Candied Nuts
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Candied nuts are simple and delicious. Sweetened with just maple syrup and full of protein, they are the perfect afternoon snack.
Candied nuts are a great snack idea! I don’t know about you, but we’re constantly on the lookout for wholesome snacks. Slowly (very slowly) we’ve been trying to wean the family off of processed food.
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If you like our recipe for candied nuts, make sure to try these other snack ideas too: homemade granola, trail mix, and fruit roll ups!
Candied Nuts
Why you’ll love this recipe
This candied nuts recipe is a really simple (and super delicious) option for those of you on a similar path. Or, if you love nuts! Serve it up with a big glass of cold milk and it’s a wham, bam, combo of protein and healthy fats.
I mean, let’s be real. We still eat processed food – but the goal is to make it the exception rather than the rule. The snack cabinet has more nuts and dried fruits, the refrigerator has more meats and dairy products. We’re far from perfect, but it’s a journey!
Ingredients
- Nuts – We used a mix of cashews, unshelled walnuts, and raw almonds.
- Maple syrup – Pure maple syrup, not pancake syrups.
- Optional – Sesame seeds, coconut flakes, salt, dried fruit, dark chocolate.
Directions
⭐ First, if desired, rough chop the nuts. Add them to a pan with the maple syrup and stir well.
⭐ Next, bring syrup to a light simmer, then turn heat down to low. Stir periodically, until syrup has thickened and there is very little left on the bottom of the pan when you stir the nuts.
⭐ Then if using, add sesame seeds and coconut flakes, stir well to combine.
⭐ Finally, spread nut mixture onto a lined baking sheet in a thin layer. Dust with salt and allow to cool completely.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
We homeschool our kids and the “school day” tends to wrap up around one in the afternoon. Which is also when the kids are ravenous. I find the combination of nuts and milk fills them up and makes it less likely that I’ll hear the dreaded “Mommmmm, I’m hungry! When is dinnnnner?”
We stick with regular white whole milk at breakfast and dinner, but occasionally do chocolate milk in the afternoon as a treat.
I love that this recipe is sweetened only with pure maple syrup and contains no refined sugars. I also love that it’s ridiculously easy to make and tastes incredible.
Not only is it a great afternoon snack, but it would be the perfect holiday or teacher gift!
I used walnuts, cashews, and almonds, but you can use whatever nuts you like best. It’s also fun to toss in some dried fruit or dark chocolate at the end when you package it up.
Especially if giving as a gift! The recipe is so versatile – it’s no big deal to swap out any of the ingredients! Well, except the maple syrup. That one’s pretty important!
When they’re done, you want them to be dry to the touch and not sticky at all. Package them in an air tight container like tupperware or mason jars and they will keep for a long time.
Okay, only so long as you don’t tell anyone where they are – these babies are addicting.
More like Candied Nuts
- Peanut Butter and Granola ‘Candy’ Apples
- Cashew Fruit Bites
- Coconut Maple Peanut Butter Dip
- Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls
- Roasted Plantains
- Fruit and Granola Trail Mix
Tools we love
- Santuko knife – My favorite knife for cutting vegetables! This knife is the perfect size and shape, handles great, and is super reasonably priced. Also, I just love that it’s fun and colorful!
- Silicone baking mats – Nothing sticks to these! Whaaaa?! Perfect for baking sugary cookies, or cheesy croissants. You know why? Because nothing sticks to these!!!
- 15″ Cast iron pan – This. Pan. Is. Huge. Literally massive. I have two and they’re sooooooo amazing. I love using these on my grill to make a beautifully seared steak or some yummy Old Bay shrimp. And in my oven or on the stovetop when the weather’s no good for grilling!
How to Make Candied Nuts
Candied Nuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup each: cashews unshelled walnuts, raw almonds
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- salt to taste
- optional ingredients: dried fruit dark chocolate bits
Instructions
- Rough chop the cashews, walnuts and almonds, then toss into a pan over medium low heat. Add maple syrup and stir well.
- Bring syrup to a light simmer, then turn heat down to low.
- Stir periodically, until syrup has thickened and there is very little left on the bottom of the pan when you stir the nuts.
- Pour in sesame seeds and coconut flakes, stir well to combine.
- Spread nut mixture onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet, pressing flat to make a thin layer.
- Dust with salt and allow to cool completely.
- ENJOY!
Nutrition
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4.11.16
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I love candied nuts and these are fabulous!
These are so fun to make! We can’t stop eating them!
What a fun snack!
Love candied nuts!! They are a great snack & super easy to make!
This should help solve the endless summer request from my kids for a snack! It looks delicious!