Candied Almonds

Candied Almonds

The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 12 servings

These simple, sweetened almonds can be used to top sweet or savory dishes. This delicious and easy-to-make treat won't disappoint.

A sweet and crunchy mouthful when coated with sugar, these candied almonds have the right amount of sweetness and bite. Delicious on their own, these sugary nuts can be covered in dark or white chocolate, be the filling for truffles or fudge, or become beautiful decorations for cupcakes, cakes, tarts, and pies. Incorporate them in homemade candy bars or homemade granola, use them as toppings for yogurt parfaits or ice cream bars, or chop them into your morning oatmeal. Use them instead of croutons in fresh salads or serve them on a cheese platter. These almonds are as versatile as they are delicious.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week, checking that they are dry before placing them in—they might start to get a bit sticky after a few days, so the sooner you consume them, the better.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 2 cups whole almonds, preferably raw

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Candied Almonds ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

  2. Place a silicone mat on top of a cookie sheet or baking pan, or line it with aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Set the baking sheet aside.

    Aluminum foil lined baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

  3. In a medium nonstick saucepan, combine the water and sugar and place the pan over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then bring the mixture to a boil. 

    Sugar and water in a saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

  4. Once the sugar syrup is boiling, add the almonds and reduce the heat to medium. Stir frequently until the sugar crystallizes around the almonds—this should take about 5 to 8 minutes.

    Almonds in sugar syrup

    The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

  5. When the sugar crystallizes, it will probably become difficult to stir, but continue stirring at your best. Eventually, the sugar will start to remelt, and it will caramelize, turning a deep golden brown color. At this stage, the liquid caramel will coat the almonds.

    Almonds in the sugar mixture

    The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

  6. Once the sugar is caramelized and completely liquid, pour the almond mixture out onto the prepared baking sheet. Use a fork to separate the nuts while the sugar is still liquid.

    Candied almonds in a pan

    The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

  7. Let the almonds set at room temperature until they're cool and hard. Once the almonds are set, break them apart and serve.

    Candied almonds on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Tara Omidvar

  8. Enjoy!

Add-Ons for Fragrant Almonds

  • Adding a teaspoon of citrus zest, rose water, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, orange blossom, ground ginger, or ground nutmeg to the syrup provides a fragrant variation.
  • Use flaked coconut, chile flakes, or Himalayan pink salt on top of the sugary coating once the almonds are drying for a flavorful and unusual sweet and salty treat.
  • Replace 2 ounces of the total amount of water in the recipe for bourbon, whiskey, rum, or any liquor of your liking for an adult version with a kick.

How to Use Candied Almonds in Other Dishes

Use glazed almonds in savory and sweet dishes to add a sweet crunch and delightfully nutty flavor. Here are a few ideas:

  • Top salads, cheesy risottos, or creamy chicken preparations.
  • Mix 1 cup of candied almonds with 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of pepitas, 1/2 cup of tart cherries, and 1/2 cup of raisins to make your own trail mix.
  • Make tea sandwiches mixing 1 cup of mascarpone with 1/2 cup of chopped glazed almonds and 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey. Spread some of the mascarpone mixture on white sandwich bread and top with another slice of bread. Cut off the crust and cut out little square sandwiches.
  • Top cupcakes, tarts, or cakes. Put them on at the last minute since the moisture from frosting or other elements might cause the nuts to get sticky and the caramel coating to liquefy.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
202 Calories
12g Fat
21g Carbs
5g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 202
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 115mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 62mg 5%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 164mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)