Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (2024)

Last updated - ; Published - By Rhian Williams 8 Comments

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These Candied Nuts are salty-sweet, perfectly crunchy, incredibly moreishandsatisfying. They're super easy as they take less than 10minutes to make, are made using basic ingredients and are made in a frying pan (not the oven). They're vegan,gluten-free, refined sugar free optional, not too sweet, a good source ofproteinandfibreand are muchhealthierthan the shop-bought version. They're perfect forsharingas anappetizerordessert, great as asnack for meal prep, and make greatedible gifts.

Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (1)

How to make this recipe

Scroll down to the bottom of the post forthe full recipe.

  • Heat the water, oil and agave syrup in a large frying pan until it starts to bubble (should take around 30 seconds).

Tip:You can useany type of oileg.coconut oil, vegetable oil, olive oil etcand theagave syrupcan be substituted with honeyif you're not vegan.

Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (2)
  • Add the nutsand stir until they’re coated with the oil and syrup mixture – do this for around a minute until they’re slightly brown and crispy.
Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (3)
  • Mix together the sugar, salt and black pepper in a small bowl, then add to the pan and stir into the nuts.
Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (4)
  • Keep the pan on a medium heat and stir continuously for a few minutes – the nuts should become nicely caramelised quite quickly.
  • Remove the pan from the heat as soon as you think the caramel coating has turned a nice golden browncolour.

Tip: Be careful to not heat for too long as the sugar will burn very quickly.

Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (5)
  • Spread the nuts out over a plate or a sheet of baking paper, separating out any clumps, and leave them to dry out for a while until completely cooled.

Tip: This step iscrucial to make the nuts crispy and crunchy - if you don't spread them out until cooled, the heat from the nuts will create moisture and they won't get as crispy.

Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (6)

What nuts can you use?

  • Almonds.
  • Peanuts.
  • Hazelnuts.
  • Macadamia nuts.
  • Pecans.
  • Walnuts.
  • Brazil nuts.
  • Pistachios.
  • Pumpkin seeds.
  • Sunflower seeds.

How to make these refined sugar free

For a refined sugar free version, you can use the same recipe but replace the sugar with 3 tablespoons agave (or maple syrup) and instead of using a frying pan, mix together all the ingredients and roast in the oven on a rectangular baking tray at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for around 10 minutes.

I have tried the recipe in a frying pan replacing the sugar with coconut sugar/maple syrup/agave syrup, but unfortunately it just doesn't seem to work!

How long do these Candied Nuts keep for?

They keep in anairtight containerfor abouta week.

Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (7)

More vegan appetizers

  • Muffin Tin Sushi Cups
  • Sausage Rolls
  • Cashew Cheese Ball
  • Lazy Samosa Lettuce Cups
  • Vegan “Crispy Duck” Lettuce Wraps

If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog,I’d really love to hear anyfeedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes onInstagram! Thank you.

Watch how to make it

Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (8)

Candied Nuts (Vegan + GF)

These Candied Nuts are an incredibly moreish and satisfying snack that takes less than 10minutes to make!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: candied nuts, caramelized nuts, christmas appetizer

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 256kcal

Author: Rhian Williams

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or sub olive, vegetable or rapeseed oil)
  • 1 tablespoon agave syrup (or sub honey if you're not vegan)
  • 300 g (10 oz) mixed nuts
  • 3 tablespoons sugar *see notes for substitution options
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Pinch ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat the water, oil and agave syrup in a large frying pan until it starts to bubble (should take around 30 seconds).

  • Add the nuts and stir until they’re coated with the oil and syrup mixture – do this for around a minute until they’re slightly brown and crispy.

  • Mix together the sugar, salt and black pepper in a small bowl, then add to the pan and stir into the nuts.

  • Keep the pan on a medium heat and stir continuously for a few minutes – the nuts should become nicely caramelised quite quickly.

  • Remove the pan from the heat as soon as you think the caramel coating turns a nice golden brown colour - be careful to not heat for too long as the sugar will burn very quickly.

  • Spread the nuts out over a plate or a sheet of baking paper, separating out any clumps, and leave them to dry out for a while until completely cooled – they may be quite soft at this stage, but ready to eat once they’ve cooled down.This step is crucial to make the nuts crispy and crunchy - if you don't spread them out until cooled, the heat from the nuts will create moisture and they won't get as crispy.

  • Keeps in an airtight container for up to a week.

Video

Notes

*For a refined sugar free version, you can use the same recipe but replace the sugar with 3 tablespoons agave (or maple syrup) and instead of using a frying pan, mix together all the ingredients and roast in the oven on a rectangular baking tray at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for around 10 minutes.

I have tried the recipe in a frying pan replacing the sugar with coconut sugar/maple syrup/agave syrup, but unfortunately it just doesn't seem to work!

Nutrition Facts

Candied Nuts (Vegan + GF)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 256Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Sodium 73mg3%

Potassium 264mg8%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 7g14%

Calcium 99mg10%

Iron 1.4mg8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Made the recipe?Tag @rhiansrecipes on instagram and use the hashtag #rhiansrecipes!

Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.

More Baking & Dessert Recipes

  • Gluten-Free Vegan Raspberry Madeleines
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Raspberry Muffins
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Raspberry Cake
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Emma

    This looks really yummy. I'm definitely going to try this

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Please do! Hope you like them 🙂

  2. Dan

    Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (13)
    so easy and nice 🙂

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Thank you!

  3. Becca

    Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (14)
    really great recipe

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Thank you!

  4. Pat Connolly

    Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (15)
    Difficult to stop eating these delicious candied nuts. Very easy to prepare with Rhian's recipe

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Thank you, so glad you like them!

Candied Nuts (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Do caramelized nuts have gluten? ›

Nuts most certainly are gluten-free in their natural state.

Do candied pecans contain dairy? ›

Plus, these candied pecans are gluten & dairy-free & freezer-friendly! Make a batch, store them in the freezer and use as a salad topper or enjoy as a sweet snack!

Why are nuts not gluten-free? ›

Plain nuts don't contain any gluten, but dry roasted nuts often contain wheat flour in the coating so check the label or opt for plain or salted nuts.

Why is caramel not gluten-free? ›

Caramel is typically gluten-free. Caramel is usually made from a mixture of sugar, water, vanilla, milk and salt, therefore it would contain no gluten.

Are Trader Joe's candied pecans gluten-free? ›

Is it Gluten Free? Yes!

Can vegans eat pecans? ›

Pecans are an excellent source of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, making them a valuable addition to a vegan diet. They are packed with antioxidants, which help protect the body against oxidative stress and inflammation.

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

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? ›

Again, you likely didn't bake the almonds for long enough. The almonds will also be slightly soft when they're still warm, so if you've sampled them before they've cooled completely to room temperature wait a little longer before eating them.

How long do homemade candied nuts last? ›

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Do roasted nuts contain gluten? ›

Plain, raw and roasted nuts do not contain gluten. These can safely be enjoyed by people living with coeliac disease, or with gluten intolerance. When it comes to flavoured nuts, always check the ingredients list for any gluten-containing add-ins, such as thickeners or maltodextrins.

Does caramelized sugar have gluten? ›

​ Caramelized Sugar is gluten free. Caramelized Sugar should be safe for patients with celiac and other gluten-related disorders.

Can you eat nuts if you are gluten intolerant? ›

Many naturally gluten-free foods can be a part of a healthy diet: Fruits and vegetables. Beans, seeds, legumes and nuts in their natural, unprocessed forms. Eggs.

Is there gluten in candied almonds? ›

Tasty easy candied almonds are healthy, sweet and crunchy with a slight hint of cinnamon - a gluten-free snack and perfect for fall or Christmas time!

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