This candied nuts recipe post was updated 1/4/21.

On New Year’s Eve, we met some friends for a celebratory meal and to my joy, my friend Diane had brought me a jar of homemade candied pecans. I’m not much of a cinnamon fan, so I don’t typically like these types of spiced and candied nuts, but Diane’s version is simply perfect.

These candied nuts are perfect to give to friends around the holidays and would make a great hostess gift. I like to use a combination of pecans and walnuts.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 2/3 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• Generous pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon (I skip this and it’s still awesome)
• 1 egg white, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp. water
• 1 pound walnuts or pecan halves or whole peeled hazelnuts (or a combination)

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Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Mix sugars, salt, cayenne, and cinnamon, making sure there are no lumps; set aside.
3. Beat egg white and water until frothy but not stiff.
4. Add nuts, and stir to coat evenly. Sprinkle nuts with sugar mixture, and toss until evenly coated.
5. Spread sugared nuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Remove from oven, and separate nuts as they cool.
7. When completely cool, place the nuts into a bowl, breaking up any that stick together.

Adapted from Elizabeth Karmel of Hill Country

Cheers,

Veronique