These easy Honey Glazed Walnuts are the sweet, glossy upgrade your everyday walnuts have been waiting for! Just 3 ingredients and a few minutes to make sweet, candied nuts perfect for everything from breakfast to salads, snacks to holiday charcuterie boards.
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Honey Candied Walnuts for Salads
This simple nut recipe transforms regular walnuts into irresistible, glossy golden clusters perfect for snacking or for sprinkling over your favorite dishes. Lightly glazed in warm honey with just a touch of oil, they make an especially fantastic crunchy addition to a tasty holiday salad like Pomegranate Feta Salad or Strawberry Spinach Salad.
These candied walnuts also shine at breakfast, bringing a sweetness and crunch to yogurt, oatmeal, or a satisfying Chia Breakfast Bowl. This is one of my favorite recipes for the holiday season. They’re perfect as part of a Spectacular Charcuterie Board, or package them in a jar with a festive ribbon, and you’ve got an effortless, homemade, and universally loved edible gift for the sweet tooth on your list.
Ingredient notes
- Raw walnuts - halves or large pieces work best
- Honey - pure good quality honey will work best. I like raw honey. Maple syrup can also be used, but it does give the finished product a slightly pronounced maple flavor.
- Oil - avocado oil or other neutral-flavored plant oil.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Add the honey and oil to a small, heavy-bottomed skillet.
- Step 2: Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the mixture bubbles and becomes slightly thickened.
- Step 3: Add the walnuts to the mixture and stir them around in the glaze to fully coat them.
- Step 4: Continue to cook for a couple minutes, stirring occasionally, until the nuts look shiny and glossy. Don’t overcook or the nuts will turn bitter.
- Step 5: Transfer the glazed walnuts onto the parchment-lined baking tray. Spread them out evenly into a single layer. Use a rubber spatula to separate any larger clusters. Allow the walnuts to cool completely.
- Step 6: Once the candied walnuts have set (no longer sticky and slightly hardened), transfer them to your storage container.
Top Tip
Stir the walnuts frequently and avoid letting them cook too long or brown too much. Overcooking can make them taste bitter.
Storage Instructions
Store candied nuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
How to Serve Glazed Nuts
As a salad topper - substitute these glazed walnuts for salads that call for nuts as an ingredient (try them with my Apple Gorgonzola Salad, Beet and Feta Salad with Walnuts, or my Butternut Squash Feta Salad). Or just add them to your favorite salad whether it calls for nuts or not!
In breakfast bowls - try these crunchy honey walnuts on top of a smoothie bowl (like my Strawberry Smoothie Bowl) or Oat Milk Chia Pudding.
As part of a charcuterie spread - whether you’re making a Small Charcuterie Board for a more intimate gathering or a fully festive Christmas Charcuterie Board for a holiday party, these candied nuts are a great addition!
Tips & Tricks for the Best Results
- Walnut halves or quarters work best. Avoid chopped walnut pieces.
- Be sure to use parchment and not wax paper.
- Adding a tiny pinch of salt will help bring out and accentuate flavor.
- Be careful! The walnuts will be very hot and sticky straight off the pan, that’s normal. They will firm up beautifully as they cool.
- Break up larger clusters of nuts on the sheet pan while they’re still soft.
- Add a variety of spices or seasoning with the honey and oil to create tasty flavor combinations. I’ve included a few ideas in the FAQ section.
- These nuts are great over salads, in yogurt or oatmeal bowls, or enjoy them as a sweet, crunchy snack.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can freeze candied nuts! Place the cooled walnuts in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. Let them thaw at room temperature. They’ll crisp back up as they warm.
Yes! This recipe works beautifully with pecans, peanuts, almonds, cashews, or a mix of nuts. Just make sure they’re raw, not already roasted or salted.
Definitely. Just use a larger skillet so the nuts can coat evenly and spread them on a bigger tray to cool. Click on “x2” in the recipe card to easily adjust the amounts of ingredients needed.
Yes! Try cinnamon, pumpkin spice, vanilla, or a pinch of cayenne for heat. Add spices directly to the honey mixture before coating the nuts.
More nutty snacks
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts halves or large pieces
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil or other neutral plant oil
Instructions
- Line a small baking sheet, tray, or plate with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the honey and oil to a small, heavy-bottomed skillet. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook for a few minutes, stirring often, until the mixture becomes bubbly and slightly thickened.
- Add the walnuts to the skillet and stir to coat them evenly in the honey glaze. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. The nuts should look glossy and well covered—it's fine if there’s a little glaze left in the bottom of the pan.
- Transfer the glazed walnuts onto the prepared parchment-lined tray, spreading them out into a single layer. Use a spatula to separate any clusters.
- Allow the walnuts to cool completely. Once they’re no longer sticky and have hardened, transfer them to a jar or airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Betty says
brilliant idea for a healthy snack. It's sooo easy! I'll definetely make this glazed walnuts more often.
Natalie says
Candied nuts like this are such a holiday classic. I LOVE how easy they were to make, too.
Paul says
I made these last weekend and they are so great. Easy too!
Elena says
These honey glazed walnuts are so yummy! I made some to snack on throughout the week, but will now be adding some to my holiday charcuterie board. SO good!
Lia says
Just made these and they're cooling on the counter right now but I already snuck a few. The perfect balance of sweet and crunchy. Great for snacking or adding to salads like you mentioned.
Matt says
I've always wondered how to candy nuts-- this is awesome, thanks!!