15-Minute Candied Hazelnuts Recipe

Candied hazelnuts are the perfect snack for any time of day. You can enjoy them during breakfast, pack some as your lunchbox treat or add them as an elegant topping to your ice cream after dinner.

These sweet treats also make an excellent movie-watching snack too. So, next time you are looking for a tasty treat, reach for candied hazelnuts. But first, make them today!

If you are new to the game and have never made candied nuts, you should try candied hazelnuts first.

Or they might compete with the French candied almonds - les pralines roses de Lyon.

Jump to:

• Why you should try this recipe
• Ingredients
• Recipe variations
• How to make candied hazelnuts
• Expert Tips
• Storing and freezing
• FAQ
• Love hazelnut recipes? Try these next!
• Recipe card
• Comments

But never mind, because mixed candied almond-hazelnut treats create an altogether different kind of sweet treat.

Please, don't get confused: the most common mistake people make when they don't differ between candied and caramelized hazelnuts. They are actually different.

Why you should try this recipe

• Coated with sugar and cinnamon, they are sweet and crunchy and pair well with various foods.

• You will love them chopped on your favorite ice cream, fruit compote, overnight porridge, folded-in homemade brownies, cookies, or brioche, or garnished with an iconic French dessert - Ile Flottante.

• You can sprinkle some candied nuts over savory dishes: a chicken salad, roasted beets, vegetable kale, or Brussel sprouts salad.

• They are the best kids' snacks, easy to eat, and won't make a mess. Isn't this what you were looking to make for your kids?

• During the busy final exam season, sugared hazelnuts also make the best finger food and snack for students.

• They make a tasteful holiday and a great hostess gift, and also a perfect addition to a holiday candy tray. So if you are looking for a unique and tasty gift, these are a great option.

• They are fun to make. This easy candied hazelnuts recipe can be made any time of year. Preparing them on the stovetop takes just 20 minutes (no need for a candy thermometer).

• What's the best? Candied hazelnuts are gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free (made without commonly used egg white).

Ingredients

For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.

• Hazelnuts: use store-bought roasted, unsalted hazelnuts, but raw hazelnuts will work too.

You need to roast them yourself, which takes about 15 minutes. And it doesn't matter if you choose to roast nuts in the oven or a pan.

Read about the world's best hazelnuts, including well-known Piedmont hazelnuts. If you live in the States, opt for Oregon hazelnuts.

Finally, you can replace hazelnuts with roasted almonds or make the almond-hazelnut mix.

• Sugar: the recipe calls for brown sugar, but you can replace it with granulated sugar or superfine caster sugar if preferred.

• Water: use cold water or water at room temperature.

• Ground cinnamon brings a beautiful flavor and taste. You can replace it with ¼ teaspoon of allspice, cardamom, ground nutmeg, ginger, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Recipe variations

The candied hazelnuts recipe is a classic recipe, but you can experiment with flavorings, spices, and different types of nuts.

• First, try to omit ground cinnamon to enjoy the natural flavor of hazelnuts.

• Or replace brown sugar with white sugar and cinnamon with orange flour water or rose water. Add one teaspoon of flavoring to the water and follow the recipe.

• In place of cinnamon, try to use a pinch of ground pumpkin pie spice to welcome the autumn season or French quatre épices during Christmas.

• Little garam masala, Chinese five spice, or a tiny bit of ground red pepper (aka cayenne pepper) will surely tickle your taste buds.

• Finally, experiment with other nuts, such as almonds, macadamia, pecans, or walnuts.

How to make candied hazelnuts

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

Mix sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. In a large frying pan, pour the water and sugar mixture and mix with a wooden spatula.

Bring the pan over medium-high heat. Once the sugar starts to boil and large bubbles form (photo 1), add whole hazelnuts.

Immediately low the heat to medium and continue to stir continuously (photo 2).

The sugar syrup will start making small bubbles (photo 3) and start to crystallize, coating the nuts thoroughly (photo 4).

Extra tip: Medium heat and constant stirring help the sugar coat the nuts. If you stop, the sugar will solidify, and the nuts won't be coated.

Continue stirring until the sugar stops adhering to the hazelnuts; the nuts will be covered with sugar (photo 5).

Transfer hazelnuts to a working surface, marble slab, or prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper and allow to cool down (photo 6).

If any nuts are stuck together, separate them with the wooden spatula while they are warm.

Collect the sugar-coated hazelnuts, and place them in an airtight container or a mason jar. Discard the remaining sugar left on the sheet.

Expert Tips

1. Be careful making the recipe: protect your forearms by wearing a shirt with long sleeves. Also, don't touch hot sugar syrup with your hands: it will burn once it comes in contact with the skin.
2. If you want to double or triple the recipe, make it in batches for the even sugar coating of nuts.
3. Use paper-based bags, cones, or glass jars to give these nuts as a gift. Avoid using plastic or zip-top bags.

Storing and freezing

How to store candied hazelnuts? Make sure that the nuts are cooled down completely before storing them.

Store candied nuts in an airtight container in a cool, dry place between 60-64°F or 16-18°C. They will keep their crispiness for up to two weeks.

Don't store your nuts in the refrigerator to prevent them from absorbing excess moisture.

Can you freeze candied hazelnuts? Freezing your candied hazelnuts is a great way to ensure they last longer. You can freeze them in an airtight container for 3 months.

FAQ

Love hazelnut recipes? Try these next!

Discover the best ways to use your hazelnuts. Make sure you try these delicious recipes.

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The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.