Description
Holiday candied walnuts are a delightful and festive treat featuring walnut halves coated in a fragrant blend of warm spices and sweetened with a mixture of granulated and brown sugar. Baked to a crisp golden finish, these candied walnuts offer a perfect balance of crunchy texture and rich, spicy sweetness—ideal for holiday snacking, garnishing salads, or adding to desserts.
Ingredients
Scale
Walnuts
- 3 cups walnut halves or pieces
Sugar and Spices Mixture
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Binding and Flavoring
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Heat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare the sugar and spice mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. Whisk them together thoroughly and set aside.
- Whisk the egg white: In a large separate bowl, whisk the egg white until it becomes frothy; this will help the sugar-spice mixture adhere to the walnuts.
- Add water and vanilla: Mix the water and vanilla extract into the frothy egg white and whisk until fully blended, creating a smooth coating base.
- Coat the walnuts: Add the walnuts to the egg white mixture and toss them well to ensure each piece is evenly coated.
- Apply the sugar-spice mixture: Sprinkle the prepared sugar and spice blend over the coated walnuts, stirring thoroughly so that the nuts are covered evenly with the sweet and spiced mixture.
- Arrange on baking sheet: Spread the coated walnuts in a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet to ensure even baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Stir the walnuts once about halfway through baking to promote even toasting and prevent burning. Keep a close watch towards the end to avoid overcooking.
- Cool: Remove the walnuts when they turn golden brown and emit a fragrant aroma. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet, allowing them to crisp up as they cool.
- Store the walnuts: Once cool, break apart any clusters gently and transfer the candied walnuts into an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Make sure to stir the walnuts halfway through baking to prevent uneven scorching and promote uniform crispness.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Allow the candied walnuts to cool completely before storing; warm nuts can become soggy when stored.
- These walnuts make a great garnish for salads, desserts, or a savory cheese board.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: candied walnuts, holiday nuts, spiced nuts, baked walnuts, festive snack, walnut recipe, sweet nuts
