Irresistibly, crunchy, sweet and gently spiced with a kick at the end, these cinnamon sugared nuts are destined to be your family favorite. We love candied almonds for snacking and they make a wonderful food gift idea.
4cups whole raw almonds (not roasted or salted)I get the big bag from Costco
1cupgranulated sugar
1tablespoon cinnamon or use pumpkin spice or apple pie spice
1 ½teaspoonsfine sea saltor 1 teaspoon iodized salt
1/4-1/2teaspoon cayenne pepperoptional depending on how spicy you like it.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon (or other spice), salt and cayenne pepper. Whisk well to combine.
Add the egg white and vanilla extract or water to a large bowl and use a whisk to whip it into a frothy, airy, light foam. Add the almonds and use a spatula to completely coat the nuts with the foamy egg whites. They should be tacky but not soaking wet.
Pour the cinnamon sugar mixture over the nuts and use a rubber spatula to fold and coat the nuts completely with the sugar mixture and there's no leftover dry bits in the bowl.
Spread the sugared almonds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.
Flip the nuts using a spatula and rearrange them into a single layer. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Let the candied almonds cool to room temperature, then break apart and store in an airtight container, or portion into jars for gifting. Note: If you have a food saver, the nuts will last longer if you vacuum seal them in a jar or bag.