Posted Apr 04, 2018, Updated Sep 02, 2020
I’m a firm believer that every salad needs a little nutty crunch to make it truly great. Enter these Easy Candied Almonds! They are made with only 5 ingredients in 15 minutes and are the perfect sweet and salty addition to any and every bowl of leafy greens! I have made this recipe more times than I can count, because we eat a lot of salad around here! My all-time favorite salad topper are these candied pecans, however I don’t always have a full hour to get food on the table {can anyone else relate}?! So when it’s time for salad now, these Easy Candied Almonds are the perfect recipe to have in your tool belt! They are also super healthy! We’re talking gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan AND paleo-friendly! A great way to add a delicious dash of protein and splash of pizazz to any salad!
I wanted to share a few notes about making this recipe with you to help ensure your candied-nut-making success!
1. Stir…a lot.
{Is it strange that when I read that heading I though of Sir Mix A Lot and then started singing “Baby Got Back?” Yes, ok let’s move on}. These Easy Candied Almonds need to be stirred pretty constantly to keep them from burning. Use a wooden spatula (like the one pictured below) or a regular spatula and flip the nuts over as you stir!
2. Watch them carefully.
These nuts go from uncooked to burnt in the blink of an eye. Do not walk away from the pan! It takes a little while for them to start browning, but once it starts it happens very quickly!
3. Cool Completely.
These almonds get crunchier as they cool! Pour them onto a large baking sheet so they can cool completely before breaking them apart to enjoy or store for later! I recommend lining your baking sheet with waxed paper for easy removal, unless your pan is very seasoned!
4. How to store candied nuts
Store these at room temperature for up to 4 days. If they loose their crunchiness easily restore it by tossing them in a frying pan for a minute or two or in the oven turned to warm and let them cool again!
Serving suggestions:
Serve with this balsamic vinaigrette on a salad for a delicious combo. Sprinkle some on these roasted beets! SO GOOD! Add a few to this burrata salad or this roasted vegetable quinoa salad! Sprinkle some on top of these overnight oats with yogurt!
Easy Candied Almonds: Substitutions
There are a few substitutions that can be made in this recipe with great results!
Slivered almonds. I have literally used every nut under the sun to make this recipe, always with amazing results! My favorites are sliced almonds, pecans and cashews! YUM! If you do choose to substitute nuts I recommend starting by using 1 cup and adding more if necessary. Some other nuts soak up the coconut oil more than slivered almonds! Coconut oil. Butter or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil with delicious results! Granulated Sugar. I usually use organic cane sugar, but coconut sugar can be used for a paleo option! Really any granulated sugar of your choice will work wonderfully!
IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING FROM JOYFOODSUNSHINE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS! DON’T FORGET TO RATE THIS RECIPE AND LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW! ALSO, FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TWITTER FOR MORE RECIPE INSPIRATION AND A GLIMPSE INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIFE!
