11 Scrumptious Candied Nut Recipes, From Spicy to Sweet

11 crunchy recipes, from sweet to spicy

Written by
Elizabeth LaBau
A professional pastry chef, cookbook author, and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy making.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Elizabeth LaBau
Updated 04/03/20
Swedish nuts

 

rudisill / Getty Images 

Just when you think it's impossible to improve upon fresh, toasted nuts, someone comes up with the idea of coating them with a thin, crunchy layer of sugar. Yep, candied nuts are practically irresistible, and this collection of candied nut recipes has something for everyone. From simple glazed almonds to sweet and spicy pecans, you'll find a recipe for your favorite candied nut right here.

  • 01 of 11

    Glazed Almonds

    Glazed almonds

    Cultura RM Exclusive / Line Klein / Getty Images

    Glazed almonds are crunchy, golden-brown sweetened almonds, made with just three ingredients: sugar, water, and almonds. These candied nuts are perfect on pastries, salads, or as part of a candy mix, and you can add lots of different flavorings to customize them.

  • 02 of 11

    Coconut-Covered Cashews

    Coconut Cashews
    Westend61 / Getty Images

    In this recipe, crunchy coconut-covered cashews are coated with a sweet layer of toasted coconut. The combination of salty, buttery cashews and tropical coconut makes these the perfect topper for muffins, yogurt, and parfaits, and of course, are delicious eaten on their own.

  • 03 of 11

    Honey Roasted Peanuts

    Honey Roasted Peanuts

    The Spruce 

    After making these honey-roasted peanuts, you'll never be satisfied with the store-bought variety again! This recipe produces golden brown nuts with a deep honey taste, a satisfying crunch, and a kiss of salt. Simple to make, after coating with a mixture of melted butter, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon, the nuts go in an oven to bake, with just a sprinkle of sugar and salt toward the end to finish them off.

  • 04 of 11

    Honey Roasted Pecans

    Honey Roasted Pecans

    The Spruce Eats / Pete Scherer

    This simple snack is sweet, salty, and perfectly toasty. Pecan halves are tossed with honey and salt before being roasted until just right. Honey roasted pecans make a tasty party snack, holiday gift, or a healthy bite for after school.

    Continue to 5 of 11 below.
  • 05 of 11

    Caramelized Peanuts

    Candied Peanuts (Caramelized Peanuts)

    The Spruce / Christine Benlafquih

    This recipe for caramelized peanuts produces a deliciously crispy, crunchy, sweet, and salty snack. These peanuts are coated with a crunchy layer of sugar that is generously flavored with salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Reminiscent of the bags of warm nuts sold on city street corners, these caramelized nuts are wonderful on their own, but also a treat when chopped up and added to baked goods. 

  • 06 of 11

    Brown Sugared Walnuts

    Glazed, penuche walnuts
    xPACIFICA / Getty Images

    Sour cream is the secret ingredient in this brown sugared walnuts recipe—combining it with brown and white sugars and vanilla creates a sweet and tangy coating. Simple to make, the toasted walnuts are coated with the warm mixture and then left to cool on a baking sheet, resulting in a crunchy candy everyone will love.

  • 07 of 11

    Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans

    Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans

    The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

    Sweet and spicy candied pecans are packed with flavor from cinnamon, brown sugar, cayenne, and maple syrup. The pecans, which have a crunchy mahogany coating of sugar and spice, can be used in candies and desserts, or are equally good when topping salads or savory dishes.

  • 08 of 11

    Caramel Nuts

    Caramel Nuts
    Paul Poplis / Getty Images

    This caramel nuts recipe produces crisp nuts that are coated with a sweet, crunchy layer of caramel. These nuts are great to munch on their own and are also ideal to add extra flavor and texture to baked goods.

    Continue to 9 of 11 below.
  • 09 of 11

    Candied Walnuts

    Candied walnuts with sesame seeds
    StockFood / Getty Images

    Have you ever tried to deep-fry walnuts? Now is your chance, and you won't be disappointed. The sugar-coated candied walnuts become extra crunchy and rich-tasting from frying. They are finished off with a sprinkling of sesame seeds for a bit of Asian flair.

  • 10 of 11

    Caramelized Macadamia Nuts

    Candied macadamia nuts

    Jo Kirchherr / StockFood Creative / Getty Images

    This recipe couldn't be easier—caramelized macadamia nuts are cooked along with sugar on the stove, and then the nuts are spread out on a baking sheet to cool. The result is a beautiful batch of sweet golden nuts, special enough to wrap and give as gifts.

  • 11 of 11

    Swedish Nuts

    Swedish Nuts

    The Spruce / Linda Larsen

    In this recipe for Swedish nuts, toasted nuts are covered with a crunchy layer of foamy egg whites with sugar and spices. The egg whites are what really sets this recipe apart—they bake to form a crispy shell that’s lighter than air, and the texture and flavor are unique and delicious.