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Close-up of clusters of walnuts, coated in a layer of sugar and spices, scattered on a sheet of brown parchment paper from a candied walnuts recipe.
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Candied Walnuts Recipe

This is the perfect Candied Walnuts Recipe, sweetened with maple syrup — just 2 ingredients! In only 10 minutes, you'll have a sweet and crunchy snack or addition to salads and desserts.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time7 minutes
Course: Appetizers and Snacks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw walnuts (I like whole nuts better than chopped or pieces.)
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup

Instructions

  • In a heavy bottomed skillet or pan, heat the walnuts and maple syrup over low to medium-low heat, stirring very often. The maple syrup will start to bubble and you'll see the extra moisture evaporating.
  • Keep cooking and stirring until all of the extra moisture has evaporated and the maple syrup sugars starts to crystallize and stick to the nuts. This should take 5-8 minutes. Make sure you stir frequently so that you don't burn the nuts. This is especially important at the end of the cooking time.
  • When the moisture is all gone, the nuts will have no shine to them and you'll see the granulated sugar sticking to them. Turn the nuts out onto a baking mat or a piece of parchment (or waxed) paper and let the nuts cool.
  • Enjoy just as they are or add to your favorite salads, trail mix, granola, popcorn, or dessert.

Notes

Whole Nuts: Whole walnuts or large pieces work better than small chopped nuts because they're easier to stir and coat evenly. The larger surface area also showcases the beautiful crystallized coating better.
Cooking Tips:
  • You’ll know when the walnuts are done when it looks dry, and there are no shiny spots left on the nuts or in the pan.
  • The sugar in the maple syrup will crystalize and you’ll see the little chunks of it sticking to the nuts right before they are done.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions:
  • You can use almonds or pecans in place of the walnuts if needed.
  • You can add spices to this at the beginning of the cooking time if you like spiced candied nuts (like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice!). You can also add 1/4 to 1/4 teaspoon of salt if you’d like.
  • Don't use imitation maple syrup or sugar free maple syrup. These syrups will cook down, and the nuts will get thick and sticky but they won’t finish crystalizing. They'll just remain sticky and wet—blah.
  • Add spices like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or even a pinch of salt (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) at the beginning of the cooking process for extra flavor dimension.
Storing Candied Nuts: Store completely cooled candied walnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Make sure they're completely dry before storing to maintain their crunch.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg

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