Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

| 11 Comments |

5 from 12 votes

Jump to Recipe | Updated: | by Nora

Candied Almonds are the perfect treat to share with friends and neighbors for the holidays! They are easy to make at home and come out perfectly delicious every time.

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (1)

Candied almonds are my kryptonite – I could eat an entire batch by myself, and then some. There’s just something about the combination of roasted almonds, sugar and cinnamon that’s absolutely irresistible.

They can be quite pricey, but the good news is: They are very easy to make at home, and they’re definitely cheaper to make than to buy! Such a great treat for the holiday season, or to give away as a little appreciation gift to spread some festive Christmas cheer.

Please note: I changed this recipe on 12/13/2020 from the one I originally published in 2014. If you’re looking for the old recipe (made on the stove without egg whites), print it here.

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (2)

Ingredient notes

  • Nuts: I have always made this recipe with unhulled whole almonds, but I’ve seen people make it with slivered or sliced almonds, too. The recipe also works with mixed nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts… If that’s what you prefer!
  • Egg white: This is definitely needed here to help the sugar coating stick to the nuts. If you need an egg-free recipe, check out my old recipe made on the stove without eggs here.
  • Cocoa powder: You can leave this one out if you don’t have it on hand, it just helps with the color of the candied almonds.
  • Vanilla: If you don’t have any vanilla extract on hand, use the same amount of water. It won’t add flavor, but you need this touch of liquid to help the sugar dissolve.

How to make Candied Almonds

Start by whisking the egg white and vanilla together until smooth. Add the almonds and toss until they’re all coated with egg white (1).

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (3)

Next, combine both sugars, the cinnamon, cocoa powder and the salt in a separate small bowl (2).

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (4)

Add the dry mixture to the bowl with the almonds and toss until they’re all evenly coated. Spread the almonds on a lined baking sheet (3).

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (5)

Bake the almonds at 250°F for 45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

Finally, turn up the heat to 360°F and finish baking them for 10-15 minutes. Watch them closely, they burn easily in the end!

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (6)

Let the almonds cool on the baking sheet. Break them apart and store them in an airtight container once they’re fully cooled.

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (7)

Recipe tips

  • Make sure to evenly coat the almonds first with egg white, then with the sugar mixture. That way you’ll get an even glaze on all the nuts.
  • Careful when stirring the nuts during the baking time, then oven is on a lower temperature but it’s still hot. Use oven gloves and be cautious if you have young kids or pets around.
  • Watch the almonds closely for the last 10 minutes of baking, after increasing the oven temperature. They burn if you bake them for too long.
  • Let the almonds cool completely before packing them up to help them retain their crunchiness.
Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (8)

Storage tips

Keep the cooled nuts in an airtight jar or container at room temperature. I recommend eating the nuts within a week for the best taste and texture.

More homemade candy

  • Easy Cookie Butter Fudge
  • No-Bake Peppermint Bark Oreo Balls
  • No Bake Oreo Truffles (Oreo Balls)
  • Orange and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Please note: I changed this recipe on 12/13/2020 from the one I originally published in 2014. If you’re looking for the old recipe (made on the stove without egg whites), print it here.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (13)

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Candied Almonds

Candied Almonds are the perfect treat to share with friends and neighbors for the holidays! They are easy to make at home and come out perfectly delicious every time.

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

5 from 12 votes

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Recipe details

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 1 hour hr

Total 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings 20 servings

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups almonds
  • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon unsweetened cacao powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt or less to taste

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 250°F and line a rimmed baking sheet.

  • Whisk egg white and vanilla extract together in a large bowl, then add the almonds and toss to coat.

  • Combine both sugars, cinnamon, cacao powder and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the almonds and toss to coat.

  • Spread almonds on prepared baking sheet and bake in the hot oven for 45 minutes, carefully stirring once every 10-15 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 360°F and finish baking the almonds for 10-15 minutes (watch them closely, do not overbake or they may burn!).

  • Let almonds cool on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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Notes

Ingredient notes

  • Nuts: I have always made this recipe with unhulled whole almonds, but I’ve seen people make it with slivered or sliced almonds, too. The recipe also works with mixed nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts… If that’s what you prefer!
  • Egg white: This is definitely needed here to help the sugar coating stick to the nuts. If you need an egg-free recipe, check out my old recipe made on the stove without eggs here.
  • Cocoa powder: You can leave this one out if you don’t have it on hand, it just helps with the color of the candied almonds.
  • Vanilla: If you don’t have any vanilla extract on hand, use the same amount of water. It won’t add flavor, but you need this touch of liquid to help the sugar dissolve.

Recipe tips

  • Make sure to evenly coat the almonds first with egg white, then with the sugar mixture. That way you’ll get an even glaze on all the nuts.
  • Careful when stirring the nuts during the baking time, then oven is on a lower temperature but it’s still hot. Use oven gloves and be cautious if you have young kids or pets around.
  • Watch the almonds closely for the last 10 minutes of baking, after increasing the oven temperature. They burn if you bake them for too long.
  • Let the almonds cool completely before packing them up to help them retain their crunchiness.

Storage tips

Keep the cooled nuts in an airtight jar or container at room temperature. I recommend eating the nuts within a week for the best taste and texture.

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (14)
About Nora
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me! Learn more.

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Comments

  1. DJE says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (17)
    Love this recipe now that I’m limited in no gluten or dairy/milk. This is so simple and delicious, I love a good sweet snack. Tried this with pecans and I think that’s my favorite, holds on to the sugar even better than almonds

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Candied pecans are delicious for sure! Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply

  2. Carol says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (18)
    Excellent and so easy!
    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Carol!

      Reply

  3. Maricel says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (19)
    These are great recipe! Easy and delicious. Thanks Nora for sharing your recipe.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Maricel! And thank YOU for trusting in my recipe, I couldn’t do this without all of my amazing readers!

      Reply

  4. Joy says

    Best I’ve ever made! And better than the “mall” hands down.

    Reply

  5. Colleen LOWE says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (20)
    Very tasty

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad!

      Reply

  6. Amallia @DesireToEat says

    Congratulation Nora, Boy or Girl? So cute….tiny little feet.:-)

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Thank you Amallia! Girl 😀 I can’t stop looking at her cute feet 🙂

      Reply

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts. How do you fix candied nuts that are too soft and sticky? You can place them back into the oven for 5 to 15 minutes or until they dry out more. They will continue to firm and dry out as they cool.

What does 5 sugared almonds mean? ›

If you want to be faithful to wedding traditions, the sugared almond wedding favours for each of the guests must contain five almonds representing each of the couple's wishes: love, health, happiness, fertility, and long life together.

What is the coating on Jordan almonds? ›

Jordan almonds are a familiar presence at Greek and Italian weddings. They are almonds covered in a sugar coating, typically with a white shell. The tradition of Jordan almonds in weddings dates back to the Middle Ages. Ancient Romans used these tiny candies to celebrate special occasions such as weddings and births.

What is another name for candied almonds? ›

Other names

They are a typical open air fair snack in several countries where they receive different names. In France, praline is the common name but sometimes they are simply called "Amandes grillées". In Spain they are called "Garrapiñadas". In Switzerland and Germany they are called "Gebrannte Mandeln".

Why are my candied almonds not crunchy? ›

Usually if the almonds are soft after candying it means that they weren't cooked for long enough.

Why are my candied almonds chewy? ›

If your sugared almonds are sticky rather than crunchy on the outside, it's likely because you didn't bake them for long enough. Next time, bake the almonds for an additional 5 minutes. Just don't be tempted to increase the oven temperature as that could result in burnt almonds!

What are sugared almonds called in Italy? ›

In Italy and other European countries, their name is "confetti". These are sugared almonds but with a spun sugar shell.

What do the colors of sugared almonds mean? ›

It's not just the number of sugared almonds at celebrations that matter, as the colours also represent meaning. White for weddings, silver for twenty-fifth anniversaries, gold for fiftieth anniversaries, sky-blue or pink for christenings, red for graduations, green for engagements.

What are the hard candy coated almonds called? ›

Jordan almonds are almonds coated with a hard sugar shell. Today, Jordan almonds are often used as wedding favors or for other special occasions.

What is an almond wedding? ›

Traditionally, wedding guests are each given five Jordan Almonds, signifying the following sentiments: Health, Wealth, Happiness, Fertility & Long Life. Many brides and grooms word this traditional meaning in a poem to their guests on the favor label.

What do Italians call Jordan almonds? ›

Italians call Jordan almonds 'confetti. ' Greeks call the same treats 'koufeta.

Why are sugared almonds given at weddings? ›

Health, wealth, happiness, children, and a long life! As such, the almonds are considered a symbol of good luck, and the tradition of gifting them as wedding favours spread across Europe. In gifting them to their guests, it is thought that the couple are sharing their luck and happiness with them.

Why do Italians give almonds at weddings? ›

In Italian culture, Jordan almonds are called confetti. They have been given away at Italian weddings since the 14th century. You'll usually find five of the candied almonds wrapped in tulle bundles to represent five blessings for the couple: health, wealth, fertility, happiness, and longevity.

What are the Italian almond candies called? ›

In the "new world," these small, sugar-coated candies are called "Jordan almonds." In Italy, they are at every important event and are also called "Jordan almonds." Sugar almonds, "Jordan almonds," and trajes are all names for these sweets. "Confetti" is the common name for colored paper towels.

What is a chewy dragée? ›

Some Mentos packages describe the mints as "chewy dragées". The typical Mentos roll is approximately 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter and weighs 38 grams (1.3 oz).

How to keep Candied Pecans from sticking together? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Why are my spiced nuts sticky? ›

If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove. To fix them, place the nuts back into the skillet and cook a bit longer.

How do you fix soggy nuts? ›

Spread the stale snacks out on a cookie sheet and place in a 350o F oven. Let them bake for about 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled the snacks should be crispy and refreshed. You can use this method with fresh nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, etc.

Why wont my candied fruit harden? ›

If your candied coating isn't hardening, the candying mixture did not reach a high enough temperature. Allow your candying mixture to cook until it bubbles, thickens, and turns a rich golden color, sort of like caramel. Then, quickly turn off the heat so it doesn't burn.

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