There is something about the smell of cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar baking in the oven that instantly makes a house feel like Christmas. And these homemade candied nuts might just be one of my favorite things to make during the holiday season!
Sweet, crunchy, and coated in a delicious cinnamon-sugar coating, these candied nuts are incredibly easy to make and even easier to love. In fact, I’ll warn you now… they are very addictive!
I love making a big batch to package up in little bags or jars for neighbors, teachers, friends, and anyone who could use a little homemade holiday treat. They look beautiful wrapped with a simple ribbon, and they make such a thoughtful gift without requiring hours in the kitchen.
The best part? You can make a big batch all at once, and your kitchen will smell absolutely wonderful.
Why You’ll Love These Homemade Candied Nuts
- So easy to make: Just mix, coat, and bake!
- Perfect for gifting: Package them in cellophane bags, jars, or little holiday tins.
- A delicious combination: Pecans, cashews, and almonds make the perfect mix.
- Make-ahead friendly: Prepare them ahead of time for holiday parties and gift giving.
- That holiday smell: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla make these smell just as good as they taste.
Ingredients for Homemade Candied Nuts
Here’s what you’ll need to make a big batch:
- 2.5 cups pecans
- 2.5 cups cashews
- 1 cup almonds
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
How to Make Homemade Candied Nuts
Step 1: Prepare your baking sheet.
Preheat your oven to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Make the egg white mixture.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg whites and water until frothy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Step 3: Coat the nuts.
Add the pecans, cashews, and almonds to the egg white mixture. Stir until all of the nuts are evenly coated.
Step 4: Make the cinnamon-sugar coating.
In a separate bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Pour the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the nuts and stir until everything is evenly coated.
Step 5: Bake.
Spread the nuts in an even layer on your prepared baking sheet.
Bake at 300°F for approximately 30 minutes, stirring halfway through to help them bake evenly.
Step 6: Cool and enjoy!
Allow the nuts to cool completely on the baking sheet. They’ll become wonderfully crunchy as they cool.
Once cooled, break apart any clusters and transfer to an airtight container or package them up for gifting.
How to Package Candied Nuts for Christmas Gifts
This is one of my favorite parts!
CLICK HERE for Links to everything you need!
I love turning simple homemade treats into thoughtful little gifts. These candied nuts look beautiful in clear cellophane bags tied with a pretty ribbon, glass jars with a fabric topper, or small kraft paper bags with a handwritten gift tag.
You could even put together a little holiday treat basket with homemade cookies, hot cocoa mix, and a bag of these candied nuts.
They’re perfect for:
- Neighbor Christmas gifts
- Teacher appreciation gifts
- Hostess gifts
- Holiday party favors
- Stocking stuffers
Sometimes the best gifts aren’t the expensive ones. They’re the little homemade things that someone took the time to make.
Tips for the Best Candied Nuts
Let them cool completely. This is important! The nuts will continue to crisp up as they cool.
Stir halfway through baking. This helps distribute the coating and keeps the nuts from sticking together too much.
Store them properly. Once completely cool, keep your candied nuts in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Make extra! Seriously. Between sneaking a handful while packaging them and sharing them with everyone else, you’ll be glad you made a big batch.
Homemade Candied Nuts Recipe
If you’re looking for an easy homemade Christmas gift that everyone will love, these cinnamon-sugar candied nuts are it. They’re sweet, crunchy, full of warm holiday flavor, and so simple to make.
Make a batch for your family, make a few bags for your neighbors, or keep a bowl on the counter for holiday entertaining.
Just don’t say I didn’t warn you about how addictive they are!
CLICK HERE for links to everything you need.
Happy gifting!
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Oven Temperature: 300°F
Yield: Approximately 6 cups
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups pecans
- 2.5 cups cashews
- 1 cup almonds
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk egg whites and water until frothy. Stir in vanilla.
- Add nuts and toss until evenly coated.
- In a separate bowl, combine both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Pour sugar mixture over nuts and stir until well coated.
- Spread nuts evenly on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Cool completely before breaking apart and storing in an airtight container.