Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

| 11 Comments |

5 from 12 votes

Jump to Recipe | Updated: | by Nora

Candied Almonds are the perfect treat to share with friends and neighbors for the holidays! They are easy to make at home and come out perfectly delicious every time.

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (1)

Candied almonds are my kryptonite – I could eat an entire batch by myself, and then some. There’s just something about the combination of roasted almonds, sugar and cinnamon that’s absolutely irresistible.

They can be quite pricey, but the good news is: They are very easy to make at home, and they’re definitely cheaper to make than to buy! Such a great treat for the holiday season, or to give away as a little appreciation gift to spread some festive Christmas cheer.

Please note: I changed this recipe on 12/13/2020 from the one I originally published in 2014. If you’re looking for the old recipe (made on the stove without egg whites), print it here.

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (2)

Ingredient notes

  • Nuts: I have always made this recipe with unhulled whole almonds, but I’ve seen people make it with slivered or sliced almonds, too. The recipe also works with mixed nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts… If that’s what you prefer!
  • Egg white: This is definitely needed here to help the sugar coating stick to the nuts. If you need an egg-free recipe, check out my old recipe made on the stove without eggs here.
  • Cocoa powder: You can leave this one out if you don’t have it on hand, it just helps with the color of the candied almonds.
  • Vanilla: If you don’t have any vanilla extract on hand, use the same amount of water. It won’t add flavor, but you need this touch of liquid to help the sugar dissolve.

How to make Candied Almonds

Start by whisking the egg white and vanilla together until smooth. Add the almonds and toss until they’re all coated with egg white (1).

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (3)

Next, combine both sugars, the cinnamon, cocoa powder and the salt in a separate small bowl (2).

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (4)

Add the dry mixture to the bowl with the almonds and toss until they’re all evenly coated. Spread the almonds on a lined baking sheet (3).

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (5)

Bake the almonds at 250°F for 45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

Finally, turn up the heat to 360°F and finish baking them for 10-15 minutes. Watch them closely, they burn easily in the end!

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (6)

Let the almonds cool on the baking sheet. Break them apart and store them in an airtight container once they’re fully cooled.

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (7)

Recipe tips

  • Make sure to evenly coat the almonds first with egg white, then with the sugar mixture. That way you’ll get an even glaze on all the nuts.
  • Careful when stirring the nuts during the baking time, then oven is on a lower temperature but it’s still hot. Use oven gloves and be cautious if you have young kids or pets around.
  • Watch the almonds closely for the last 10 minutes of baking, after increasing the oven temperature. They burn if you bake them for too long.
  • Let the almonds cool completely before packing them up to help them retain their crunchiness.
Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (8)

Storage tips

Keep the cooled nuts in an airtight jar or container at room temperature. I recommend eating the nuts within a week for the best taste and texture.

More homemade candy

  • Easy Cookie Butter Fudge
  • No-Bake Peppermint Bark Oreo Balls
  • No Bake Oreo Truffles (Oreo Balls)
  • Orange and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Please note: I changed this recipe on 12/13/2020 from the one I originally published in 2014. If you’re looking for the old recipe (made on the stove without egg whites), print it here.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (13)

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Candied Almonds

Candied Almonds are the perfect treat to share with friends and neighbors for the holidays! They are easy to make at home and come out perfectly delicious every time.

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

5 from 12 votes

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Recipe details

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 1 hour hr

Total 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings 20 servings

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups almonds
  • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon unsweetened cacao powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt or less to taste

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 250°F and line a rimmed baking sheet.

  • Whisk egg white and vanilla extract together in a large bowl, then add the almonds and toss to coat.

  • Combine both sugars, cinnamon, cacao powder and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the almonds and toss to coat.

  • Spread almonds on prepared baking sheet and bake in the hot oven for 45 minutes, carefully stirring once every 10-15 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 360°F and finish baking the almonds for 10-15 minutes (watch them closely, do not overbake or they may burn!).

  • Let almonds cool on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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Notes

Ingredient notes

  • Nuts: I have always made this recipe with unhulled whole almonds, but I’ve seen people make it with slivered or sliced almonds, too. The recipe also works with mixed nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts… If that’s what you prefer!
  • Egg white: This is definitely needed here to help the sugar coating stick to the nuts. If you need an egg-free recipe, check out my old recipe made on the stove without eggs here.
  • Cocoa powder: You can leave this one out if you don’t have it on hand, it just helps with the color of the candied almonds.
  • Vanilla: If you don’t have any vanilla extract on hand, use the same amount of water. It won’t add flavor, but you need this touch of liquid to help the sugar dissolve.

Recipe tips

  • Make sure to evenly coat the almonds first with egg white, then with the sugar mixture. That way you’ll get an even glaze on all the nuts.
  • Careful when stirring the nuts during the baking time, then oven is on a lower temperature but it’s still hot. Use oven gloves and be cautious if you have young kids or pets around.
  • Watch the almonds closely for the last 10 minutes of baking, after increasing the oven temperature. They burn if you bake them for too long.
  • Let the almonds cool completely before packing them up to help them retain their crunchiness.

Storage tips

Keep the cooled nuts in an airtight jar or container at room temperature. I recommend eating the nuts within a week for the best taste and texture.

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (14)
About Nora
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me! Learn more.

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Comments

  1. DJE says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (17)
    Love this recipe now that I’m limited in no gluten or dairy/milk. This is so simple and delicious, I love a good sweet snack. Tried this with pecans and I think that’s my favorite, holds on to the sugar even better than almonds

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Candied pecans are delicious for sure! Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply

  2. Carol says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (18)
    Excellent and so easy!
    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Carol!

      Reply

  3. Maricel says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (19)
    These are great recipe! Easy and delicious. Thanks Nora for sharing your recipe.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Maricel! And thank YOU for trusting in my recipe, I couldn’t do this without all of my amazing readers!

      Reply

  4. Joy says

    Best I’ve ever made! And better than the “mall” hands down.

    Reply

  5. Colleen LOWE says

    Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (20)
    Very tasty

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad!

      Reply

  6. Amallia @DesireToEat says

    Congratulation Nora, Boy or Girl? So cute….tiny little feet.:-)

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Thank you Amallia! Girl 😀 I can’t stop looking at her cute feet 🙂

      Reply

Easy Candied Almonds Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

What is so special about Jordan almonds? ›

The traditional bomboniere includes five Jordan almonds, which symbolize health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and a long life. Jordan almonds are thought to be a fertility symbol due to their egg shape. They are also thought to represent the bittersweet nature of life considering the almond's bittersweet flavor.

What is another name for candied almonds? ›

Gebrannte Mandeln

What is the coating on Jordan almonds? ›

Jordan almonds are a familiar presence at Greek and Italian weddings. They are almonds covered in a sugar coating, typically with a white shell. The tradition of Jordan almonds in weddings dates back to the Middle Ages. Ancient Romans used these tiny candies to celebrate special occasions such as weddings and births.

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325° F and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

Can you eat too many Jordan almonds? ›

Having too many almonds can affect your small intestine, which is responsible mainly for food absorption. It is good to have only 4-5 almonds a day. Phytates, that are present in certain seeds and nuts can decrease the absorption of many minerals as it interferes with the normal nutrient absorption.

What do Italians call Jordan almonds? ›

In French and English, it is called "confetti," and in Italian, it is called "coriander." The name Jordan Almond could have come from the French word for garden, "Jardin." Others say that the Jordan almond looks like a type of almond that grows in Palestine on the other side of the Jordan River.

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.

What do 5 almonds mean at a wedding? ›

The Traditional Bomboniere – A Sachet of Five Jordan Almonds

The perfect wedding bomboniere, which is Italian for wedding favor, includes five Jordan almonds to represent five wishes for the bride and groom. These are health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and a long life.

What does 5 sugared almonds mean? ›

If you want to be faithful to wedding traditions, the sugared almond wedding favours for each of the guests must contain five almonds representing each of the couple's wishes: love, health, happiness, fertility, and long life together.

Why do Italians give Jordan almonds at weddings? ›

"Italians traditionally package these candied almonds in bunches of five to represent wishes of health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity," she says. For some, the five almonds also symbolize a number that can't be divided into two, just like the bond formed by a newly married couple.

Are sugared almonds the same as Jordan almonds? ›

Jordan almonds are an extremely popular (and delicious!) wedding favor. They're also known as sugared almonds or 'dragees,' and they can be seen at wedding receptions all across the country.

What is the shelf life of Jordan almonds? ›

How long can you keep these stored? BEST ANSWER: Jordan almonds have a shelf life of 365 days.

Why are my candied nuts grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

Why are my candied nuts soft? ›

Usually if the almonds are soft after candying it means that they weren't cooked for long enough. However, this recipe cooks all of the water out of the sugar syrup and then takes it a step further where the the sugar then re-caramelizes allowing the almonds to harden.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Ba-dum-dum. Okay, all bad dad jokes aside, these candied walnuts will last quite a while. All nuts do go rancid eventually, but as long as you cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container, they should be good for about a month. You might also like our Candied Pecans recipe or Candied Almonds!

Why do people like Jordan almonds? ›

These sugar-coated candies are rich in flavor and cultural meaning, particularly at Italian and Greek weddings. Fresh almonds have a bittersweet taste, which is supposed to represent life; the sugarcoating adds the hope that the newlyweds' life will be more sweet than bitter. Even the shape of the candy has meaning.

What do Jordan almonds taste like? ›

Across many cultures, the bitterness of the almond covered by the sweetness of the sugar is a reminder that life is both bitter and sweet. We may never know why these dragées are called Jordan almonds. For now, we're content to enjoy the delicious mystery.

What is special about Jordan shoes? ›

Air Jordan products make people feel proud and confident. The products are a bit pricey, but they are worth every penny. The quality they provide is extraordinarily amazing when compared to other brands in the same product line, so it will not be difficult on the budget and people like to buy this brand.

Are Jordan almonds an Italian tradition? ›

Also known as “dragees” or “Italian confetti,” Jordan almonds date back to 1350, when they're mentioned in Giovanni Boccaccio's “Decameron,” a collection of novellas. Ancient Romans used to celebrate momentous occasions, such as births and marriages, with this confetti.

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