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Salted Caramel Candied Walnuts with Rosemary

These Salted Caramel Candied Walnuts with Rosemary are a delicious, flavorful and healthy snack made in just 10 minutes with 5 simple ingredients. It makes an easy and fancy Christmas gift for your family and friends!

Salted Caramel Candied Walnuts on a Plate.

Even if you’ve waited for the last minute to make a holiday treat, that’s okay. Salted caramel candied walnuts with rosemary are simple, quick, and delicious so no one will even realize you waited. 

Ingredients

  • walnuts;
  • brown sugar (or Demerara sugar);
  • rosemary;
  • cayenne pepper;
  • sea salt.

Ingredients for Salted Caramel Candied Walnuts.

Why This Recipe Works

There are so many recipes for candied walnuts or caramelized nuts out there, but I was looking for a little something to make mine special.

While salted chocolate has never been my thing, salted caramel was a delightful surprise.

It’s as delightfully satisfying as figs and goat cheese and as delicate as blue cheese with pears and honey, or feta cheese and watermelon. 

Salted caramel is becoming increasingly popular, which is sure to make these sugared walnuts a favorite on your table and with your friends.

Salted walnuts combined with the glaze have an incredibly delicious, unique and pleasurable taste which is seriously addictive!

The rosemary and cayenne make the salted caramel and walnut flavor become even richer and more complex, as some bitterness and pungency is added.

This makes these glazed walnuts a perfect holiday snack and a perfect homemade edible Christmas gift

Sugared Walnuts Packed as a Christmas gift.

Candied Walnuts as a Christmas Gift

There are so many Homemade Christmas Food Gift Ideas and you can check out others here if you’re planning your holiday treats and gifts. 

You might already have ingredients for these candied walnuts at home, as you only need walnuts, brown sugar, rosemary, sea salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper to make them. 

Moreover, it just takes 10 minutes and minimum efforts to make them! Sounds crazy but it’s true. 

So, 5 ingredients, 10 minutes, a nice gift bag or jar and here you go: a perfect last-minute homemade gift is ready! 

Did I mention that it’s also healthy and delicious?

If you got all gifts ready for Christmas, make this candied walnut recipe anyway as a snack to enjoy during holidays!

Salted Caramel Glazed Walnuts in a Gift Bag.

I first published this candied walnut recipe in 2015, and here is an original picture that I posted back then. I decided to update it this year, but I couldn’t find these beautiful gift bags any more, so I used paper bags with foil inlet, that also look pretty.

How to Make Candied Walnuts

You can see a short step-by-step slideshow in this candied walnuts web story.

In a dry pan, roast walnuts over medium heat until aromatic (about 3-4 minutes).

In a medium pot, heat brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of water over medium heat. When it starts to boil, lower the heat and add chopped rosemary and cayenne pepper.

Remove from the heat, add walnuts, salt and black pepper (if using) and stir until walnuts are evenly coated with a thin layer of caramel mixture.

Transfer to a sheet of baking paper or a wire rack and let cool. Enjoy!

Step-by-Step Instructions How to Make Candied Walnuts.

Here are a few tips and answers to common questions so you can make the absolute best salted caramel with rosemary walnuts.

What To Do If My Nuts Get Too Sticky

If your nuts are too sticky, spread them on a cookie sheet with space between them and bake to dry them out just a bit more.

What If My Nuts Are Not Coated Evenly

This happens if you don’t have enough caramel mixture. Add more sugar and continue cooking until it melts and coats the nuts.

How To Store Your Candied Walnuts

Your candied nuts will last about two weeks in an airtight container on your counter. You can add another week or two by keeping them in a dark, cool place like a food storage pantry.

Alternately, you can also freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months once they are cool.

What If I Don’t Have Walnuts?

Go ahead and use what you do have! Pecans make excellent candied nuts for holiday treats. You might also use almonds, cashews, or a nut mix.
Salted Caramel Glazed Walnuts with Rosemary.

Serving Options

Serve these salted caramel walnuts as a holiday snack or give them as Christmas gifts to your loved ones.

You can also use these candied walnuts for salad recipes, like this vegan fall harvest salad, kale pumpkin salad, beet salad with persimmon and kale or warm winter salad with pumpkin.

Serve them with holiday appetizers like vegan stuffed mushrooms with ricotta and spinach or vegan mushroom crostini.

Make sure to check my holiday recipe collections that include vegan Thanksgiving appetizers, salads, soups, mains, sides, and desserts, as well as 50 best vegan Christmas recipes.

Cook’s Tips

  • These salted caramel candied walnuts with rosemary are a delicious, flavorful and healthy snack made in just 10 minutes with 5 simple ingredients.
  • They make a perfect holiday snack and homemade edible Christmas gift. You can add them to salads as well (see Serving Options).
  • If the nuts are too sticky, spread them on a cookie sheet in a single layer and bake to dry them out a bit more.
  • If the walnuts are not coated evenly, you probably need more caramel mixture. Add more sugar and continue cooking until it melts and coats the nuts.
  • These candied nuts will last about two weeks in an airtight container on the counter. You can add another week or two by keeping them in a dark, cool place like a pantry.
  • You can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Recipe Variations

  • If you don’t have walnuts, use pecans, almonds, cashews, or a nut mix.
  • Brown sugar can be swapped with Demerara sugar, coconut sugar, regular white sugar or even honey or maple syrup for extra flavor.
  • Skip the cayenne and/or sea salt if you prefer.
  • You can leave out the rosemary too, if you wish or use other herbs like thyme, oregano or sage. You can also use dried rosemary.

Recipes similar to candied walnuts

 
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5 from 8 votes

Salted Caramel Candied Walnuts with Rosemary

Enjoy these Salted Caramel Candied Walnuts with Rosemary as a delicious, flavorful and healthy snack made in just 10 minutes with 5 simple ingredients. It makes an easy and fancy Christmas gift for your family and friends!
Course Appetizer, Food gift, Snack
Cuisine American, European
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 443kcal
$4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups or about 200 grams walnuts
  • 1/2 cup or 100 grams brown sugar or Demerara sugar
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary chopped
  • a pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper optional

Instructions

  • In a dry pan, roast walnuts over medium heat until aromatic (about 3-4 minutes).
  • In a medium pot, heat brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of water over medium heat. When it starts to boil, lower the heat and add chopped rosemary and cayenne pepper.
  • Remove from the heat, add walnuts, salt and black pepper (if using) and stir until walnuts are evenly coated with a thin layer of caramel mixture.
  • Transfer to a sheet of baking paper or a wire rack and let cool. Enjoy!

Notes

Cook’s Tips

  • These salted caramel candied walnuts with rosemary are a delicious, flavorful and healthy snack made in just 10 minutes with 5 simple ingredients.
  • They make a perfect holiday snack and homemade edible Christmas gift. You can add them to salads as well (see Serving Options).
  • If the nuts are too sticky, spread them on a cookie sheet in a single layer and bake to dry them out a bit more.
  • If the walnuts are not coated evenly, you probably need more caramel mixture. Add more sugar and continue cooking until it melts and coats the nuts.
  • These candied nuts will last about two weeks in an airtight container on the counter. You can add another week or two by keeping them in a dark, cool place like a pantry.
  • You can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Recipe Variations

  • If you don't have walnuts, use pecans, almonds, cashews, or a nut mix.
  • Brown sugar can be swapped with Demerara sugar, coconut sugar, regular white sugar or even honey or maple syrup for extra flavor.
  • Skip the cayenne and/or sea salt if you prefer.
  • You can leave out the rosemary too, if you wish or use other herbs like thyme, oregano or sage. You can also use dried rosemary.

Nutrition

Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 296mg | Potassium: 282mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Follow @happykitchen.rocks on Instagram and show me the recipes you are making from my blog using the hashtag #happykitchenrocks!
Salted Caramel Candied Walnuts Pinterest Pin.
5 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




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Marnie

Wednesday 6th of December 2023

Super yummy! These will be Christmas gifts. Thank you!

Elena Szeliga

Wednesday 6th of December 2023

Thank you Marnie 😍 Glad you enjoyed them!

Fae

Thursday 12th of December 2019

For how long can you store them until they become expired?

Arya Fae

Monday 23rd of December 2019

This is literally suuuuuchhhh an awesome recipe!!! I LOVE IT!! I actually don't like walnuts or spicy stuff or the combination of sweet and salty. However I thought my family might like it and it would be a great öast minute christmas present. So i made them and tried one and looooved them!!

Elena Szeliga

Thursday 12th of December 2019

You can store them in an airtight container or jar for up to 1 month. Hope you enjoy them! :)

Danielle Wolter

Tuesday 27th of November 2018

These sound like the perfect xmas gift! Loving the flavors :-)

Elena Szeliga

Tuesday 27th of November 2018

Thank you so much Danielle! It was so good! I should make these walnuts again this year :)

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About Elena Szeliga

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Elena Szeliga is the founder of Happy Kitchen.Rocks, where she shares delicious and healthy vegetarian and vegan food, from weeknight dinners to veganized classics and gourmet appetizers. Her recipes have been featured at Better Homes & Gardens, BuzzFeed, Country Living, The Kitchn and Reader’s Digest. Her mission is to help cook easy vegetarian and vegan meals with simple and fresh ingredients. Read more about Elena.

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