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    Home » Africa » How to Make Candied Nuts at Home

    How to Make Candied Nuts at Home

    Published on Nov 17, 2019 Modified: Aug 7, 2020 by Alexandria Drzazgowski.

    Jump to Recipe

    Any type of candied nuts are Mama Foreign Fork’s absolute weakness. She LOVES them! So when I decided to make this Candied Nut recipe for the blog Mama Foreign Fork was over the moon. Between the three of us in the house, the jar was empty preeeetttyy early…. 

    YouTube video

    Here’s a little known fact that you might not know… Candied nuts used to be thrown over brides’ heads in place of confetti at a wedding ceremony.

    In the 14th century in England, candied nuts used to be called “comfit” which traces its meaning back to “to make” in Latin. The stem word it comes from is conficere, which is the same stem word that the word “confetti” comes from! 

    Luckily for you, you don’t NEED to know the history of candied nuts in order to enjoy them. In fact, the only thing you need is some sugar, some spice, some nuts, and a little bit of time.

    groundnut sweet from cameroon
    Click here to learn how to make these candied nuts at home!

    Hello Reader! I try my hardest to research recipes as best as I can before posting to ensure I am representing each culture correctly. If this recipe is from your country and I have made a mistake or you have suggestions for how to make it more authentic, I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below letting me know what should be different, and I will rework the recipe. It is always my intention to pay homage and respect to each cultural dish that I cook. Thanks for reading!

    Jump to:
    • Why Did I Make Candied Nuts for Cameroon? 
    • What is in this Recipe for Candied Nuts? 
    • How to Make Candied Nuts
    • Can Candied Nuts Be Frozen? 
    • Do Candied Nuts have Gluten?
    • Candied Nuts

    Why Did I Make Candied Nuts for Cameroon? 

    Good question! In Cameroon, peanuts are a VERY popular food. Cameroonians use peanut paste in many of their dishes and sauces and soups. Even their N’Dole recipe, which uses spinach and shrimp, calls for peanut butter. 

    Peanuts are a big source of protein in Cameroon… except that they don’t call peanuts “peanuts” there. Instead, they are called “groundnuts”.

    One of the most popular street foods in Cameroon is “Groundnut Sweet”, which is candied peanuts! They are roasted on the side of the road by street vendors and can be bought as a portable snack.

    Sound a little bit like NYC to anyone? (well… at least the roasted nuts on the side of the road part). 

    Groundnut sweet
    How to make candied nuts at home! This recipe is perfect for a delicious holiday snack

    What is in this Recipe for Candied Nuts? 

    Peanuts 
    Sugar
    Water
    Cinnamon
    Nutmeg
    Sea Salt
    Vanilla

    For full ingredient measurements and instructions, visit the recipe card at the bottom of the screen. 

    [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”J5XcVCW6″ upload-date=”2021-05-14T23:49:05.000Z” name=”Caramelized Peanuts” description=”These Candied Peanuts, also called Groundnut Sweet in Cameroon, are made by caramelizing peanuts on the stovetop. They are sprinkled with salt for a perfect combination of salty and sweet! ” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]

    How to Make Candied Nuts

    Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. 

    Add roasted peanuts, water, and sugar. Heat up all at once. 

    Stir continuously until the sugar crystalizes and turns very dry. 

    Continue stirring until it re-caramelizes. 

    Add vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and stir. 

    Transfer to parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sea salt and allow to cool. 

    Candied Peanuts Pinterest Image
    Candied Nuts are the perfect holiday snack!

    Can Candied Nuts Be Frozen? 

    Yes! In fact, they go stale very easily, so after a few days it is best to freeze them. They can be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month. To thaw, simply remove from the freezer and allow them to come to room temperature.  

    Do Candied Nuts have Gluten?

    Nope, this snack is completely gluten free!  

    Did you like this snack? You might also like: 

    • Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce from Brunei
    • Spicy Peanut Sauce from Benin
    • Brigadieros from Brazil
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    groundnut sweet from cameroon

    Candied Nuts

    These candied nuts are made at home on the stove. They are a delicious snack for the holidays or any time of the year!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: cameroon
    Prep Time: 0 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 615kcal
    Author: Alexandria Drzazgowski

    Equipment

    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients

    • 2 cup peanuts
    • 1 cup sugar
    • ⅓ cup of water
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 1 tsp nutmeg
    • ⅔ tsp sea salt
    • ½ tsp vanilla

    Instructions

    • Heat your skillet over medium heat.
    • Add peanuts, water, and sugar into the skillet and stir until the sugar dissolves into the water.
    • Continue stirring the peanuts until the water dries and the sugar crystalizes and turns into a crunchy coating.
    • Continue stirring until the sugar begins to release liquid again and re-caramelizes onto the peanuts.
    • Add vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and stir.
    • Transfer to parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sea salt and leave to cool. Enjoy!
    • Leave a comment on this post letting me know what you thought about this recipe!

    Notes

    Recipe copyright The Foreign Fork. For educational or personal use only. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 615kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 549mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 50g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheForeignFork or tag #TheForeignFork!

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