Sweet and savory vegan Candied Rosemary Walnuts make for the perfect addition to holiday party spreads, vegan cheeseboards, desserts, and salads! All you need is a handful of ingredients with two optional cooking methods (stovetop or roasted) for these moreish savory-sweet rosemary spiced nuts!
With the holiday season upon us (less than a month until Thanksgiving – yay!), we’ve been cooking up a storm in preparation. Along with all the ‘classics’ for your Thanksgiving table, though, there are dishes like these easy candied walnuts (aka glazed walnuts/ caramelized walnuts), which are taken to new levels with the addition of fresh rosemary for addictive savory-sweet roasted walnuts! These rosemary spiced nuts are the perfect accompaniment to any holiday party spread, grazing boards, vegan cheeseboards, over desserts, as a snack, or even as a frugal holiday gift- in a jar, complete with a bow!
Not only are these rosemary walnuts incredible, but the method is super simple – requiring just a handful of versatile ingredients (you can swap out the nuts, sweetener, and seasonings!) and a simple almost-foolproof method. In fact, we’ve even included TWO cooking methods below: for stovetop or roasted easy candied walnuts.
However, rosemary roasted nuts are our preferred method. It’s even more fool-proof, more hands-off, and there’s no mad rush to separate the candied walnuts before they dry into a single clump. The only caveat is there’s an extra (technically optional) blanching step. However, it takes just minutes and yields crunchier sweet roasted walnuts with a crunchy candy coating, so it’s no trouble at all!
Since these rosemary walnuts are so quick to prepare, they make for a great last-minute party snack to fit various dietary requirements too; gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, etc. More so, making homemade candied walnuts is far more frugal than getting them store-bought! Especially when buying walnuts or your nut of choice in bulk!
Best of all, with the addition of rosemary, these spiced candied walnuts are fragrant and flavorful with a delicious sweet and savory flavor. Everyone will be reaching for seconds, thirds, and fourths!
Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions.
This method allows you to skip the blanching step and create the entire recipe in one pan. However, the ingredients will differ slightly. For every cup of walnuts, you’ll need around ¼- ⅓ cup granulated sugar and a tablespoon of dairy-free butter (adjust the amount of salt added to the recipe if using salted butter).
You have between 30-40 seconds to separate the nuts before they start to set. Regarding when to add the various ingredients, you may prefer to allow the sugar to melt BEFORE adding the nuts. Some also prefer to add the cinnamon/ dry spices and salt right before transferring from the pan.
Once prepared, you can store the leftover caramelized walnuts at room temperature in an airtight container for between 1-2 weeks. Avoid storing them in the fridge as it can cause them to become moist/sticky.
Ensure that the caramelized walnuts cool COMPLETELY before storing – otherwise, they can steam in the bag and remain soft and sticky.
There are tons of ways to enjoy these savory-sweet walnuts, including:
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
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