Candied Almonds: the easy recipe for a festive Italian sweet

If you're looking for a fun, delicious snack to serve at parties, candied almonds are always a hit. Also known as sugared almonds, these delicious sweet snacks are popular in Italy, as well as many other countries around the world.

With an irresistible crunch and sweet flavor that tastes exactly like the sugared almonds you'd get at festivals and fairs, candied almonds are a great choice when you want a satisfying sweet treat to munch on. You only need almonds (or any other type of nut you like), sugar, water, cinnamon, and butter to make this amazing snack at home. They only take 10 minutes to make – perfect when you need to put together a last-minute party snack!

How to Make Candied Almonds

Set up a baking tray and line it with parchment paper. Grease the paper well with butter – this will make it easier to remove the almonds later. Make the syrup by bringing the water, sugar, salt, and cinnamon to a boil. Once the mixture is nice and bubbly, stir in the almonds and keep cooking them until the water evaporates and you're left with a syrup. Spread the almonds onto the parchment paper and leave them to cool for at least 15 minutes.

Tips for the Best Sugared Almonds

Eating too many candied almonds isn't healthy due to the sugar content. This recipe uses less sugar than others, but shouldn't be consumed in excess. You can make this recipe healthier (and keto-friendly) by substituting sugar for your preferred sweetener.

You can use honey instead of sugar to make your candied almonds.

There are many different flavor combinations to try like pumpkin spice, maple, vanilla, orange, and chocolate. You can even add a bit of cayenne for a sweet, spicy kick!

How to Store Candied Almonds 

Keep your candied almonds in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. They'll last for up to 2 weeks. Keeping them in the fridge will help them keep longer.

More Recipes You'll Like

Peanut brittle

Honeycomb candy

Almond biscuits

Almond bear claws

How to Make Candied Almonds

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Grease with butter.

Heat sugar, water, vanilla, and cinnamon over medium heat. Bring to a boil.

Stir in the almonds. Continue stirring until the water evaporates and syrup forms.

Transfer the almonds to the baking tray. Separate them with a fork, then leave them to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

Notes

You can candy any type of nut you prefer. Peanuts, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and more will all work with this recipe. You may even enjoy using a mix of nuts!