Candied Walnuts with Brown Sugar
These candied walnuts with brown sugar are buttery, crunchy, and coated in a delicious caramel-like glaze, and are perfect for snacking on at any time of the day- like my orange candied almonds.
They’re also incredibly easy to make and need just a handful of simple ingredients to make. I love making these when I want something sweet and crunchy to snack on, but they’re also perfect for adding to salads, desserts, oatmeal, or a cheese board- like my Sumac spiced nuts.
This recipe holds a special place in my heart as it reminds me of the cozy evenings spent with friends and family during the fall season- just like my gingerbread granola.
Whether you're enjoying them on their own or sharing them with loved ones, these candied walnuts are sure to create cherished memories.
Quick Look: Candied Walnuts with Brown Sugar
- 🥣 Prep time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook time: 20–25 minutes
- ❄️ Cooling time: 20–30 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: About 6
- 🌰 Main ingredients: Walnuts, brown sugar, butter, vanilla.
- 🔥 Cooking method: Stovetop + oven
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
- 🍨 Best served: As a snack, salad topping, dessert topping, or with a cheese board or as a topping on whipped goat cheese.
Jump to recipe
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- It's easy to make, and great for snacking- like coconut toasted cashews.
- Brown sugar and butter come together to create a rich, crunchy coating that makes these candied walnuts absolutely irresistible.
- It's great for gifting- like gluten free seed crackers and my favorite spicy cocoa almonds.
Recipe Ingredients
Walnuts: Use raw, unsalted walnuts- halves or large pieces work particularly well because they hold their shape nicely during baking.
Brown sugar: For that deep caramel flavor and for that beautiful sweet coating. Use light or dark brown sugar- whatever you prefer.
Butter: Adds richness and helps the brown sugar mixture coat the walnuts.
Vanilla: For that beautiful, sweet aroma.
Substitutions & Variations
- Try using other nuts like pecans and cashews to bring a bit of variation.
- You can also add a pinch of ground cinnamon, Air Fryer ginger powder or some dried orange zest to lend the candied walnuts some fall flavors.
How to Make Candied Walnuts with Brown Sugar
Step 1: Add the butter, sugar and water and heat over medium heat until the butter is melted.
Step 2: Add the walnuts.
Step 3: Add the vanilla.
Step 4: Sprinkle salt.
Step 5: Bake for 20-30 minutes.
Step 6: Cool for 8-10 minutes or until the walnut candy hardens.
Tips and Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Use raw, unroasted and unsalted walnuts as the base.
- Don't overcrowd the baking sheet- arrange the walnuts into a single layer so the coating can bake evenly. I realized this when I made Tajin nuts and hot honey peanuts.
- Watch them closely- sugar can go from caramelized to burnt quickly, especially toward the end of baking.
- Don't skip the salt- even a small pinch helps balance the brown sugar.
- Allow the walnuts to cool down completely- this is when the coating develops its crunchy texture.
- Separate them after cooling. If some walnuts have stuck together, gently break them apart once they're firm.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
These brown sugar candied walnuts are delicious straight from the container, but there are plenty of ways to use them. I like to sprinkle some of them over my mango arugula salad for some crunch, or even on yogurt or oatmeal as a breakfast topping.
You could also pack them into small jars or bags for a homemade edible gift- just like I do with sugared cranberries.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Make sure you're baking them long enough for the coating to dry and caramelize. Also, allow them to cool completely before judging their texture.
The melted sugar coating can cause the walnuts to stick together as they bake and cool. Simply break them apart once they're completely cooled.
Yes. These candied walnuts are a great make-ahead snack. Once completely cooled, store them in an airtight container until you're ready to use them.
If you tried these candied walnuts with brown sugar or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Candied Walnuts with Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup Walnuts
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- ¼ cup Brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla
- A pinch of salt
- 1 Tablespoon Water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Set aside.In a medium non-stick pot add the butter, sugar and water and heat over medium heat until the butter is melted, stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Add the walnuts and vanilla, cook for 3 to 5 minutes so the walnuts are coated in the sugar mixture.
- And sugar is fully melted and coating the walnuts.
- Remove the pot from and spread the candied walnuts onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
- Sprinkle with salt and Bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until walnuts are toasted, Cool for 8-10 minutes or until the walnut candy hardens.
