Super Easy Candied Walnuts (Sweet and Crunchy Treat!)

Quick: You can have these delightful candied walnuts ready from start to finish in just twenty-five minutes! Whether you are in a rush or simply want a quick snack, this recipe is perfect.

Doesn't Have the Bitter Walnut Flavor: The unique boiling method of removing bitterness from the walnuts makes this recipe a hit with all family members. The delightful mix of sweetness with its crunchiness, will have everyone reaching for more.

Variety of Cooking Methods: This recipe gives you the flexibility to choose between oven-roasting and stovetop cooking. You can even deep-fry the walnuts if you want to recreate Chinese restaurant-style candied walnuts at home.

All you need are some incredibly simple, pantry-staple ingredients to make this delicious candied walnuts recipe at home.

Here's an overview of the specific ingredients for this recipe. For the exact ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.

• Walnuts: This is the star of our recipe! Walnuts not only bring a unique flavor and crunch. I like to use walnuts for this recipe because of all the nooks and crannies that hold all the sugar onto it, which makes it more candied and crispy. 
• Sugar: The sweet element in our candied walnut recipe. It caramelizes during the cooking process, giving the walnuts a delightful sweet coating. I have tested this with coarse raw sugar, demerara sugar, granulated white sugar, and powdered sugar and they all work well for this recipe but I always use cane sugar since this is what I always have on hand.
• Oil or Butter: Adding a touch of oil will help the nuts roast evenly in the oven. I personally like to use oil for this recipe over butter, but I do occasionally use butter for this for a bit more flavor. For the oils, I like to stick to the more common oils like avocado, canola and corn oils.
• Salt: While this ingredient is optional, a bit of salt can balance out the sweetness and bring out the flavors more. If you're a fan of sweet and savory combinations, you'll love what this addition does to the recipe.

Making this incredible candied walnuts recipe at home is super easy and will give you great results every single time. Here's how to make it step by step:

Boiling the Walnuts

Start by boiling the walnuts. Place a saucepan of water on the stove over medium-high heat. Once the water starts to boil, add the walnuts and let them simmer for about four to five minutes.

Next, drain the walnuts. You can do this by pouring the water from the saucepan through a strainer. Transfer the drained walnuts into a small bowl.

While the walnuts are hot, sprinkle them with sugar and stir until well coated. The residual heat from the walnuts will melt the sugar. If you want to add a bit of salt, this is the right time to do it. Once the sugar has dissolved thoroughly, add in the oil and stir well.

Preheat your oven to a temperature of about 350°F (180°C).

Prepare your baking sheet. Lay a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet, then spread your sugar-coated walnuts on it. Make sure the walnuts are spread out in a single layer.

Roast the walnuts in the preheated oven. After the oven has reached the required temperature, put the baking sheet in the oven and roast the walnuts for about ten minutes.

Flip the walnuts after the initial roasting time has elapsed. Take the baking sheet out of the oven, gently flip the walnuts, and put it back in the oven for another ten minutes. Make sure the walnuts are still in a single layer to prevent them from sticking together.

Check the walnuts after the second roasting. If they don't look brown and roasted enough, put them back in the oven for an additional five minutes, and if necessary, another two to three minutes.

Let the walnuts cool for at least half an hour to forty minutes before storing or eating.

Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet over low heat. Add the walnuts and toast them for about ten to fifteen minutes. Make sure to stir continuously to prevent them from burning. 

If they don't look toasted enough, continue to toast them for another two to three minutes.

Remove the walnuts from the heat. Transfer them onto a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Spread the walnuts in a single layer and let them cool for about thirty to forty minutes before storing or eating. Enjoy your homemade candied walnuts!

Alternatively, if you want to make it exactly like how they do at the restaurants, you can deep fry it in oil for 3-5 minutes on low heat, just make sure the sugar gets fully dissolved with the hot walnuts right after you strained them from the boiling water, you want to create a light syrupy coating on all the walnuts. 

You can also skip adding the oil with the sugar since you will be deep frying it in oil.

This delicious candied walnuts recipe is so flavorful and easy to make, you'll want to try out some of these delicious variations! Here are some great ideas:

Try it Sweet and Spicy: If you love a combination of sweet and spicy flavors, this variation is for you. Simply add a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your sugar mix before coating your walnuts. The spicy kick from the cayenne pepper perfectly balances the sweetness of the sugar, giving you a delightful flavor contrast.

Go Nutty with Pecans: For a different nutty flavor, replace the walnuts with pecans in this recipe. Pecans have a rich, buttery flavor that pairs beautifully with the caramel-like coating. Just make sure to watch your pecans closely in the oven, as they can burn easily.

Add a Touch of Vanilla: For an added depth of flavor, stir in half a teaspoon of vanilla extract to your sugar mix. The vanilla adds a subtle, sweet aroma that enhances the overall taste of your candied nuts. This variation is especially great if you're using your candied walnuts in baking recipes.

Try Brown Sugar: Swap out the regular sugar for brown sugar in this recipe for a deeper, caramel flavor. Brown sugar has a rich molasses note that adds a delicious complexity to your candied walnuts.

Experiment with Spices: For a warm, festive twist, add a half teaspoon of ground cinnamon to your sugar mix. The cinnamon adds a comforting, aromatic flavor that is perfect for the holiday season.

If you've just prepared a batch of candied walnuts following our simple and easy recipe, you might be wondering how to store the leftovers. These delicious treats, made with just three ingredients, can last up to two weeks if stored properly. 

For best results, store your candied walnuts in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. 

If you made this candied Chinese walnuts recipe, I want to see! Follow Pups with Chopsticks on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag and hashtag it with @pupswithchopsticks and #pupswithchopsticks. I love to know what you are making!

Please also consider leaving a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and a comment to tell me how it went! I'd love to hear from you if you made this!

If you like my recipes and want to be updated on when new ones come out, please consider subscribing to my newsletter (we don't spam) and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for all of my latest recipes!