Candied Walnuts (2024)

Turn ordinary walnuts into a taste sensation with this simple candied walnuts recipe that’s prepared on the stovetop. With plenty of brown sugar and a hint of pepper, the crunchy candied walnuts are a nice complement to a fruit and cheese tray. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups walnut halves
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Directions

  1. In a large heavy skillet, combine the oil, vinegar and pepper. Cook and stir over medium heat until blended. Add walnuts and cook over medium heat until nuts are toasted, about 4 minutes.
  2. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Cook and stir until sugar is melted, 2-4 minutes. Spread on foil to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Candied Walnuts Recipe Tips

How do you make candied nuts not sticky?

To make prevent candied nuts from getting sticky, make sure you bake them at medium heat for two to four minutes. Otherwise, the sugar will not reach a high enough temperature to develop that nice candy coating on the outside.

Do candied nuts go bad?

Yes, candied nuts can go bad. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month for best results.

How can I use candied walnuts?

There are plenty of ways to use candied nuts. We love adding them to salads (like this apple and walnut salad recipe) or giving them as a thoughtful food gift.

How can I adjust this candied walnut recipe?

You can adjust this walnut recipe by trying out different flavor profiles. Look to these recipes for inspiration: cinnamon candied nuts, candied pumpkin spice pecans and slow-cooker spiced nuts. You could also try swapping the walnuts for a different type of nut, like pecans.

Research contributed by Christina Herbst, Taste of Home Assistant Digital Editor

Nutrition Facts

2 tablespoons: 124 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 3mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.

Candied Walnuts (2024)

FAQs

How long do candied walnuts last? ›

Okay, all bad dad jokes aside, these candied walnuts will last quite a while. All nuts do go rancid eventually, but as long as you cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container, they should be good for about a month.

Why are my candied walnuts soft? ›

Let the candied nuts cool for at least 20 minutes or until completely cool. You don't want to package warm nuts or the moisture will cause condensation which will soften the candy coating.

What makes walnuts taste better? ›

The toasting process adds a better taste, golden brown color, nutty aroma, and a delicious crunch. Nuts toast quickly in the oven or on the stovetop, and they add a healthy, gluten free, protein-packed, omega-3 rich element to many recipes. Give banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, and pumpkin pancakes extra texture.

Do I need to refrigerate candied nuts? ›

Storage Instructions: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. Freezing Instructions: They freeze well in an air-tight container for up to two months. Nuts: use any kind of nuts with this recipe, like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios.

How do you get the rancid taste out of walnuts? ›

To make rancid walnuts tasty again, a "chemical engineer" (consulted for this purpose) advises to soak the rancid walnuts in milk or other emulsive ingredient which is then rinsed off with hot water, and the nuts gently dried and roasted with sea salt.

Can you tell if walnuts are rancid? ›

Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odors and flavors. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet. If your walnuts smell like paint thinner, you know they're rancid.

How long to soak walnuts before cooking? ›

Experts agree that to reap the benefits, one should soak the walnuts for about 6-7 hours or overnight. And on an average, a healthy individual can have 3-4 soaked pieces of walnuts.

Why do my walnuts taste bad? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Is it OK to eat a handful of walnuts a day? ›

Adding walnuts to your diet

Foods made with them are permitted to include the following statement: "Eating a diet that includes one ounce of nuts daily can reduce your risk of heart disease." An ounce of walnuts is about a handful, or one-quarter cup.

Do walnuts raise blood sugar? ›

Walnuts also contain fiber. There is evidence that both insoluble and soluble fiber can help improve blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol, and lower the risk of some of the complications of diabetes. Walnuts are available in grocery stores or for purchase online.

Which is healthier peanut butter or walnuts? ›

"Of all the nut butters, walnut butter has the most omega-3 fatty acids," Andrea says. The healthful fat ratio helps lower LDL cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol, and reduce inflammation.

Is there a downside to eating walnuts? ›

Excess calories are an obesity risk. Allergy. Among the tree nuts, walnuts and cashews most frequently cause allergic reactions in America. Allergies to walnuts can appear as skin rashes, digestive problems, or respiratory symptoms like cough and wheezing.

Why do I feel good after eating walnuts? ›

Walnuts are a great source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is important for reducing inflammation. In fact, it is the only nut significantly high in these omega-3 fatty acids. Their anti-inflammatory compounds may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Why should you soak walnuts before eating? ›

Soaking nuts, including walnuts, in water for several hours or overnight is believed to reduce the levels of enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid, making them easier to digest.

How long before walnuts go rancid? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

How long can you keep soaked walnuts in the fridge? ›

You can store soaked nuts in your refrigerator for 5-7 days until you eat them or use them in a recipe. To stock your pantry with soaked ingredients, however, you will need to dehydrate them.

How do you increase the shelf life of walnuts? ›

Opt for a container that is airtight and opaque to protect the nuts from light and air exposure. The Ariga Foods Premium Halved Walnuts are Packed in PET Jars preserving their freshness, crunchiness, and nutritional value. This Packing also extends the shelf life of these walnuts without preservatives.

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