If you haven’t discovered the simple pleasure of candied peanuts, this recipe is about to blow your mind.
These homemade candied peanuts are the perfect blend of sweet and crunchy. They’re great for snacking or for topping cakes, pies, and other treats.
They’re rustic and charming, yet they have a quality gourmet appeal. Each bite is sweet, rich, and supremely nutty with a sugary shell.
They’re an old-fashioned, timeless treat you won’t be able to resist!
Why You’ll Love These Candied Peanuts
Irresistible Crunch: There’s just something so satisfying about a crunchy snack. These feature all the crunch of plain peanuts and then some!
Simple Ingredients: This recipe features only three basic ingredients. Peanuts (obviously), sugar, and water. It’s hard to beat that kind of simplicity. Plus, they’re very budget-friendly.
Rich Caramel Taste: Caramelizing the sugar transforms it into golden amber syrup. It gives the peanuts a sweet, caramel-like flavor that’s out of this world.
Great for Gifting: These tasty treats last a couple of weeks at room temperature and even longer in the fridge! That makes them perfect for gifting. Pour them into a pretty, well-decorated jar and tie a ribbon around them.
Ingredients
- Raw Peanuts: Select plain (i.e., unroasted) peanuts with the skin on as the base for these crunchy candied nuts.
- Granulated Sugar: For the sweet, crystalline, candy-like coating.
- Water: You’ll need it to dissolve the sugar and create the syrupy coating for the peanuts.
How to Make Candied Peanuts
Follow these steps to make candied peanuts:
1. Prepare the syrup. Mix the sugar and water in a skillet to make a simple syrup. Heat over medium heat, stirring continuously until ready.
2. Add the peanuts. Stir the peanuts in and cook for another 10 minutes. Or until the liquids completely evaporate, leaving the peanuts in their sugary coating.
3. Caramelize. Reduce the heat and continue stirring until the remaining sugar melts. Stir constantly until the syrup changes from clear to golden to amber.
4. Cool. Transfer the peanuts to a large pan, arranging them in a single layer. Allow to cool completely.
5. Serve or store. Serve the peanuts immediately, or store them in an air-tight container.
Tips for the Best Candied Peanuts
This is a simple recipe, so you may not need my tips. I always like to provide them anyway, just in case.
- Get a step ahead. Once the peanuts are done, you transfer them to a pan to cool. To save time on cleanup, line that pan with a silicone mat or parchment paper before starting the recipe.
- Use raw peanuts only! Peanuts that have already been roasted or toasted won’t work. Use raw peanuts with the skins still on.
- Pre-sort the peanuts. Go through them and discard any that look shriveled or unhealthy. If the peanuts aren’t high-quality, caramelizing them won’t change that.
- Stir constantly! It’s hugely important, especially when caramelizing the coating. If you don’t stir constantly, you risk burning the peanuts. Be sure to monitor the syrup’s color continuously, too. Once it reaches a medium amber, remove the nuts from the heat immediately.
- Prefer sweet and salty? Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the peanuts as soon as you spread them in the pan to cool. It’ll give them a sweet-n-salty kick that’s absolutely delicious.
- Add fun flavorings. Customize the flavors. Add a pinch of cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, chili powder, cayenne, or vanilla. Work quickly to stir in the flavorings as the sugar caramelizes on the nuts.
- Don’t just snack on them! You can use them to top your ice cream, cakes, and other desserts. They also add a nice bit of crunch and sweetness to fresh salads.
How to Store
Be sure to store candied peanuts properly to preserve their crunchiness.
To Store: Let the peanuts cool fully. Then, place them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Refrigerating them will make them last for up to a month.
Candied Peanuts
12
servings5
minutes20
minutes201
kcalThese candied peanuts are the perfect topper for any dessert! And with just three ingredients, they couldn’t be easier to make.
Ingredients
2 cups peanuts, raw with skin
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
Instructions
- In a skillet, mix together the sugar and water. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously until it forms a syrupy consistency.
- Stir in the peanuts. Continue cooking for approximately 10 minutes. Or until the liquids evaporate and the peanuts are coated in a sandy, sugary mixture.
- Reduce the heat. Continue stirring for a few more minutes as the remaining sugar melts in the skillet. The syrup should change from clear to golden and finally to amber. Stir constantly and keep the heat low to prevent burning or over-darkening the syrup.
- When the syrup reaches a medium amber color and the peanuts have a glazed, sugary coating, transfer them to a pan. Spread them out in a single layer to allow for cooling.
- Store the cooled caramelized peanuts in an airtight container. This will help them retain their freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Place parchment paper or a silicone mat on the pan you plan to use for cooling.
- Use raw, skin-on peanuts and pre-sort them to get rid of any subpar nuts.
- Stir constantly to avoid burning.
- Add salt or other flavorings as desired.
