Snacks·intermediate

Spicy Cayenne Candied Walnuts

Name: Spicy Cayenne Candied Walnuts (Air Fryer)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Yield: ~2 cups
Ingredients: 2 cups walnut halves; 2 tablespoons butter, melted; 3 tablespoons brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon cumin

Yield

Prep

Total

~2 cups

13m

vegetariangluten-freedairy-freesnackdessertKid-FriendlyMeal-Prep

Rosemary Savory Classic Spicy Cayenne See all on food page →

Want candied walnuts with a kick? This recipe adds cayenne and smoked paprika to the classic buttery, brown sugar coating. The smoked paprika adds a layer of complexity to the spice. The full recipe and air fryer instructions are here.

Ingredients

2 cups walnut halves
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cumin

Shop key ingredients at Walmart →

Season it upPairs with Maple Bacon, Apple Pie Spice, Cinnamon Sugar, or Pumpkin SpiceSee all seasonings →

Steps

01Toss walnuts with melted butter.
02Add brown sugar, cayenne, paprika, salt, and cumin. Toss.
03Ready for the air fryer. Watch closely, sugar and cayenne both burn fast.
04Cool completely.

The heat sneaks up on you. They taste sweet first, then the cayenne hits about 5 seconds later. The smoked paprika bridges the gap between the sugar and the heat. These are dangerously snackable and make a great hostess gift in a mason jar.

people love this variationShare your own version →

How to Air Fry It

Temp

Cook

Prep

Flip?

320°F

Yes

01Preheat the air fryer to 320°F.
02Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
03Spread the prepared walnuts evenly in the basket and season with your chosen spice pack (see below).
04Air fry at 320°F for 8 minutes, tossing the walnuts halfway through the cooking time.
05Remove the walnuts from the air fryer and let them cool on a separate baking sheet to harden.