You’ll love these candied walnuts no matter whether you are a savory person or have a sweet tooth. These walnuts are extra crunchy, coated with a sugar glaze, and dusted with a Chinese spice mix. A spice mix includes nutmeg, ginger, Sichuan peppercorn, paprika and cumin, which all balance the sweetness and make the nuts addictively tasty.
Why this recipe
There are many candied walnut recipes out there that require deep frying or baking. I do not like either of those approaches! The fried candied walnuts usually have an even and shiny glaze with a perfect crunchy crispy texture, but it takes a ton of time and effort to make them. Not to mention that frying sugar can cause hot, painful splatter. The common oven method is easier and fuss-free. However, the sugar will crystalize and create a less appealing look and texture. That’s why I created this recipe, inspired by a Chinese cooking technique used commonly for making candied apples (拔丝苹果) and candied sweet potatoes (拔丝地瓜). It uses a stovetop method with minimal oil to create a crispy crunchy candied result and it only takes a few minutes to make.
Ingredients
The ingredients in this recipe are so simple. Note, you will need regular white sugar in this recipe. Any sugar that has larger granules is not suitable for this recipe, since the larger granules won’t melt as fast or as evenly.
Cooking process
The cooking process is simple and fast.
Cooking notes
Afterthoughts
This candied walnut recipe is super easy and the results are delicious, even with room for error. It’s a major update from my previous recipe, which used a two-step method that included deep-frying. If you’re making edible gifts for Christmas, I’d highly recommend this one since it creates such a beautiful presentation and is addictively enjoyable!
Other Asian-inspired holiday recipes you might like
Sesame Checkerboard CookiesSoft Cinnamon Rolls with SesameSalted Chocolate Chip CookiesKabocha Pumpkin Pie (a Lighter and Fluffier Pie)Chiense Almond Cookies
