These easy cinnamon sugar candied almonds are made with just 7 simple ingredients and baked to crunchy perfection! They're perfect for snacking, topping salads and cheese boards, and gifting. In this post I'll teach you exactly how to make them so they're full of cinnamon spice flavor and always crunchy.
The way that I will risk burning my tongue and start eating these the second I pull the pan out of the oven is insane, but they're honestly that delicious!
The sweet spiced flavor and satisfying crunchy texture of these oven-baked candied almonds is absolute perfection, and I could not stop eating them! They're so easy to make, and they store and freeze beautifully. And with so many ways to enjoy them (more on this in a minute!), there's no reason not to bake a batch (or three) of these homemade candied almonds them this fall and holiday season!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Not all candied almond recipes are created equal, and I tested countless batches to make sure that these were perfect. I tried different ingredients and ingredient ratios, different mixing techniques, and different bake times and temperatures to find the easiest and best way to make candied almonds at home.
Here's why you'll love this recipe:
- Simple Ingredients - You only need a few basic pantry staples to bake these nuts at home.
- Perfectly Crunchy Texture - The egg white coating dries out in the oven during a low-and-slow bake, create the ideal signature crunch.
- Warm Cinnamon-Sugar Flavor - A blend of cinnamon and sugar with a touch of salt and nutmeg gives these almonds that an irresistible flavor.
- Easy to Make - These candied nuts don't require any special kitchen tools and take just 10 minutes of hands-on time to make. They're one of the easiest homemade treats you can make!
If you love making simple spiced recipes for the holidays, these easy cinnamon sugar candied almonds absolutely deserve a spot on your holiday baking list!
Uses for Candied Almonds
Besides simply snacking, there are lots of ways to enjoy homemade candied almonds! Here are some of my favorite ways to use them:
- Gift the spiced nuts for the holidays. They make beautiful gifts packaged in a decorative glass jar with a festive ribbon! Pair them with a loaf of cranberry walnut bread for the ultimate homemade holiday gift.
- Use them to add a sweet and crunchy bite to a charcuterie board.
- Add the candied nuts to snack mixes or trail mix.
- Add them to salads (they're especially delicious in salads topped with fruit like chopped apple or mandarin slices).
- Top an ice cream sundae with crunchy candied nuts. I love them with vanilla bean ice cream!
- Use them to top oatmeal or yogurt bowls at breakfast.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient list and measurements.
Almonds - Choose whole raw almonds for the best flavor and texture.
Egg white - One egg white, whisked until foamy, coats every almond and binds the sugar mixture to the nut.
Granulated Sugar - Plain white granulated sugar works best for crunchy nuts. I tested the recipe with a bit of brown sugar, but the extra moisture in the brown sugar made the nuts a bit sticky and less crunchy.
Cinnamon & Nutmeg - I tested different amounts of cinnamon to get the flavor just right and found that a tiny bit of nutmeg made the spice flavor extra special. For the best flavor, use ground spices that have been open for no more than a year.
Salt - A pinch of salt helps to balances the sweetness and enhance the spice flavors.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract - I love vanilla bean paste here for an extra burst of vanilla flavor (and those beautiful specks), but vanilla extract works beautifully, too.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for detailed recipe instructions.
Step 1: Whisk together sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.
Step 2: Whisk the egg white and vanilla until frothy.
Step 3: Add the almonds to the egg mixture and stir until all almonds are well coated.
Step 4: Slowly pour the sugar mixture over the almonds, stirring as you go to avoid any big clumps.
Step 5: Spread the almonds in a single layer on a greased baking sheet and bake at 250ºF for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Allison's Top Tips
Skip the parchment paper and make sure your almonds are in a single layer on the baking sheet before they go in the oven. This will help to ensure they bake up nice and crunchy.
Stir the almonds every 15 minutes while they bake to prevent clumping.
Don't be tempted to crank up the oven temperature to speed things up. The low and slow bake dries out the egg white coating and is what gives the nuts their dry, crunchy coating. A higher temperature will burn the sugar before the coating can set properly.
Recipe FAQs
The ingredients used and ratio of ingredients will impact the texture of the baked nuts, but you won't have an issue if you follow this recipe and bake the almonds for the full hour. The nuts may be slightly sticky when you first pull them out of the oven because of the warm sugar coating, but will no longer feel tacky after cooling for a few minutes.
Yes! This same technique works great with pecans and walnuts. Follow the same instructions, bake them low and slow at 250ºF, and be sure to give them a stir every 15 minutes.
You can absolutely customize the spice blend here! I've already added a pinch of nutmeg with the cinnamon, but other warming spices like cloves, allspice, and cardamom would be delicious, too.
One of my favorite things about candied almonds is that they're perfect for making ahead! They stay fresh and crunchy in an airtight container for up to two weeks and they freeze beautifully. They'll be one of the easiest recipes on your holiday baking list!
Storage Instructions
Room Temperature: Store cooled candied almonds in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. There's no need to refrigerate.
Freezing: Candied almonds freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, seal them in an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. I actually think they're delicious straight from the freezer, or you can let them thaw at room temperature before eating.
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Recipe
Cinnamon Sugar Candied Almonds
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (149 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons (6 grams) ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon (6 grams) fine sea salt
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 large egg white
- 1 Tablespoon (14 Tablespoons) vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 pound (454 grams) raw almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250ºF. Grease a large, rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray or melted butter. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk to combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.¾ cup (149 grams) granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons (6 grams) ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon (6 grams) fine sea salt, 1 pinch ground nutmeg (optional)
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla until frothy.1 large egg white, 1 Tablespoon (14 Tablespoons) vanilla bean paste
- Add the almonds to the egg mixture and stir until all almonds are well coated.1 pound (454 grams) raw almonds
- Slowly pour the sugar mixture over the almonds, stirring as you go to avoid any big clumps.
- Spread the almonds in a single layer on the greased baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Let the almonds cool completely on the pan on a wire rack before storing.
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