candied nut to add to a summer salad. I made the recipe with pecans and cashews, they were delicious will definitely make again. Will also try with other kinds of nuts.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 17, 2024

      I’m so glad you found this recipe, Mary! Thanks for the feedback!

      Reply

  • Mary
    June 13, 2024

    Love these. The only thing I did was add some salt. They taste like cracker jack. Thanks for this simple and delicous recipe. Great in chocolate chip cookies!

    Reply

  • Jo-Ann
    June 5, 2024

    I made these 3 times in the last couple of weeks – the first time with white sugar and then twice with brown sugar. Both super fast, easy and yummy. The brown sugar didn’t get as hard as the white sugar when it cooled, which I liked better as it is easier on the teeth. And the brown sugar melted faster, so if you try this make sure you don’t burn it. This is my fave snack now! Thanks!

    Reply

  • Carol
    June 2, 2024

    Hurray!!!!! So easy, quick and delicious! I had an epic fail with another site’s recipe that was complex. Im so happy to have found this one. It’s wonderful! I added a bit of cinnamin to the pan, and sprinkled the cooling nuts with aleppo pepper flakes and Maldon flaked salt 10/10

    Reply

  • Cindy
    May 14, 2024

    These were so easy to make and are so delicious!! I even tossed in a little sprinkle of brown sugar. They didn’t even make it into the bowl!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 14, 2024

      Hi Cindy, thanks for your good comments and feedback. I’m glad you loved this recipe!

      Reply

  • JR
    May 12, 2024

    Hi! Can brown sugar be used instead of white for a caramel-like flavor?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 12, 2024

      Hi JR, I have not tested this recipe with brown sugar to advise.

      Reply

  • Cmn
    May 11, 2024

    Delicious! Turned out perfect first time around. Will use this recipe again. Happy for your well deserved success!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 11, 2024

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Cmn! I’m so happy you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  • Noah Winter
    May 4, 2024

    Made a modification for peanut brittle – did it a few times to get right:

    1 1/4 cup peanuts
    3/4 cup sugar
    3 tb butter
    Salt after it hardens

    The procedure is the same.

    Couldn’t have done it without the chefs recipe. Thanks!

    Reply

  • De
    May 4, 2024

    Never made a glaze just sugared nuts. Disappointed there are just hot sugared nuts

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 7, 2024

      Hi De! Did you use coarse sugar, make any other substitutions or changes to theo proportions? I used white granulated sugar which is more fine, not coarse. Using a coarse sugar will affect how it melts and sticks to the walnuts. It would take longer to melt down.

      Reply

    • Cindy
      May 14, 2024

      Try turning the heat up to medium high. That’s what I did and the sugar melted right away.

      Reply

  • Patricia Burroughs
    April 5, 2024

    I can’t wait to make these
    I have lots of walnuts from our local food pantry. Can these be frozen after cooling? I live alone and might not eat them all in time and would hate to waste them.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 6, 2024

      Hi Patricia! Yes, they are fine to store at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to a week. Or you can refrigerate/freeze for longer storage. If you refrigerate, the humidity can make them stick together so watch for that.

      Reply

  • Liz
    April 1, 2024

    Love this recipe! It is so easy! Added a pinch of salt for that sweet/salty taste and wow! I let the butter melt first, then threw in the sugar, and then the walnuts. Medium heat in a stainless steel saucepan and was done in 5 mins.

    Reply

  • Elise
    March 28, 2024

    I am cooking with gas and all I have is a cast-iron skillet, so 5 minutes was too long. I had to turn the flame off at 3 and a half minutes, and they are still overcooked, but they are still tasty. I recommend using salted butter and sprinkling them with coarse kosher salt when they are hardening on the parchment paper—salty sweet deliciousness!

    Reply

  • 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

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.