Home » Recipes » Dessert » Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts Recipe For Holiday Snacking

Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts Recipe For Holiday Snacking

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. SEE THE PRIVACY POLICY LINKED IN MY FOOTER.

This Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts recipe makes the BEST holiday snack and is perfect for parties. You’ll love how simple this 4-ingredient recipe is to make! You’ll want to make a double batch once you find out how tasty they are! And they make a great edible gift idea too!

Girl holding dish of cinnamon walnuts in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.
Sweet and crunchy, these candied walnuts are drool-worthy.

These absolutely delicious Cinnamon Walnuts are one of my favorite quick and easy dessert recipes for the holidays! 

Growing up, we always had delicious Christmas sweets around as we got closer to the holiday (like this homemade cinnamon candy!)

My mom made simple things, like these candied nuts and a big batch of my favorite caramel corn, that were easy to grab and great for last-minute entertaining.

Why You’ll Love these Walnuts

This cinnamon walnuts recipe couldn’t be easier. And when I share the recipe with people, (because they will ask for it) they are blown away by just how easy this treat is to make.

With just a few ingredients you get a sweet snack that you can enjoy all season long. Mix everything together right on the stovetop and stir. Easy.

Related: Candied Almonds Recipe

You don’t even need to use a candy thermometer. Bonus!

Anyone who has ever had these candied walnuts raves about how tasty they are. They make a great edible gift idea to share with friends, family and neighbors.

And they are great to have on hand for any holiday drop-ins.

Ingredients

Ingredients to make my Cinnamon Walnuts Recipe on a white cloth.
What you need to make Cinnamon Walnuts.

Aside from the walnuts, you probably have all of the ingredients at your house already! I prefer whole walnuts if you can find them, but the halves and pieces will work too.

Like any great holiday treat, you need sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. That’s it. And a little bit of water.

This cinnamon candied walnuts recipe doesn’t call for egg whites. You don’t need them! The texture and flavor are right on. There’s no need to get drooly egg whites all over the place.

How to Make Cinnamon Walnuts

Girl at stove mixing cinnamon for glazed walnuts.

I make this recipe in a non-stick skillet.

1. Make the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

Add the sugar, cinnamon and water to the pan over low heat, mixing almost constantly with a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula until the sugar dissolves and the mixture reduces a little bit (about 4 minutes).

Stir often so the sugar doesn’t burn. I think most things take on more flavor when they are a little overdone. Not sugar though, man. That just gets nasty.

2. Add vanilla

Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla. Mix well.

3. Add the nuts

Add the walnuts. Stir well to coat all the nuts.

Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts spread out to cool on a cookie sheet.

4. Let Dry

Spread the walnuts out on a cookie sheet in a single layer so they can dry. I’ve done it on a pan or a pan lined with waxed paper. Either way works.

Tips

  • These Cinnamon Candy Walnuts are not glazed or shiny when they are dry. They do not have a hard candy shell.
  • When I say the mixture hardens as they dry, I don’t mean these will break your teeth. I just mean that the sugar mixture won’t be tacky, and will be coated but the walnut won’t be any more crunchy than it is on its own.
  • If you are like me and like that sweet and savory combo, sprinkle a little sea salt over the wet nuts on the cookie sheet before they harden too much! 
  • For even more flavor, you can toast the walnuts in a dry pan on the stove top before starting the rest of this recipe.

How to Store

Store them in an air-tight container, out of sight, or else you will eat them all. I guarantee. They can be stored at room temperature.

A bowl of cinnamon glazed nuts on a table with a white cloth.

This Cinnamon Glazed Walnuts recipe is one you will love! Make it a new holiday tradition.

Girl holding a gold dish shaped like a Christmas tree full of candied walnuts.

I suggest putting out a little bit at a time so they don’t get gobbled up right away. 

Go ahead and just print out a few copies of this recipe to have on hand for when you serve these Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts to people. They will ask you for it. SO good.

Candy cane martinis on a table with text next to it.

More Christmas Snack Recipes

Cinnamon Walnuts Recipe. Perfect for holiday entertaining and Christmas parties. But of course, delicious any time of the year!

Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts

A family tradition that you wait all year for. These Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts are our go-to Christmas snack when we want a sweet, crunchy treat! Put them out for a party or wrap them up and gift them to neighbors.
4.63 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Resting Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes
Calories: 238kcal
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine sugar, cinnamon and water in a non-stick skillet.
  • Cook on low heat, stirring almost constantly with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula, until sugar dissolves and cooks down a bit (about 4 minutes total).
  • Remove from heat.
  • Add vanilla and mix well.
  • Add walnuts and stir to coat.
  • Spread out on a greased cookie sheet to dry.
  • Eat up.

Notes

  • These are not glazed or shiny when they are dry. They do not have a hard candy shell.
  • When I say the mixture hardens as they dry, I don’t mean these will be break your teeth. I just mean that the sugar mixture won’t be tacky, and will be coated but the walnut won’t be any more crunchy than it is on its own.
  • If you are like me and like that sweet and savory combo, sprinkle a little sea salt over the wet nuts on the cookie sheet before they harden too much! 
  • Store in an air-tight container at room temperature. 
  • If you can’t find whole walnuts, you can use halves.

Nutrition

Serving: 12Servings | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Sodium: 1mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @CupcakesCutlery or tag #cupcakescutlery!

Click to share!

7 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Oh my goodness, these cinnamon sugar walnuts are so addictive! They really are a perfect snack for any gathering.

  2. 5 stars
    These cinnamon walnuts were so much easier to make than I thought they would be. They were so good. Apparently, I need to make a bigger batch for Christmas.

  3. Cynthia Rusincovitch says:

    I can smell these Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts cooking through the screen? Is that a thing?

  4. One Crazy House says:

    5 stars
    WOW–core childhood memory unlocked! My grandma (or my great-aunt) used to make cinnamon sugar walnuts and leave them out to snack on during the holidays, and I had completely forgotten about them until now! I have to make this!

  5. I’ve been looking for a recipe like these cinnamon sugar walnuts to make as gifts for co-workers! My mom used to make something similar, and they were always a much-anticipated Christmas tradition!

  6. 5 stars
    I’ve been looking for this recipe for years. We made it when I was a teen, and I had it on a recipe card, which I subsequently lost. I’m with you: who needs egg whites. I’m making it today to add to my charcuterie tray for my Saturday card game. Thanks so much.

4.63 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating