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Home » Meal Type » Sweet Things

Published: Oct 12, 2021 · by Laurel Perry · About 3 minutes to read this article. · This post may contain affiliate links

Maple Spice Candied Cashews

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Maple Spice Candied Cashews are sweet, crispy, nutty and perfectly spiced! Made healthier with maple syrup. Vegan and gluten free.

Maple candied cashews on a grey background.

Maple Spice Candied Cashew are just like my favorite candied nuts I find at the fair or ballpark. They are warmly spiced, perfectly sweet, and have just the right amount of crunchy caramelized sugar coating each nut.

You'll never believe how easy they are to make at home!

Reasons to love this recipe!

  • These candied cashews have the same taste and texture as the classic fair-style candied nuts, but are much healthier!
  • An easy 6 ingredient recipe.
  • Vegan, gluten free, paleo, naturally sweetened, and delicious!
Spiced candied cashews in a bowl with cinnamon.

Ingredients and substitutions:

  • Raw cashews - any raw nut will work! Think pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc! Just make sure they are raw, not roasted.
  • Maple syrup - the backbone of the recipe. It adds flavor and gives us that delightful crunchy sugar texture. You could likely use agave syrup, but you'd loose out on flavor and I have not tested it to make sure it works.
  • Spices - I used a mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg which create a delicious warm flavor! Reminiscent of pumpkin spice. You can use any or all of the spices to suit your taste.

How to make candied cashews:

Mix: Add the nuts, maple, and spices to a skillet over medium heat. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a low simmer.

Simmer: Continue to cook, stirring often. The maple will thicken and become syrupy. Keep going. Once is starts to crystalize on the nuts, remove them from the heat.

Cool: Spread the nuts out in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle them with flaky salt and let cool. Once cool, enjoy!

  • Cinnamon being added to a skillet with raw cashews and maple syrup.
  • Raw cashews simmering in maple syrup.
  • Candied cashews crystalized with maple syrup.

Storage:

Store leftovers in a zip top bag or jar in the pantry for up to 3 months.

How to make healthier candied nuts

The secret to healthier candied nuts is to use maple syrup! This natural sweetener gives the nuts that signature crystalized texture and adds great flavor.

What to do with candied cashews?

  • They make the perfect mid-afternoon snack - a sweet pick-me-up that also packs protein and healthy fats!
  • A great addition to a cheese board or appetizer spread.
  • Sprinkle them over your favorite salad.
  • Stir them into cookie dough to add crunch and flavor to your cookies.
  • Use them to top your favorite oatmeal, smoothie, or yogurt bowl.
  • Pack them up in cute glass jars and give them as hostess or holiday gifts!
Candied cashews on a sheet pan with flaky salt.

More recipes you'll love!

  • Healthy Peanut Brittle
  • Two Ingredient Almond Butter Fudge
  • Salted Caramel Coconut Candy Bars - naturally sweetened!
  • Healthy Tahini Caramel Sauce - so good on apples!
  • Pumpkin Caramel Chocolate Cups
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Spiced candied cashews in a bowl with cinnamon.

Maple Spice Candied Cashews

  • Author: Laurel Perry
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Sweet Things
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

Maple Spice Candied Cashews are sweet, crispy, nutty and perfectly spiced! Made healthier with maple syrup. Vegan and gluten free.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups raw cashews
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ⅛th teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • Flaky salt, optional

Instructions

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Add the nuts, maple, and spices to a skillet over medium heat. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a low simmer.

Continue to cook, stirring often. The maple will thicken and become syrupy. Keep going. Once is starts to crystalize on the nuts, remove them from the heat.

Spread the nuts out in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan. Sprinkle them with flaky salt and let cool completely. Once cool, enjoy!


Notes

Cashews: any raw nut will work! Think pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc! Just make sure they are raw, not roasted.

Spices: feel free to adjust the spices to suit your tastes!


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ¼ cup
  • Calories: 213
  • Sugar: 14g
  • Sodium: 2mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Carbohydrates: 23g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: raw cashews, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, easy, holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, vegan, gluten free

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica S. says

    December 23, 2021 at 11:37 am

    Hi,

    I plan to candy my own cashews and your recipe looks wonderful! Before I do, I have 2 questions:

    1. I have ground nutmeg; will that work as a substitute for grated nutmeg?
    2. Can sea salt be used as a substitute for flaky salt?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Laurel Perry says

      December 23, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      Hi Jessica, Great questions! Yes to both. Ground nutmeg will work in place of grated and sea salt can be used in place of flaky salt. Sea salt if a "saltier" salt since has smaller flakes, so I would start small and work your way up to your preferred salt level :) Happy cooking!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Laurel

Eating your veggies doesn’t have to mean bland steamed cauliflower and boring salads! My mission is to help people eat their nine servings of fruit & vegetables a day and LOVE it! About me →

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