Candied Cashews Stovetop Or Oven

Love all things nuts? Try my warm nuts, candied pecans, candied almonds, and candied nuts next. I love having candied nuts on hand. They’re easy to make, and I can grab a handful as a quick snack between meals. As much as I love all kinds of nuts, I can’t get enough of these cinnamon sugar candied cashews. They’re naturally sweet, and when you caramelize them with toasted coconut flakes, they’re next-level.

Why I love this recipe

Two cooking methods. I prefer the oven, but for convenience, I made sure to test the stovetop method as well. Egg-free option. If you opt for my stovetop method, you’ll skip the need for eggs or egg whites. Perfect for gifting. This is one of my go-to holiday gifts for my work colleagues and neighbors. I also include a link for this recipe so they can make it themselves, too! Versatile. Save them for a snacking emergency, or add them to your favorite trail mix for a quick post-workout snack.

Ingredients needed

Cashews. Use raw unsalted cashews unless you prefer the salty-sweet combination, in which case you can use salted cashews. Sugar. I used white sugar so it wasn’t overpowering, but brown sugar also works. Cinnamon. Feel free to skip this, but I love the combination of candied nuts and cinnamon. Salt. A pinch of salt balances out the other ingredients. Egg whites and water. For the sugar mixture to stick to the cashews and prevent the sugar from burning.

How to make candied cashews

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Arman’s recipe tips

Mix the cashews once they leave the oven to prevent forming clusters. Unless that is what you’d prefer then let them be 🙂 Make sugar-free candied cashews. To make this recipe sugar-free, use allulose instead of regular sugar. Add toasted coconut. I love the coconut and cashew combination, so once the cashews are done, fold through some toasted coconut flakes. Let the cashews sit uncovered overnight. This ensures that the sugar coating dries out completely and becomes super crispy and brittle. Spice it up. Add ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Add other mix-ins. Try chocolate chips, candy buttons, or dried fruit.

Storage instructions

To store: Candied cashews can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one month. If you’d like them to keep longer, refrigerate them. Yes! Yes, if you’d prefer a more hands-off recipe, you can make these candied cashew nuts in a skillet. Here’s how it’s done: Step 1- Make the syrup. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the sugar, cinnamon, salt, and water and combine. Stir consistently to prevent burning. Step 2- Add cashews. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the cashews and coat them in the syrup. Continue stirring the mixture until the liquid crystalizes on the cashews. Step 3- Cool. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the nuts to cool for 1-2 minutes. Stir several times to prevent clusters. Allow the cashews to cool completely before folding in the coconut. Like I mentioned earlier, there’s no limit to what you can do with candied nuts. Here are some ideas:

Nut butter. Blend it to make a sweet cashew coconut butter. As gifts. Fill cute jars and give them out as gifts for the holidays. Salad. Sprinkle them on a green goddess salad for added crunch. Bars. Fold them into healthy granola bars.

To freeze: Place the cashews in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to six months.