Candied Walnuts

by Peg
(Michigan)

I made candied walnuts and they are too sticky..any suggestions how to get them to harden?

The recipe that I used called for heating brown sugar, white sugar and sour cream in a heavy saucepan on the stove until the mixture reaches 250 degrees.


At that point, you remove the pan from the heat and stir in vanilla and walnuts and then tip them out onto a greased baking tray to cool.


The only problem is that the walnuts are just too sticky!


I don't think there is much humidity in the air. It's just really cold out! :)


Is there anything I can do to make them set a bit more or harden so the candied walnuts aren't too sticky?

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Hi Peg,

Mmmmmm! I made candied nuts not too long ago, but they weren't candied walnuts. I'm not a huge walnut fan myself, but that does actually sound pretty yummy.


My recipe didn't call for sour cream. That's an interesting twist and one I'll have to look into. I wish you would have given exact measurements on your recipe because then I could have tried it myself.


Let's see. How can you salvage your sticky candy walnut mess? I'd think the best option you have now is to pop the entire tray into the oven for about 15-20 minutes at about 325 degrees Fahrenheit to see if you can get the candy coating to harden a bit more.


Just be really careful not to overcook the nuts. You don't want to trade sticky walnuts for burnt walnuts, that's for sure. Sticky is much better. :)


You may also want to make a point of turning/stirring the walnuts after about 8-10 minutes to allow the heat to circulate around all sides.


Let us know if this does the trick for you. I'm sure you aren't the first, nor will you be the last, person to end up with candied nuts that are too sticky.


Merry Christmas!
Angie