Brown Sugar Walnuts Recipe

These Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts combine raw walnuts with a simple combination of an egg white plus water, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. These nuts are lightly sweetened but oh-so delicious!

Closeup of a bowl of candied walnuts with a spoon.

Candied Walnuts

Nuts must be a grown-up thing because I was very anti-nut for a very long time. Mom was never allowed to put nuts in cookies, bars, or cakes at our home, because us kids would complain. But now? I’m ALL ABOUT the nuts. Take for instance my Multi-Grain Seeded Bread that contain lots of seeds/nuts, or my Crunchy Curry Chicken Salad that has toasted pecans.

Then there is my “sweet and spicy” Honey Roasted Nuts, the addicting Cinnamon Sugar Candied Pecans, and my “always stocked” Homemade Cranberry Nut Granola, all of which my family are wild about.

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These nuts?

  • Lightly Sweetened.
  • Perfect in salads or just munching on.
  • And deliciously addicting.

PRO-TIP: Use candied walnuts in my delicious Loaded Fall Harvest Salad!

A bowl of the candied walnuts.

Ingredients Used

  • Walnuts – I used raw walnuts.
  • Egg White (plus water) – Make sure you whisk the egg white and water vigorously before adding the remaining ingredients.
  • Brown Sugar
  • Spices – Kosher salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg
  • Vanilla
The ingredients for the candied walnuts.

How to make these walnuts

Step 1
Make the sweet mixture. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg white and water together. Then add the brown sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and whisk again.

Step 2
Add walnuts. Add walnuts and stir with a spoon making sure the nuts are well covered.

Step 3
Prepare to bake. Spread the walnut mixture on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Smooth to all edges of the pan.

A baking sheet of the sugared walnuts before baking.

Step 4
Bake. Bake the walnuts on 275 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove to cool.

A baking sheet after baking the candied walnuts.

Possible Variations to this recipe:

  • Instead of walnuts, you could use pecans.
  • You could use white sugar instead of brown sugar.
  • Feel free to change up the seasonings. Use a little bit of cayenne for heat, and omit the nutmeg.
  • Use a little bit of maple syrup and less sugar.
Side shot of a hand in a bowl of candied walnuts.

xoxo ~Sue

Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts

These Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts combine raw walnuts with a simple combination of an egg white plus water, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. These nuts are lightly sweetened but oh-so delicious!
4.75 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 15 1/3 cup servings
Calories: 229kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

  • 16 oz. walnuts – 5 cups
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the the egg white and water. Then add the vanilla, brown sugar, kosher salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, and whisk again. Add in the walnuts and stir with a spoon, making sure that the nuts are well covered.
  • Spread walnuts on the prepared baking sheet, smoothing evenly to all edges. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove and let cool.

Notes

These nuts make great gifts. Just pour into mason jar and tie some twine around it with a sweet little note.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 147mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!

7 Comments

  1. Excellent recipe. I had to make my wife leave kitchen because she couldn’t stop eating them before I had finished the recipe. Thanks for the recipe

  2. For years, I’ve been burning oven-roasted walnuts! Finally, an excellent recipe and technique. Thank you very much for sharing, 🙏.

    Mei Ross,
    Brisbane

  3. Do you have to use raw walnuts?

  4. Super easy and delicious! Great hostess gift for my friend! We used pecans for the nut of choice…

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I agree that this makes a great hostess gift, Jen!

  5. The perfect snack. I love to grab a handful from the freezer!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      They are delicious straight out of the freezer!

4.75 from 16 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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