Air Fryer Candied Walnuts Recipe

If you're looking for a quick snack, you're going to go crazy for this Air Fryer Candied Walnuts recipe. Not only are they simple and easy to do but they're delicious as well! These air fryer nuts cook up in less than 30 minutes and can make excellent gifts or just a snack. Once you make your first batch of these Air Fryer Candied Walnuts they will fly right out of your kitchen. One minute they are there, the next they are gone.  Your family will gobble them right up. 

I'm always looking for a great snack recipe. Sometimes I just want something light and delicious that I can grab as I'm walking through the room. And what this means is that I often turn to nuts so that they fill my tummy and put a good taste in my mouth as well. 

I love the added health benefits of nuts for my daily diet, too. They keep me full of energy, give me good protein, and let's not forget that they're just plain delicious. 

I also like to add some sweetness to my snacks and this is why this candied walnuts recipe is one of my favorites. It's not overly sweet but rather has the perfect amount of subtle sweet flavoring as well. 

You can easily make this recipe fast and have it as a fun appetizer for family and friends or to fill up a bowl and snack on while you're binging your latest and greatest Netflix series.

I've done all the above and there's no shame in my snacking game! 

Air Fried Candied Walnuts

Sometimes I just want a simple snack. And sometimes I just want that simple snack to be a tad bit sweet and a tad bit crunchy as well. Luckily this easy walnut recipe takes care of both of those needs in a short amount of time. 

This is probably why I find myself cooking and making it up all the time. It's not uncommon for me to have a jar on the table that is constantly full of these tasty dessert nuts. 

Because I love knowing that when I need a sweet taste, I can just grab a few and walk away until later. 

Can I freeze Candied Walnuts

Sure, you can freeze candied walnuts for up to two months.  Just be sure to keep your walnuts in a freezer safe container or freezer bag. 

Ingredients needed to make Candied Walnuts

Did I mention that this simple walnut snack takes just 6 simple ingredients? There's a good chance that you already have them waiting to be used in your pantry! 

• 3 cups walnut halves & pieces (pecans and almonds work great too!)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

How to cook walnuts in the air fryer 

Using your air fryer is a super simple way to make up this crunchy walnut snack. I love how it's the perfect crunch with every bite. 

Preheat the air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees.

Prepare the walnuts

Add walnuts to a large mixing bowl.

Melt the butter then cool slightly.

Mix the ingredients 

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, and spices/seasonings. 

Coat the walnuts

Pour the butter over the walnuts and toss to coat.

Pour sugar mixture over walnuts and toss to coat.

Make your air fryer basket non-stick

Line air fryer basket with parchment paper liner.

Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket

Spread a thin layer of walnuts in the air fryer basket.

Put in the air fryer to cook

Cook in a preheated air fryer for 5 minutes in batches, then spread on a cookie sheet to cool.

Serve or store in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 7 days.

Do you have to store candied nuts in the fridge?

You don't. All you need is an airtight container or bag to store them in. The key is to keep them out of the air so that they don't become stale or mushy. 

Even in saying that, you can totally store them in the fridge if you want but just know that you don't have to. I tend to store them anywhere that I have space. 

Can you try this candied nuts recipe with any type of nuts?

This is why I love this simple sweet recipe! If you want to try to cook other types of nuts in the air fryer, you can easily do so. I've tried this with cashews, almonds and pecans and it comes out perfectly every time. 

You can even do a mixture of nuts and give yourself a candied mixed nut mix to snack on! 

My favorite nut to turn into candied nuts I think has to be pecans. A long time ago I took a trip to the Untied States and while on our way to Tampa, detoured and drove through south Georgia.

When you are driving through the farm country in south Georgia all you see is fields and fields of pecan trees. These pecan orchards are so beautiful.

Every where you turn in South Georgia you will find signs advertising farm fresh pecans. I have to admit since I took that trip down south I fell in love with pecans and they quickly became my favorite nut. 

Walnuts are wonderful too but pecans always have a special place in my heart.

Ingredients to add to this simple nut recipe

While I'm 100% certain that this air-fried candied nut recipe is delicious as is, you can always add in more ingredients to make it a heartier taste and option. 

Some delicious ingredients to mix with these candied walnuts are:

• Mini chocolate chips
• Dried cranberries
• Raisins
• Granola
• Nuts that are salted or unsalted

You can even add these candied walnuts as a fun topping to Carrot Cake, or as an add-in to oatmeal and food items like that. 

I also think that adding these to cookies would be a stellar texture and taste as well. Can you imagine how good these Grandma’s Oatmeal Chocolate Raisin Cookies would taste with a handful of these walnuts tossed in?

My mouth is literally watering just thinking about it! 

How do you know when nuts are stale?

If you're worried that your nuts are stale, it's okay. Don't fret. The possibility of them being stale happens quite frequently but isn't any reason to toss them out. You have options on how to still enjoy that flavor and taste.

You can always pop them back in your air fryer and toast them up again for a short amount of time. This should give them a bit of crunch and not make them as mushy.

The other option is to crush them up and put them on your ice cream. Seriously. It's the best ice cream topping ever. And it saves you from feeling as though you're wasting the nuts as well.  Even better if you put them on top of a bowl of homemade ice cream. 

I can't wait for you to try this simple candy walnut recipe. There's a reason that I pretty much have this recipe memorized and can make it without any type of directions at all. 

It's my go-to sweet treat without making me feel as though I'm busting through my diet for the day. It's delicious on its own or is wonderful paired up with just about any type of food. One of the best - seriously. 

How to Gift Air Fryer Candied Walnuts

Air Fryer Candied Walnut make an amazing gift for your friends and family. It's very simple to gift your walnuts. Simple place your cooked walnuts into a decorative bag that is tied with a pretty ribbon and place a label on your bag. 

Want a different way to gift your candied walnuts? I like to fill up a beautiful mason jar and then tie a pretty ribbon onto the jar. You can stick a label right on the jar or place the place the label onto the ribbon. 

If you like this simple nut recipe, you're going to love these flavors, too! These Air Fryer Walnuts make for a great gift.  Every year for Christmas our family does a homemade gift exchange.

Last year I gave away these Air Fryer Walnuts as my gift and I got so many phone calls from family members asking me for the recipe. I gladly shared the recipe because these Air Fryer Candied Walnuts are so simple to make. 

More Sweet Treats and Recipes

• Snickers Bar Layer Cake
• Air Fryer Chocolate Donut Holes with Glaze
• No Bake Cookies with Old Fashioned Oats and Caramel

Air Fryer Spiced Walnuts Video