This is a good place to start if you want to recreate the smell of Christmas Markets at home. Now that the holiday season is upon us, a great way to celebrate is by making this homemade candied almonds recipe. They are easy to make, really tasty and they only require two ingredients. They will bring the winter festivals home and make beautiful homemade gifts.

Ingredients to make them

To make this recipe you need really simple ingredients. I say you need 2 ingredients because all you really need to shop for are almonds and sugar. You will also need, however, water and a bit of sea salt which we usually have at home. It’s an extremely easy recipe and it makes for the best Candied Almonds. You won’t believe how lovely the candy coating is and how that pinch of salt really elevates the whole thing. Here are your basic ingredients:

Almonds: For this Candied Almonds recipe we use raw almonds. This just means your regular everyday almonds. They don’t need to be blanched, peeled or anything like that. You also want to avoid salted almonds.
Sugar: The sugar is what’s going to turn the almonds into candied almonds.
Water: The water will help in dissolving the sugar and then coating the almonds with the crystallised sugar.
Salt: A bit of salt is always welcome in snacks like these, especially with that caramel on the outside of the almonds.

How to make Candied Almonds

Making Candied Almonds is not an intricate process. It’s actually quite mesmerizing and you won’t believe the amazing smell that comes out of that pot. It’s definitely one of my favourite almond recipes to make along with homemade granola. Here are your simple step-by-step instructions:

In a large pot, combine sugar, almonds and water. Cook them over medium heat stirring constantly with a hard utensil such as a nylon or wooden spoon.
The water will boil and as the sugar melts it will form a sugar syrup. Then, it will start to dry down and crystalize, coating the almonds with a white mixture.
Here you need to keep stirring constantly and you will notice that the sugar will start to melt again and turn golden brown. Once the almonds are completely shiny and coated in this caramel, remove them from the pot and onto a prepared baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Spread them out to help them unstick, trying to have the Candied Almonds in a single layer.
Let them cool down completely to room temperature. Use your hands to separate any big lumps.

How long do they keep

Once your Candied Almonds have reached room temperature, you can place them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Some containers that work include mason jars, Tupperware and tin boxes. This time can even extend to 4 weeks if you place them in a dark, cool place such as a pantry. Once you have them at hand you can eat them as a snack or add them to your favourite salads. In my opinion, they’re better than popcorn when watching a movie!

Alternative flavourings for Candied Almonds

Candied nuts are delicious and you can certainly use pecans, pistachios, walnuts or peanuts to make this recipe. Other than that, you can also add spices such as ground cinnamon or even cayenne pepper if you’re feeling adventurous. Candied Almonds are great to play around with! Making cinnamon almonds is definitely a good idea and it will bring an even more delicious flavour to your kitchen. Other things you can add include vanilla extract, ground cardamom, ground cloves, and even ground ginger! If you’re including spices, I would add them at the final stage along with the salt so that they don’t burn in the process.