Air Fryer Candied Walnuts - Make Healthy Recipes (2024)

Perfect as a quick snack or a great gift in the holiday season, Air Fryer Candied Walnuts are so moreish! Add them to a cheese board or party table, this easy air fryer recipe will become a year-round staple!

❤️Why you will love this recipe

• Easy: All I had to do was mix the walnuts with butter, sugar (or erythritol), vanilla extract, and cinnamon, and add them to the preheated air fryer basket.
• Quick: This easy snack recipe is ready in less than 10 minutes, including heating the air fryer.
• Satisfying: We all love that perfect crunch, right? Well, add a little cinnamon sugar and it really takes this crunchy snack up a level!
• Simple ingredients: Just a few ingredients – walnuts, butter, cinnamon, white and brown sugar (or erythritol), vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
• Healthy: Walnuts are so good for you! They’re rich in antioxidants, and a great source of healthy fats like omega 3s which may reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and may reduce inflammation. This is the perfect snack for the keto diet!
• Keto and paleo-friendly: This recipe works with regular sugar, but I personally prefer making it with erythritol for a healthy, low carb treat.
• Less energy: Air fryers are an excellent appliance because they’re easy to use and also they use up less energy than an oven.

🗝️Key Ingredients & Substitutions

• Walnuts: Whole walnuts, walnut halves, or walnut pieces all work for this recipe. I found that the walnuts didn’t fall through the holes in the air fryer basket. You can substitute pecans if you’d prefer.
• Butter: Butter tastes so delicious with these nuts, but for a dairy-free option you can use refined coconut oil.
• Sugar or sweetener: This recipe works with both sugar and erythritol (or premixed stevia & erythritol). I added both white sugar (or sweetener) and light brown sugar (or sweetener), however, one or the other would work too.
• Ground cinnamon: This spice brings out the sweetness in these cinnamon sugar walnuts.
• Vanilla: Vanilla extract adds warmth and sweetness. Skip it if you don’t have any on hand.
• Salt: Just a pinch of salt makes all of these flavors pop!

🥣How to make Candied Walnuts in an Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 140 degrees C/285 degrees F.

2. Mix melted butter and walnuts: In a medium bowl, mix the raw nuts with the melted butter.

3. Mix the other ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients: white and brown sugar (or erythritol), cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt.

4. Add them together: Add the butter-coated walnuts to the sugar mixture in the large mixing bowl and mix everything together until the walnuts have an even sugar coating.

5. Cook: Add the coated walnuts to the preheated air fryer in a single layer, and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring or shaking the basket halfway through.

6. Cool: Remove the candied walnuts from the air fryer, spread them out on a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper, and allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes before eating. If the walnuts are stuck together, break them up with a wooden spoon.

🫙Storage Instructions

• Room Temperature: Store any extra candied nuts in an airtight container like a mason jar at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For ease, store individual portions in little bags so you can just grab them and go.
• Fridge: If you want to keep them for even longer, pop them in the fridge for up to 3-4 weeks.
• Freezer: Candied nuts freeze really well! You can store them in a freezer-safe air-tight container or a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

For more storage tips and ticks, check out How To Store Walnuts: Long and Short Term.

🪄Recipe Notes & Tips

Check your nuts:Make sure when you stir the nuts, you check them to see how “done” they are. Check them again at the 8-minute mark and if they need a couple of extra minutes then cook them just a little longer. Different brands of air fryers will heat differently, so keep an eye on them to prevent burning!

Other nuts: You can swap the walnuts and make air fryer almonds, candied pecans or even peanuts. Peanuts may cook a little quicker so keep an eye on them! I’ve also tried this with cashews and brazil nuts. They take a little longer to cook.

🍽️How to serve this Air Fryer Candied Walnuts recipe

This easy recipe can be served in many different ways. Here are a few I enjoy:

• In a small bowl by themselves for a great snack
• In trail mix
• On yogurt with fresh fruit
• As part of a cheese board
• Mixed into cookies
• On top of ice cream
• In and on carrot cake
• On top of Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

🎁How do you make candied nuts into a gift?

Sealed in a mason jar and tied with a pretty ribbon, candied nuts are a simple, delicious treat and are amazing gifts for special occasions. All you have to do is make a large batch of candied walnuts, place them in a small or medium-sized mason jar and seal it. I like to tie a ribbon around the jar and add a little gift tag with the ingredients and storage instructions.

😋More air fryer recipes you will love

• Air Fryer Roasted Walnuts
• Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
• Air Fryer Rice Paper Dumplings
• Crispy Air Fryer Drumsticks
• Air Fryer Carrots
• 100 Keto Air Fryer Recipes

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