Candied Peanuts Recipe

February 15, 2021November 18, 2023

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Candied Peanuts are guaranteed to become your new favorite snack item. These old fashioned sugared nuts are sweet and crunchy. The only problem with these coated peanuts is that you will not be able to stop eating them.

Peanuts are a great go-to snack. You can make them salty, sweet, spicy or any combination. We love this simple Payday peanut mix that requires nothing more than opening a couple of packages and mixing! These Crock Pot Chili Peanuts are a great snack to set out on game day to enjoy with a cold beer.

Table of Contents

Here’s a story about ~~a lovely lady~~ a very happy lady who discovered these addictive sugared peanuts. That lady is me, of course. Sometimes, I have some type of divine intervention when a new recipe just comes to me. And, that’s exactly how these crunchy coated peanuts came to be.

The recipe is truly old fashioned because all I really did was modify an already perfect recipe for Southern Candied Pecans. Instead of pecans, I used unsalted peanuts, and then I substituted vanilla extract for cinnamon. And the result is nothing short of amazing.

The trick to these peanut snack recipe is to make a little batch of vanilla sugar first.

How do you make vanilla sugar with vanilla extract?

It’s easy. Just mix one cup of white sugar with one teaspoon of vanilla extract. I prefer to use pure vanilla extract instead of the imitation kind, if possible. The vanilla flavor is more natural.

If you are making vanilla sugar for use at a later time (not immediately in a recipe like candied peanuts), let the sugar sit spread out on a sheet pan to dry before storing.

Sugared Peanuts Ingredients

Unsalted peanuts

How to Make Sugared Peanuts

Step by Step Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
In a small bowl, combine sugar and vanilla; add salt and stir.
Beat egg white until frothy; add peanuts and stir until coated.
Add sugar mixture to peanuts, and stir well.
Pour onto a parchment lined sheet pan into a single layer.
Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Let cool completely before storing in a pretty jar or mason jar. These make great gifts.

For the full ingredient amounts and instructions for candy coated peanuts, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Can candied nuts be frozen?

Yes, let the nuts cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container or freezer zip-lock bag. Store in the freezer for up to a month.

Why do candied nuts have egg white?

Egg whites bind the sugar to the nuts creating the extra crunchy texture. Without the egg whites, the sugar wouldn’t stick.

Check out our other candied nuts recipes:

Crock Pot Glazed Pecans
Cinnamon Glazed Nuts

Recipe FAQs

What makes these candy coated peanuts extra special? The sugar is enhanced with vanilla extract for an abundance of flavor.
Pure vanilla extract gives a much better flavor than imitation vanilla.
Use a large sheet pan or a pan with sides to prevent the sugared peanuts from falling off during the baking process.
Line your sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Stir the peanuts two times during cooking, preferably every 15 minutes to prevent the nuts from sticking together and to the pan.
The candied nuts are super hot when they are taken from the oven. Let cool before snacking.
These old fashioned sugared peanuts make the perfect gift. Place in an airtight bag or container, add a bow and deliver to your friends and family.
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Recipe Variations

Use almonds, walnuts, cashews, or pecans instead of peanuts.
Add your favorite spices such as gingerbread spice or pumpkin pie spice. A hint of cayenne pepper will give these a fun kick of flavor.

Old Fashioned Candy Recipes

We love a good old-fashioned candy because they are usually so easy to make! Homemade sweets are a great go-to gift idea for any holiday, including Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter or birthdays. Check out our homemade gift ideas post.

Cream Cheese Mints

Cornflake Candy with Marshmallows

White Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Make up a batch of homemade candy…or even several batches of a variety of candies and then find a pretty plate, bowl, decorative tin to package them. You will have the perfect, from the heart, gift that everyone will love.

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Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Print Recipe

Candied Peanuts

Candied Peanuts are guaranteed to become your new favorite snack item. These old fashioned sugared nuts are sweet and crunchy.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: candied peanuts, sugared peanuts

Servings: 32 servings

Calories: 108kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

1 pound unsalted peanuts 16 ounces
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg white

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or spray generously with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine sugar and vanilla; add salt and stir. Set aside.
Beat egg white until light and frothy.
Add peanuts to egg white and stir until all peanuts are coated.
Add sugar mixture and stir well.
Spread onto prepared sheet pan into a single layer.
Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Let cool before eating.

Notes

What makes these candy coated peanuts extra special? The sugar is enhanced with vanilla extract for an abundance of flavor.
Pure vanilla extract gives a much better flavor than imitation vanilla.
Use a large sheet pan or a pan with sides to prevent the sugared peanuts from falling off during the baking process.
Line your sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Stir the peanuts two times during cooking, preferably every 15 minutes to prevent the nuts from sticking together and to the pan.
The candied nuts are super hot when they are taken from the oven. Let cool before snacking.
These old fashioned sugared peanuts make the perfect gift. Place in an airtight bag or container, add a bow and deliver to your friends and family.
The nutritional information is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.

Nutrition

Candied Peanuts Recipe - Sugared Nuts - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

What is the red stuff on burnt peanuts? ›

French burnt peanuts are made from peanuts, corn syrup, sugar, confectioner's glaze, and red dye for color. The nuts are coated in the syrup mixture and left to dry to form a crackly, crunchy exterior.

Know More ›

What are the red coated peanuts? ›

Red Candied Peanuts are a sweet treat often enjoyed at Christmas but are great tasting all year round. Product of Australia. Kosher and suitable for vegans. LOW Gluten.

Discover More Details ›

What to do with old peanuts? ›

For nuts that are a little old but aren't inedible or unsafe to eat, use them up in new and creative ways! You could even try adding crushed peanuts on top of overnight oatmeal. If you have too many peanuts, make homemade peanut butter or feed them to outdoor birds.

Learn More Now ›

What to do with blanched peanuts? ›

Blanched peanuts have a slightly soft texture and no shells. Blanched peanuts are great for DIY personal roasting, cooking, or baking (they're great for making peanut butter).

Explore More ›

Is it safe to eat burnt peanuts? ›

French burnt peanuts are a treat for the taste buds and relatively healthy for the body. As a variation of roasted peanuts, these nuts provide essential vitamins and minerals, such as copper, manganese, and vitamin E.

Find Out More ›

What is the black rot in peanuts? ›

Cylindrocladium black rot (CBR) is a severe root disease in peanut caused by the soil borne fungus Cylindrocladium parasiticum (also known as Calonectria ilicicola).

Learn More Now ›

Should you eat the red skin on peanuts? ›

Yes, they are a healthy snack choice. The skin is full of nutrients including: The high oil content of 17% supports healthy hair, skin and nails, as well as boosting immunity. Fatty acids contained in the skin is beneficial for brain development and blood pressure regulation.

Learn More Now ›

Can you eat raw red peanuts? ›

You can eat them raw, but you can also roast them or combined them with other nuts, seeds and dried fruit to get tasty mix! * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

See Details ›

What are the candy peanuts called? ›

Circus peanuts are American peanut-shaped marshmallow candy. They date to the 19th century, when they were one of a large variety of unwrapped "penny candy" sold in such retail outlets as five-and-dime stores.

Get More Info Here ›

Can you eat nuts 2 years out of date? ›

Q: Do Nuts Expire? A: Nuts can't expire; however, they can change in taste or go rancid. Nuts contain much-unsaturated fat, an oil that makes nuts likely to go rancid.

Get More Info Here ›

Can dogs eat peanuts? ›

Plain, unsalted, dry-roasted (or raw) peanuts are safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. But if your dog eats a salted peanut or two when you're not looking, they should be fine. Keep an eye on any dog that accidentally swallows a peanut shell, especially smaller breeds.

Keep Reading ›

Does peanut butter expire? ›

You can keep peanut butter in the pantry for six to nine months (unopened) and two to three months (opened).

What does soaking peanuts do? ›

Soaking enhances digestibility and nutritional benefits. When we soak peanuts, it helps in breaking down phytic acid and reduce enzyme inhibitors. Soaked peanuts can be consumed in a variety of ways. You can add them in your breakfast meal or even dinner.

Read The Full Story ›

Can squirrels eat raw blanched peanuts? ›

The Danger of Feeding Raw Peanuts to Squirrels

Peanuts are a legume, not a true nut, and when raw they contain a trypsin inhibitor, a substance that inhibits or prevents the pancreas from producing trypsin which is an enzyme essential for the absorption of protein by the intestine.

Keep Reading ›

What does boiling do to peanuts? ›

The process of boiling peanuts draws antioxidants from their shells. The boiled peanuts have four times the antioxidants of raw or roasted peanuts. Boiled peanuts have also been studied as a potential way to treat people with peanut allergies since boiling peanuts denatures proteins that trigger allergic reactions.

Is it OK to eat the red skin on peanuts? ›

Read The Full Story ›

Do French burnt peanuts have red 40? ›

SUGAR, ROASTED PEANUTS (PEANUTS, PEANUT OIL), CORN SYRUP, CONFECTIONARY SHELLAC, ACACIA GUM, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, RED 40, YELLOW 5, SUNFLOWER OIL, TBHQ BLEND (PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TBHQ, CITRIC ACID), YELLOW 6, BLUE 1, BLUE 2.

Get More Info Here ›

What is the coating on dry roasted peanuts? ›

Dry roasted peanuts having an adhesive coating comprising vital wheat gluten and salt.

Tell Me More ›

Is the red skin of peanuts good? ›

Red skinned peanuts have the highest amount of folates compared to other nuts; folates are essential for brain development. Peanuts are also high in Vitamin E. They promote a healthy pregnancy because of the high folates which help reduce the risk of birth defects.

Keep Reading ›

Candied Peanuts Recipe - Sugared Nuts - These Old Cookbooks (2024)