Candied Peanuts

Candied peanuts are an easy holiday treat to have at the ready, perfect for setting out on a table for a hungry crowd. If you don’t count water, this recipe requires only two ingredients: sugar and peanuts. That said, let this recipe serve as a starting point for as many variations as you can dream of, from adding the warm flavor of pumpkin pie spice, or leaning savory by adding a touch of cayenne into the mix.

Although candied peanuts are a great snack on their own, they also makes a sweet crunchy topping on a cake or salad, and would make a fun addition to a charcuterie board. 

While this recipe only requires 20 minutes of hands-on cooking and a few ingredients, it does involve working with hot sugar, which can be tricky. One piece of advice we have is that when cooking the peanuts on the stovetop, it’s normal for the mixture to get very foamy as the water evaporates and the sugar crystallizes, but it’s important to keep stirring, especially as you near the end of the cooking time.

Unlike most recipes involving hot sugar, you want the granulated sugar to crystallize, forming a crunchy exterior on the peanuts once baked, but you don’t want to let the foam boil over and create a giant mess.

Ingredients for Candied Peanuts

To make these sweet and crunchy peanuts, you'll need just three ingredients:

• Granulated sugar: Crystallizes while cooking for a sweet, crunchy coating around the peanuts.
• Water: Used to moisten the sugar before cooking. It will evaporate during the cooking process.
• Raw blanched peanuts: Be sure to use raw, unseasoned peanuts. The nuts will be baked until toasty, and adding your own seasoning is easy to do.
  

How To Make Candied Peanuts

After you've made these candied peanuts once, you'll be making them every time you're expecting guests. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

• Step 1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Step 2. Cook sugar and water in a medium saucepan, stirring often, until sugar dissolves. Add peanuts and cook about 15 minutes until sugar crystallizes around nuts.
• Step 3. Spread onto the baking sheet. Bake about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until peanuts are roasted. Cool on baking sheet.

How To Store Candied Peanuts

Store candied peanuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three weeks. You can also freeze them for up to three months for longer storage.

Variations for Candied Peanuts

This recipe for candied peanuts is merely a starting point for perfectly crunchy, toasty nuts. When it comes to seasoning the candied peanuts, however, the sky's the limit. Try some of these variations, particularly for being able to gift a variety of flavors during the holiday season:

• Sweet seasonings: Pumpkin pie or apple pie spice will add a warming fall flavor to these nuts, or keep it simple by adding a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg to the mix.
• Spice it up: Sprinkle on cayenne pepper, paprika, or other preferred spices before baking for a savory touch.
• Swap the sugar: Swap the white sugar with brown for deeper flavor.
• Add salt: Flaky or coarse sea salt will add the salty kick these candied peanuts need to be truly irresistible.

Ways To Serve Candied Peanuts

While these nuts make a crave-worthy snack all on their own, they also have their place in a variety of savory and sweet dishes. Serve these candied peanuts over salads, on a charcuterie board, as a garnish for cakes or cupcakes, sprinkled over ice cream, added to popcorn, over stir fries, or alongside your favorite cocktail. No matter how you use them, that sweet, nutty crunch is hard to resist.

More Irresistible Nut Recipes You'll Love

From spicy to sweet, these toasted and candied nuts will be gone in a flash:

• Bourbon Candied Nuts
• Hot-and-Sweet Fried Peanuts
• Five Spice Fried Pecans
• Spicy-Sweet Pecans
• Glazed Pecan Halves
• Candied Pumpkin Spice Pecans
• Buttery Toasted Pecans

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.