Cinnamon candied almonds are a sweet holiday snack that you will love!
The pan-roasted almonds are layered with an irresistible sugar-cinnamon layer that you won't be able to resist.
Make these Christmas spiced almonds to gift to your family and friends this season!
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📕 What are candied almonds?
Candied almonds are roasted almonds coated with a cinnamon-sugar layer.
It's an autumn and winter street food snack that originated in Bavaria Germany.
However, the cinnamon almonds are mainly enjoyed during the advent season, the 4 Christmas Sunday weekends before Christmas.
Christmas markets all over central Europe, in Germany and Austria, offer these street nuts in small stalls besides roasted chestnuts and Lebkuchen.
In german, they are better known as gebrannte Mandeln.
My candied almonds are an easy version inspired by the ones you get at Christmas markets in Europe.
The almonds are not totally covered by the sugar because this recipe doesn't include eggs.
🔪 How to make it?
Cinnamon sugar-coated almonds are easy to prepare on the stovetop at home.
Here is how you would go about it.
Find the complete recipe at the bottom of this post with detailed ingredients and instructions.
Step 1
Heat up a pan and add water and sugar with the almonds. Mix it all up.
Season with cinnamon and vanilla extract and mix again.
Step 2
Bring to a rolling boil.
The ingredients will thicken and coat the almonds.
Step 3
Prepare a baking sheet by buttering it.
Pour thickened sticky coated almonds over the buttered baking sheet and spread out.
Leave to cool and store to enjoy at a later date.
💭 FAQs
I store mine the same way I store my Christmas cookies, which means in a tin box lined with parchment paper. In a humid hot climate, I recommend you store your nuts in an airtight container.
The sugar doesn't coat and grip that well on peeled and blanched almonds. I recommend you use almonds with the skin on.
Yes, you can use other nuts instead of almonds. You can try it with walnuts and pistachios. Cashews might not be that suitable because the candy layer won't grip that well (besides cashews are seeds, not nuts).
German candied nuts are a fair and holiday street snack. Jordan nuts are pastel-colored dragees (aka confetti) gifted in Italy and France during special occasions. White ones for weddings, blue and pink ones for a christening to just name a few.
📜 Flavor variations
I have come across various flavor variations for caramelized almonds at fairs and markets in Austria and Germany.
Here are some ideas on how you can pep up your german roasted nuts:
- hot spiced nuts - add chili pepper powder
- matcha nuts - includes green tea matcha powder
- chocolate glazed almonds - add chocolate powder
- simple spiced almonds - add either cardamom, clove or star anise
- ginger-flavored almonds
- honey instead of sugar - you will need a lot of honey
- citrus-flavored - add a pinch of grated lemon or orange skin
- saffron nuts - a special and precious way to flavor and color almond snacks
👁️ More edible holiday gift ideas
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Candied Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water
- 8.8 ounces Almonds
- ½ cup Sugar
- Vanilla Extract a few drops
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon Ground
- Butter
Instructions
- Heat up a pan and pour in water and sugar. Mix it up a bit.
- Add in the almonds, cinnamon powder and vanilla extract and mix everything well.
- Bring to a rolling boil while stirring frequently.
- You will need to reduce the liquids so that the almonds get coated by the flavored sugar. Stir continuously at this point.
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper and butter the paper generously.
- When the almonds are covered by a sticky layer of sugar, take from the heat and spread quickly over the buttered baking sheet. The sugar will harden fast when taken from the heat so don't waste time.
- Leave to cool a bit and when you can touch them break the almond sugar pieces apart wherever they have formed a lump.
- Store in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight. I like to keep them in a tin box lined with parchment paper. Keep in an airtight container in a hot and humid climate.
