Easy Candied Walnuts with Spice
This super easy candied walnuts recipe yields gorgeously coated sugary, crunchy nuts with a Chinese-inspired spice mix to add a spicy savory touch. They are perfect for holiday gifting, topping on your salad, or simply serving as a snack. {Vegan, Gluten-Free}
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp paprika
- 1/8 tsp ground Sichuan peppercorn
- a pinch cumin powder
- 1 cup skinless walnuts halves and pieces
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- 1
For the spice mix: Combine the spice mix ingredients in a small bowl and stir to mix well.
- 2
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 3
Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until just turning warm. Swirl the pan to let the oil coat as much surface as possible. Sprinkle the sugar into the pan in a thin layer.
- 4
Turn to medium-low heat. Cook, swirl the pan occasionally, until most of the sugar has melted and starts turning an amber color and small bubbles come up, 3 minutes or so.
- 5
Add the nuts. Stir everything together to let the sugar coat the nuts as evenly as possible. Keep cooking and stirring until all the sugar has melted and the sugar turns a golden brown color, about 2 minutes. Then immediately transfer everything onto the lined baking sheet.
- 6
Sprinkle the spice mix evenly over the nuts. Toss a few times to mix well. Spread out the nuts again and separate them as much as possible using a spatula. Let cool until the coating has hardened, 10 minutes or so. Then you can easily break apart the nuts using your hands.
- 7
Serve as an appetizer or a snack. Once they’ve cooled completely, store the leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.