Spiced Candied Hazelnuts (2024)

Spiced Candied Hazelnuts are up in our house at the moment and the smell is amazing.

Colt took me out to lunch a few weeks back to Pike Place Market between a Doctor's appointment and Physical Therapy to the The Athenian which just happens to be one of the shooting locations for Sleepless in Seattle. Who doesn't love a little Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan?

Anyways they have this salad called Athenian Salad with Spiced Hazelnuts, Green Apple, and Bleu Cheese that has me hooked. It's like all the flavors of fall in a perfect salad.

So I decided to recreate it at home but did Spiced Candied Hazelnuts just to take it to the next level.

OMG it's seriously so delicious. I just can't get enough. I think you'll love my version of Apple Salad with Candied Hazelnuts as much as we do.

For now here's the recipe for Spiced Candied Hazelnuts, because they are amazing on their own, in salad, over ice cream, or as a garnish for dessert.

Make them, eat them, and thank me later.

First off you need to roast 1 1/2 cups Whole Hazelnuts at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes, until the skin starts to flake away.

This is going to take the vast majority of the skin off, but you will still have a little. This was ok with me, but if you want perfectly peeled Hazelnuts you can find instructions for Perfectly Peeled Hazelnuts by boiling from My Baking Addiction. Just make sure to let them dry out before proceeding to candy if you go that route.

Working in small batches take Roasted Hazelnuts, and rub between a dark colored, damp kitchen towel.

The skin might discolor the towel so pick one you don't mind being stained.

I then gave the hazelnuts a quick rinse under water to rinse off as much flakes as possible. Repeat until all hazelnuts are done.

Add Hazelnuts to a medium sized heavy duty saucepan.

Add:

• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 tablespoon Water

Stir over medium-high heat until well combined, but try to avoid getting sugar on edge of pan above nuts. I do an inward folding motion. If the sugar crystallizes on the edge it can cause the rest of sugar to seize up. If sugar is stuck to edge of pan use a wet pastry brush to dissolve crystals. Do not scrape sugar off sides of pan while stirring.

Add 1 tablespoons Butter, 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon Salt, and stir until combined.

You can attach a candy thermometer, and cook until 290 degrees. Or cook until the sugar becomes a dark caramel color, and is really thick.

Remove from heat, and stir in 1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract.

Spread Hazelnuts on a Parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet, and use 2 forks to separate into a single layer to cool.

Allow to cool until hardened.

Store Spiced Candied Hazelnuts in an airtight container until ready to enjoy.

If you need a few ideas how to use these they would be so good in:

• Fuji Apple Spinach Bacon Salad
• Savory Pear Pomegranate Salad
• With Caramel Sauce over Vanilla Ice Cream
• Or with Caramel Ice Cream
• A great addition to Charcuterie Boards
• You might also like Toffee Walnuts