Cinnamon sugar almonds are a sweet holiday snack that you will love! The pan-roasted almonds are lightly sugar-coated with an irresistible sugar-cinnamon layer that you won't be able to resist. Make these Christmas spiced almonds a gift to your family and friends this season!
Global Food Recipes
with Spices and Herbs
Free E-Book available for a limited time. Grab yours now and get instantly inspired!
You missed out!
TL;DR
In the winter months, and especially during Christmas time, you will come across sugar-coated almonds in German Christmas markets. I love those sweet, warm nuts, but I wanted a simple way to prepare cinnamon-sugar-coated almonds at home.
The almonds are not totally covered by the sugar because this recipe doesn't include eggs. It's a simplified version of the home version inspired by the German “gebrannte Mandeln“.
These cinnamon sugar almonds have a light coating of tiny sugar crystals instead of the thick crunchy caramel shell you might know from German Christmas markets.
Still this recipe doesn't compromise on flavor, and it has become one of our favorite holiday treats. They're lightly sweetened, easy to snack on, and made on the stovetop with a handful of ingredients.
Process Overview
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.
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Sugar Almonds Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water
- 1¾ Cup 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 it in an airtight container in a hot and humid climate.
Notes
Nutrition
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).
As a side note, 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 sweet 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 Gift Ideas
Comments
No Comments