Description
Ingredients
For this candied cashews recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 cups raw cashew nuts (unsalted works best here)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (or coconut sugar for a slightly less sweet version)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (for that caramel depth we all crave)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt (I use kosher salt, but sea salt works beautifully too)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon butter (unsalted)
Instructions
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Trust me on the parchment paper—I learned the hard way that cleaning hardened sugar from a baking sheet is not how anyone wants to spend their evening!
In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and water. Place over medium heat and stir until the sugar begins to dissolve, about 1-2 minutes.
This is where the magic begins! As the sugar starts to melt, your kitchen will fill with the most incredible aroma. My daughter Lila always appears in the kitchen around this time, asking, “Are you making the yummy nuts, Mommy?”
Once the sugar has dissolved, add the cashews to the saucepan. Stir continuously to coat all the nuts evenly with the sugar mixture.
This is the part where you’ll need to channel your inner patience! Keep stirring gently to prevent burning. The mixture will look a bit wet and sandy at first—that’s exactly what you want.
Continue cooking and stirring for about 5-6 minutes. The sugar will gradually begin to caramelize and coat the cashews. You’ll notice the mixture starting to look drier and the cashews getting shiny.
This is the perfect time to tell yourself, “I’m doing great! Don’t walk away, even if the kids are suddenly suspiciously quiet in the other room!” (A lesson I’ve learned through experience!)
When the cashews are well-coated and the sugar mixture has mostly dried up, add the vanilla extract and butter. Be careful—the mixture might sizzle a bit when you add the vanilla.
The vanilla and butter are what elevate this candied cashews recipe from good to oh-my-goodness amazing. The butter gives a rich finish while the vanilla adds warmth and depth that makes people ask, “What’s in these?”
Quickly pour the cashews onto your prepared baking sheet and use a wooden spoon to separate them as much as possible. Work fast because they’ll begin to harden almost immediately!
The first time I made this recipe candied cashews, I didn’t separate them quickly enough and ended up with what my husband Eric lovingly called a “cashew brittle brick.” Still delicious, but not quite what I was going for!
Allow the candied cashews to cool completely, about 15-20 minutes. Once cooled, break apart any clusters that have stuck together.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 190
Keywords: candied cashews, sweet roasted nuts, holiday snack, cinnamon sugar nuts, stovetop snack