Enjoy a taste of the holidays with this fresh and addicting cinnamon candied almonds recipe! These crunchy spiced nuts are a great way to inspire picky eaters to love this heart-healthy, high-protein food.

Try more healthy holiday treats like Coconut Snowballs and Christmas Bean Cookies.

On the lookout for a healthier holiday treat? Try a homemade version of food-cart-famous candied nuts!

This cinnamon almonds recipe is rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats, and it’s almost impossible to stop eating these nuts by the handful! They’re sweet, gently spiced, and extra crunchy (thanks to a secret ingredient and low-and-slow cooking.)

They’re also easy to make (just 15 minutes of prep time) and perfect during the holidays when those warm and cozy flavors taste so right. Make them for you friends and family. Make them as a gift for your kids’ teachers. Or just make them for yourself!

candied almonds in a white bowl, close up

How Are Nuts Healthy for Kids?

Nuts are super nutritious for kids. And raw or dry-roasted nuts have the best nutrition. But it can be hard to entice little ones to dig into plain nuts at first. If your kids are hesitant to eat nuts, you can sweeten the deal –literally!– by serving these sweet cinnamon almonds as a snack or dessert. Check out some of the benefits of nuts:

They are rich in healthy fats, including Omega 3, ALA, and monounsaturated fats.
They have plenty of vitamin E.
Nuts are highly satiating so kids feel full longer after eating them.
They are rich in magnesium and zinc.

How to Make Sweet Cinnamon Almonds

Making these delicious candied nuts is simple. And there’s a special technique that gets them extra crunchy and delicious! The secret is tossing the nuts in whipped egg whites. Check out the steps below:


Step 1: Whip egg white and vanilla until fluffy	Step 2: Combine brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and white sugar

Step 3: Dump nuts in egg white mixture and coat all nuts.	Step 4: Dump brown sugar mixture onto nuts and stir to coat.

Step 5: Dump nuts on a cookie sheet and spread into a single layer.	Step 6: Bake at 225 Fahrenheit for 1 hour, stirring every fifteen minutes.

jars of candied almonds ready to be given as gifts

Tips for Storing (And Gifting!) Candied Almonds

Store cinnamon almonds in an airtight container at room temperature. Make sure they’re completely cooled before you put a lid on them! (They may need several hours at room temperature to cool all the way.) They’ll keep their fresh taste for about two weeks this way.

If you’d like the nuts to stay fresh for even longer, you can also refrigerate or even freeze them. They might get a tad less crispy over time, but you can keep them fresh for months in cold storage.

We like to fill some cute bags or jars with candied nuts to bring to friends and family! They’re always a welcome gift!