Sugar Candied Peanuts just might be the easiest homemade candy recipe ever! It requires only 3 ingredients and is perfect for the holidays, parties, tailgates even gifts! Sweet and crunchy with an irresistable nutty flavor, I promise you want be able to stop snacking on this simple, old fashioned treat.
This is the easiest candy recipe I’ve ever made! The only things it requires is sugar, salt, peanuts and patience. Anyone can make them. EVERYONE loves them. With their crunchy sugar shell and soft peanut insides, this is one snack you’ll want to have at every party, tail gate, girls’ night and get together.
RELATED RECIPE: Easy Roasted Peanuts in the Shell
Variations
Add a dash of cinnamon or chili powder for a little variety and spice. Many recipes for candied peanuts don’t add salt. But I do to enhance the natural nutty flavor of the peanuts and, by contrast, really make that sweet sugar coating pop!
I’ll walk through an overview of ingredients & steps in this section along with helpful tips!
Look for specifics at the end of the post in the recipe card.
Ingredients
- raw peanuts (raw Spanish peanuts work great!)
- white granulated sugar
- flake salt
No need to worrying about removing the skins or purchasing peanuts without skins. As you can see from the photos, the sugar coating actually sticks better to the nuts with skins!
How To Make This Sugared Nut Recipe
Coat the Peanuts in Sugar Water. In a large skillet, add peanuts, sugar and water. Bring to a low boil over medium high heat while stirring.
Let the Sugar Re-Crystalize. Continue stirring for 8-10 minutes until water evaporates and sugar re-crystalizes becoming like sand. Working quickly, add in salt. Stir again to make sure all peanuts are coated.
Cool. Pour sugared nuts out onto parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Spread out so that the peanuts are in a single layer. Break apart any nuts that are stuck together. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
How to Store Candied Peanuts
Store these peanuts in an air tight container in the pantry or on the counter for up to one week.
These sugared nuts don’t do well when refrigerated or frozen because the candied shell can get soft as the nuts thaw or come back to room temperature.
Serving & Giving Candy Peanuts As Gifts
These nuts are a perfect little sweet to munch at cocktail and holiday parties, but they are also ideal for tail gates and game nights! Place them anywhere where guests can grab a handful as they mingle and visit!
Candied Peanuts make deliciously thoughtful gifts for hostesses, neighbors, teachers and friends. Package them up in small tins, cellophane bags or mason jars with a little ribbon and a tag for gifts everyone will appreciate!
More Candy & Snack Recipes
- Honey Spiced Pecans
- Classic Louisiana Pralines
- Creole Moose Munch Popcorn
- Apple Spice Caramel Corn
- Peanut Butter & Chocolate Christmas Snack Mix
- Ritz Bits Muddy Buddy Snack Mix
- The Best Hot Chocolate Snack Mix
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Old Fashioned Sugar Candied Peanuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw peanuts
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ teaspoon flake salt
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add peanuts, sugar and water. Bring to a low boil over medium high heat while stirring. Continue stirring for 8-10 minutes until water evaporates and sugar re-crystalizes becoming like sand. Working quickly, add in salt. Stir again to make sure all peanuts are coated.
- Pour sugared nuts out onto parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Spread out so that the peanuts are in a single layer. Break apart any nuts that are stuck together. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
This is the recipe grandma used. I was wondering though, do the peanut stay somewhat soft or do they get the peanut crunch to them?
Hi, Diana! Love that this is the recipe your grandma used! The crunch comes from the sugar shell. The peanuts pretty much maintain their natural texture.
Can other nuts be used, like pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc? just wondering. I plan to make these for a game night at church next week.
Hi, Rose! I have never tried it, but yes, I think it should work just the same!
Can you use no raw peanuts?
Hi, Shannon! I’m not sure of your question. The recipe calls for raw peanuts. So, yes, raw is the way to go If you’d like to use roasted peanuts, I HAVE READ that they work too, but I have never made them using roasted peanuts. If you try it, let me know how it goes!