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These candied cashews are addictive! They make the perfect homemade gift or topping for a salad. The best part? Only 3 ingredients are needed and they’re ready in 15 minutes.

candied cashews in a bowl

These caramelized cashews are really tasty. Dangerously so. I only made a fairly small quantity, but the recipe easy doubles, triples, etc. if you need to feed a crowd.

The recipe is written for 1 cup of nuts. I used a pretty small saucepan to make these. Just use a skillet or larger pan if you are doubling/tripling/etc. the recipe.

loose candied cashews on counter

This recipe is pretty foolproof as long as you watch the nuts closely. At first it won’t seem like they’re really doing anything, but it’s important to keep stirring them or else you will end up with a mess that is NOT fun to clean. Don’t ask me how I know this. 😉

Candied nuts always scream Christmas to me, but really they’d work for any occasion where you want candied nuts haha.

bowl of candied cashews with a few loose cashews beside it

How to make candied cashews

Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat, then add the sugar and nuts.

You will see the sugar begin to melt after a few minutes. It then melts at a faster rate, and you need to keep stirring to ensure they won’t burn.

Once the sugar is totally melted and the nuts are coated, they’re done! This process takes about 10-15 minutes total. Possibly a little longer if you’re doing more nuts.

close-up of loose candied cashews on a flat surface

I used cashews for this recipe, but it would also work with most nuts. Go nuts! (See what I did there?).

You may also like my maple roasted pecan recipe.

Hope you love these candied cashews!

These candied cashews are addictive! They make the perfect homemade gift or topping for a salad. The best part? Only 3 ingredients are needed and they're ready in 15 minutes.
4 from 13 votes

Easy Candied Cashews

These candied cashews are addictive! They make the perfect homemade gift or topping for a salad. The best part? Only 3 ingredients are needed and they're ready in 15 minutes.
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 14 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 1 cup

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup unsalted cashews
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions 

  • Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat and let it melt.
  • Add the sugar and cashews.
  • Stir the mixture frequently (it burns easily so watch it closely) until the sugar melts and caramelizes over the nuts. Once all the sugar has melted and coated the nuts, they're done.
  • Spread them onto a plate or piece of parchment paper so they don't all stick together. Some will clump together, which is fine.
  • Allow them to cool then store them in a sealed container. 

Notes

  • Recipe easily doubles, triples, etc. 

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

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62 Comments

  1. Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says:

    Cashews are my fave!

    1. Natasha says:

      Same 🙂

  2. Sarah Fennel says:

    5 stars
    Oh yum! I would definitely eat all of these!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you!!

  3. Lindsay Cotter says:

    Such an easy holiday food gift idea! Could snack on these all day!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you!!

  4. Jennifer Farley says:

    I want an entire bowl!

    1. Natasha says:

      Done! 😉

  5. Tieghan Gerard says:

    I would eat ALL of these in one sitting. SO GOOD.

    1. Natasha says:

      Right?! Thanks, Tieghan!

  6. Matt Robinson says:

    Those look insanely addicting!!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thanks, Matt! 🙂

  7. Gina @Running to the Kitchen says:

    I bet these are so addicting! I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them!!

    1. Natasha says:

      I had a few issues myself. 🙂 Thanks, Gina!

  8. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says:

    Love how easy these are! Perfect for last minute gifting!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thanks so much!! They totally were a last-minute brainwave for me as well. 😛

  9. Leigh Ann says:

    I could eat a whole batch of these myself!

    1. Natasha says:

      I almost did. 😀

  10. Natasha's Sister says:

    5 stars
    If these are so quick and easy, I trust you’ll be making some for me?

    1. Natasha says:

      No.