Walnuts are a staple in my house. I add them to recipes such as apple crisp, Waldorf salad, charoset, muhammara, baked apples and even rocky road fudge! I also love to make candied walnuts for a satisfying snack. When I make salad recipes, I like to add some fun ingredients to elevate them from basic greens with dressing. I often toss in some homemade candied walnuts to turn an ordinary salad into a culinary delight! Best of all, it’s so easy to candy nuts at home.

Candied Walnuts Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, egg white, water and walnut halves.

How Do You Make Candied Walnuts?

Preheat the oven, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place both types of sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl, then mix to combine. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white with the water until you have a frothy mixture. Add the walnuts into the egg white and toss to coat evenly. Pour the cinnamon sugar mixture into the bowl and stir to combine. Place the nuts in a single layer on the sheet pan. Bake until the coating on the nuts has hardened, then serve and enjoy.

Tips For The Perfect Dish

This recipe works best with walnut halves. You can use walnut pieces if you prefer, but they may need less time in the oven. It’s important to stir the nuts at least once during the cooking process so that they don’t burn. Candied walnuts will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you plan to give your nuts as a gift, I recommend packaging them up in little clear bags with a ribbon, or place them into small mason jars. This recipe can also be prepared with other types of nuts such as pecans or almonds. Feel free to get creative with the spices. Instead of cinnamon, try adding other flavors such as nutmeg, a dash of vanilla extract or ground ginger. You can even add some cayenne pepper for sweet and spicy nuts.

Ways To Use Candied Walnuts

Salads: Try these nuts on fall favorites such as brussels sprout salad, Tuscan kale salad, fennel salad, pear salad or fig salad. Appetizers: Use your nuts to decorate a charcuterie board or cheese board. Chop the nuts and use them to coat cheese ball bites. Desserts: Add a handful of chopped walnuts as a garnish for eggnog cake, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin cheesecake or pumpkin bars. Side Dishes: Candied walnuts pair beautifully with sweet potato souffle, pomegranate brussels sprouts or rice pilaf. Breakfast: Add some nuts to your french toast casserole, or sprinkle them over pumpkin pancakes. They also make a great topper for chia pudding.

Whether you’re looking to recreate your favorite restaurant salad or simply looking for an addicting snack (hey, nuts are healthy at least!!), try whipping up a batch of these cinnamon sugar nuts. You’ll be glad you did!

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