Candied Nuts Recipe | Joyful Healthy Eats

These maple syrup candied nuts tossed with cinnamon and nutmeg are an easy appetizer, snack or gift for the holidays. A dash of cayenne pepper also packs spicy personality into every bite!

Elevating your holiday gifts and baking projects is simple with these baked candied nuts. All you need to do is mix everything together and bake them until golden and toasty. Once ready, wrap them up pretty or sprinkle them over your favorite desserts. They’ll add extra crunch and lots of cozy, warm spices to everything.

Why You’ll Love This Candied Nuts Recipe

If you love taking your holiday desserts and treats to the next level, these candied nuts are for you.

• Great for gifting. Store them in small boxes or jars, stick a bow on them, and give them away as yummy presents.
• Perfect for the holidays. Candied nuts with warm spices just scream fall and winter. Add them to your favorite recipes!
• Versatile. Make them on the stove, add a pinch of fruity cardamom, or turn them into crunchy chocolatey goodness.
• Twist on a classic. A bit of heat sets them aside from traditional candied nuts that are nothing but sweet.

What You’ll Need

Cayenne pepper adds a gentle kick of heat to enhance the warm spices’ flavor. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient amounts.

• Nuts – You’ll need pecans, cashews, and almonds.
• Maple syrup – Raw honey and agave nectar work too.
• Cinnamon – It adds warm earthiness to the mixture. Don’t skip it.
• Nutmeg – Feel free to swap it for more cinnamon.
• Cayenne pepper – This is optional.
• Salt – Kosher salt is best because it’s very fine and won’t leave chunks of salt in the nuts.

What Are The Best Nuts To Use?

You can use your favorite kind of nuts, like pecans, almonds, or walnuts, to make these spiced candied nuts. Combinations of your favorite nuts work too. However, make sure they’re unsalted and raw (not toasted) so that the maple syrup mixture can stick to them properly. If you use toasted nuts, the batch will likely burn in the oven.

How To Make Candied Nuts

All you have to do is mix the ingredients and bake away! Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.

• Prep the oven. Preheat it to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside. You can also use a silicone baking mat to prevent any sticking.

• Spice them up. Gently mix all of the ingredients together until well combined. You can also mix the spices and maple syrup together before adding in the nuts.
• Bake them. Evenly spread them out on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, stir well, and bake for another 12-13 minutes. Remove from the oven. Let them cool and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

Sweet fragrant spices and cocoa powder can add more toastiness to these festive candied nuts.

• More spices. Stirring 1/8-1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves into the mixture adds more depth.
• Use the stove. If you don’t feel like firing up the oven, set a skillet over medium heat. Grease it with cooking spray and add 1/4 of the nut-maple mixture. Cook for 15-18 minutes, stirring continuously, until the maple syrup caramelizes. It should thicken and almost dry out. Remove from the heat and set them on a parchment lined plate. Repeat for the rest of the nut mixture.
• Go all in for the holidays. Add 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice for more holiday flair.
• More nuts. Mixing 1 cup Brazil nuts, walnuts, or macadamias into the medley adds more crunch.
• Make them chocolatey. Whisk 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder into the maple syrup until smooth, then combine with the rest of the ingredients for chocolatey candied nuts.

Ways To Use Them

These candied nuts are a great topping for your favorite holiday desserts. I love them on my Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes and Vegan Pumpkin Pie Bars. They’re also amazing on my Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Oatmeal Pecan Streusel. For a Christmas vibe, try them on my Chocolate Cake with Peppermint Buttercream.

Proper Storage

Place them in an airtight container, away from direct heat and sunlight, for up to 10 days. Keep them away from moisture too to prevent them from softening.

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