Candied Peanuts

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.