Cinnamon Sugar Walnut Pull-Apart Bread

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Candied Walnuts with Cinnamon and sugar are a delicious recipe to snack on all holiday long. Incredibly impressive, each crunchy bite will make you feel more and more addicted.

Do not be surprised if you make these for a crowd and finish them yourself!

These glazed walnuts (also often referred to as candied walnuts or caramelized walnuts) have a delicious crunchy coating that goes great alone, on ice cream, a summer salad, or as a nutty topping for recipes like baked oats.

Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake, the perfect fall Comfort Cake. Full of the taste of Cinnamon and Walnuts. Eat it for Breakfast, Snack or even Dessert. This is a Cake everyone will love.

I love the combination of nuts and cinnamon and it really is moist and don’t you just love when a cake rises so high that you need to take two bites from one fork full of cake. Don’t forget the yummy centre filling and streusel topping. I have to say this is the queen of Coffee Cakes!

If you’re looking for a fun snack, these cinnamon walnuts check all the boxes: they’re indulgent but not overly sweet. Are easy to make. And they taste delicious!

We like to add them to bowls of oatmeal and yogurt but these crunchy nuts also make a great addition to snack platters.

Similar to these flavorful spiced cashews, the small-batch recipe makes just one cup of seasoned nuts but it can easily be doubled if you want more.

Recipe Notes

Walnuts Halves: It’s okay if there are a few smaller pieces in the mix but the nuts will toast more evenly if they’re mostly the same size.

Oil: You can use any oil you want. A basic olive oil is my go-to but grapeseed, coconut oil, or canola oil will also work.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Start by adjusting your toaster oven’s cooking rack to the bottom placement. Select the BAKE setting and preheat to 325°F.

2. Next, mix together the maple syrup, oil, cinnamon, and salt. You want a thick and well-combined mixture. That way each nut gets coated with a yummy maple-cinnamon-salty flavor.

3. Now add your nuts and stir well to coat them. Then stir them again. You want to get all that syrupy goodness into every little walnut nook that you can.

4. Pour the walnuts onto a greased pan and spread in an even layer. A little 1/8 Sheet Pan is my go-to for small jobs like this. It fits nicely in our toaster oven and the rimmed edges help to keep the nuts from escaping when you stir them.

5. Pop the pan in the oven and go wash up. After about 7 minutes, carefully pull out the pan and give the nuts a few good stirs.

You’ll notice a little bubbly syrup on the pan. Use your spatula to scoop up all that deliciousness and stir it onto the nuts.

6. Pop the pan back into the oven and repeat the stirring every 3 or 4 minutes until the nuts are golden and toasted.

7. You’ll know they’re ready when your house smells amazing and the walnut flesh is toasted with a deeper color.

8. As soon as the nuts come out of the oven, give them a dusting of cinnamon sugar and let them sit for 30 minutes. While they cool, the nuts will develop a light and crispy coating.

Once they’re completely cooled I usually store the nuts in a jar in the pantry. If you keep them anywhere in your eye line, I guarantee they won’t last long!

More Toaster Oven Snacks

2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
1½ teaspoons Olive Oil (see note)
1/4 teaspoon and 1/8 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon, divided
1/8 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
1 cup Shelled Raw Walnuts
1/2 teaspoon Organic Granulated Sugar

Adjust the cooking rack to the bottom placement, select the BAKE setting, and preheat the toaster oven to 325°F. *In a traditional oven use the middle rack placement.
Lightly coat a small rimmed sheet pan with cooking oil spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and sea salt. Add the walnuts and stir well to coat.
While the nuts are cooking, combine the granulated sugar and remaining cinnamon.
When the walnuts are ready, remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Wait 30 seconds, then give the nuts a stir and spread into a single layer.
If you manage to not devour them all in one sitting, store any leftovers in a well-sealed container.

Oil: We like to use a basic olive oil for this recipe. Extra-virgin olive oil works too it just has a more pronounced flavor that you may or may not like. Melted coconut oil is another good option but it may give the nuts a subtle coconut flavor.

Storage: Store leftover nuts in a sealed container at room temperature for 7 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

1/4 cup
Amount Per Serving:
18.3g 1.2g

Candied walnuts are simple treat to make at home! Serve them on salads, with oatmeal, cake, or ice cream, or package them for gift-giving.

photography by Sophie MacKenzie

Say hello to your new favourite sugar and spice treat! Traditionally made around the holidays, candied walnuts are a terrific way to satisfy sweet cravings. They are golden and crunchy, with a perfect balance of sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

We love them sprinkled on sourdough crepes, as a topping for Cuban-inspired sheet pan salmon, or as a finishing touch on sweet cream ice cream. You can also make candied walnuts ahead of time. Simply bake, freeze, and package in jars for pretty and tasty last minute holiday gifts.

Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the printable recipe card with full ingredient measurements and complete instructions.

Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Small bowl
Medium-large bowl
Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
Measuring cups and spoons or digital kitchen scale
Wire cooling rack
Container(s) with airtight lids

Ingredients

— Recently opened cinnamon is your best best for maximum flavour.
— Salt listed is regular iodized table salt.
— We use large eggs in our recipes.
— We used chopped walnut pieces, however, you can also use whole shelled walnut.
— Look for dark brown sugar, also called old-fashioned brown sugar.

Keep scrolling to see clear and detailed process shots, as well as tips and notes to help you make Candied Walnuts perfectly the first time!

Method

Mix together the sugars, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.

Stir together the nuts and egg white until the nuts are well coated.

Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the nuts and stir everything together.

Spread the nuts into a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are glossy and dark gold.

TOP TIPS1. Use bananas with lots of black spots. Black spots on banana peels equal flavour! Riper bananas are also easier to mash with a fork.2. Leave some larger chunks of chocolate. Chocolate that is chopped too fine can get lost in this loaf. Leave some larger chunks for pockets of chocolatey goodness!3. Don’t over-mix. As soon as the flour is just mixed in, stop stirring. Over-mixing can lead to a tough loaf.

Tips & Notes

This recipe doubles well!
Be sure to bake the nuts until they are crisp and dry.
Once cool, store candied nuts in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
You can freeze candied walnuts! Once the nuts are completely cool, store them in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag. Press out all of the air before sealing. Candied nuts will keep in the freezer for up to one month.

How To Store & Freeze Candied Walnuts

— Cool completely and store in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Stored this way, completely dried through, the nuts will keep for up to two weeks on the counter.
— Again, cool the nuts completely then store them in a plastic zipper-top bag. Squeeze out any excess air and store the bag in the freezer for up to one month.

Substitutions

Use any nuts you like. Almonds, cashews, or a mix of the two with walnuts, are delicious.
Cardamom pumpkin pie spice, homemade chai spice, or apple pie spice mix are good substitutes for cinnamon.

FAQ

How do you make candied walnuts spicy?

We love adding a hint of cayenne powder to the cinnamon mixture or even mixing some madras curry paste into the egg white before stirring with the nuts. The amount is dependent on your preference and heat level tolerance.

Why are my candied nuts sticky?

The nuts absolutely must be baked until they are completely dry and crisp. Afterwards, let them cool completely on a wire rack before storing. Moisture is the enemy of candied nuts!

How long will candied nuts stay fresh?

Stored in a glass container with a tight lid, candied nuts should keep at room temperature for up to two weeks.

Use Candied Walnuts With These Recipes

Baked Stone Fruit With Custard & Candied NutsHomemade Pumpkin Mousse (Easy, No Gelatin)Dutch Oven Apple CrispCoconut Milk Rice Pudding

2 Mixing bowls
Measuring cups and spoons or a digital kitchen scale

Preheat the oven to 300ºF (150ºC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix together the sugars, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.
In a second larger bowl, stir together the nuts and egg white until the nuts are well coated.
Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the nuts and stir everything together until the nuts are covered in the sugar mixture.
Spread the nuts into a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Place the sheet in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring the nuts every 10 minutes, until the sugar coating is glossy and dark golden. Remove the nuts from the oven.
Cool them completely on the baking sheet set on a wire rack before serving or storing in containers with airtight lids.

This recipe doubles well.

Be sure to bake the nuts until they are dry. If the candy shell is tacky or gooey at all, the nuts will probably turn soggy once stored.

Once cool, store candied nuts in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.

You can freeze candied walnuts! Once the nuts are completely cool, store them in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag. Press out all of the air before sealing. Candied nuts will keep in the freezer for up to one month.

Use any nuts you like. Almonds, cashews, or a mix of the two with walnuts, are delicious.

Cardamom pumpkin pie spice, homemade chai spice, or apple pie spice mix are good substitutes for cinnamon.

Reader Interactions

This Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts recipe makes the BEST holiday snack and is perfect for parties. You’ll love how simple this 4-ingredient recipe is to make! You’ll want to make a double batch once you find out how tasty they are! And they make a great edible gift idea too!

Sweet and crunchy, these candied walnuts are drool-worthy.

Growing up, we always had delicious Christmas sweets around as we got closer to the holiday (like this homemade cinnamon candy!)

My mom made simple things, mostly candied nuts and a big batch of my favorite caramel corn, that were easy to grab and great for last-minute entertaining.

But these absolutely delicious Cinnamon Glazed Walnuts were my favorite quick and easy dessert recipes for the holidays!

Why This Recipe Works

This cinnamon walnuts recipe couldn’t be easier. And when they are given the recipe (because they will ask for it) they are blown away by just how easy this treat is to make.

With just a few ingredients you get a sweet snack that you can enjoy all season long. Mix everything together right on the stovetop and stir. Easy.

You don’t even need to use a candy thermometer. Bonus!

And they are great to have on hand for any holiday drop-ins.

What you need to make Cinnamon Walnuts.

Aside from the walnuts, you probably have all of the ingredients at your house already! I prefer whole walnuts if you can find them, but the halves and pieces will work too.

Like any great holiday treat, you need sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. That’s it. And a little bit of water.

This cinnamon candied walnuts recipe doesn’t call for egg whites. You don’t need them! The texture and flavor are right on. There’s no need to get drooly egg whites all over the place.

How to Make Cinnamon Walnuts

I make this recipe in a non-stick skillet.

Make the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

Add the sugar, cinnamon and water to the pan over low heat, mixing almost constantly with a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula until the sugar dissolves and the mixture reduces a little bit (about 4 minutes).

Stir often so the sugar doesn’t burn. I think most things take on more flavor when they are a little overdone. Not sugar though, man. That just gets nasty.

Add vanilla

Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla. Mix well.

Add the nuts

Add the walnuts. Stir well to coat all the nuts.

Let Dry

Spread the walnuts out on a cookie sheet in a single layer so they can dry. I’ve done it on a pan or a pan lined with waxed paper. Either way works.

These Cinnamon Candy Walnuts are not glazed or shiny when they are dry. They do not have a hard candy shell.
When I say the mixture hardens as they dry, I don’t mean these will break your teeth. I just mean that the sugar mixture won’t be tacky, and will be coated but the walnut won’t be any more crunchy than it is on its own.
If you are like me and like that sweet and savory combo, sprinkle a little sea salt over the wet nuts on the cookie sheet before they harden too much!
For even more flavor, you can toast the walnuts in a dry pan on the stove top before starting the rest of this recipe.

Store them in an air-tight container, out of sight, or else you will eat them all. I guarantee. They can be stored at room temperature.

This Cinnamon Glazed Walnuts recipe is one you will love! Make it a new holiday tradition.

I suggest putting out a little bit at a time so they don’t get gobbled up right away.

Go ahead and just print out a few copies of this recipe to have on hand for when you serve these Cinnamon Sugar Walnuts to people. They will ask you for it. SO good.

More Christmas Snack Recipes

Combine sugar, cinnamon and water in a non-stick skillet.
Remove from heat.
Add vanilla and mix well.
Add walnuts and stir to coat.
Spread out on a greased cookie sheet to dry.

These are not glazed or shiny when they are dry. They do not have a hard candy shell.
When I say the mixture hardens as they dry, I don’t mean these will be break your teeth. I just mean that the sugar mixture won’t be tacky, and will be coated but the walnut won’t be any more crunchy than it is on its own.
If you are like me and like that sweet and savory combo, sprinkle a little sea salt over the wet nuts on the cookie sheet before they harden too much!
Store in an air-tight container at room temperature.
If you can’t find whole walnuts, you can use halves.

About

Made with just 8 simple ingredients, these Cinnamon Vanilla Glazed Walnuts are a great easy recipe to add to your holiday treat making list!

This post is sponsored by Fisher Nuts.

Simple Glazed Walnuts Recipe

It’s hard to believe that there are only a few more days left of school before Christmas break! Wednesday night my brother Jon and his girlfriend Erin will get into town. Thursday is the last day my kids will be going to school.

This first half of the school year has really flown by. I can hardly believe Christmas is next week.

We haven’t had very much snow so far where I live in Colorado. We have had a lot of pretty nice weather mixed in with the cold. It doesn’t really feel like winter to me yet.

I’m glad that the kiddos, Jon, Erin and I will be spending part of our holiday break up in Keystone skiing. And with actual snow.

Glazed Walnuts are an Easy Homemade Christmas Gift!

I have a lot to do this week as I prepare for the upcoming holiday — getting presents wrapped, teacher gifts made, and so on. I’ll be making these cinnamon vanilla glazed walnuts as gifts.

If you feeling super busy this last week before Christmas hits and are still in need of some gifts for friends or teachers, give these cinnamon vanilla glazed walnuts a try. Gift them in a cute little jars.

These homemade candied walnuts are sweet with a hint of spice from ground red pepper. They are really easy and quick to prepare and don’t include any complicated ingredients.

Tools Needed to Make these Glazed Walnuts

You’ll need a few different tools to prepare this satisfying treat. Here’s what I recommend having on hand before beginning recipe for candy walnuts:

Measuring Cups and Spoons – to measure the ingredients.
Small Bowl – to combine the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper and salt.
Large Bowl – to beat the egg white mixture, to stir the walnuts with the egg whites, and to stir in the sugar mixture
Baking Sheet – a rimmed baking tray large enough for the walnuts to spread in an single layer is best for baking this easy candied walnuts recipe.
Parchment Paper – I like to line my pans with a sheet of parchment paper.
Cooling Rack – to cool the baking pan with the candied walnuts after cooking.

Glazed Walnuts Ingredients

For this glazed walnuts recipe, you’ll need:

Walnut halves
Granulated sugar
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Ground red pepper
Salt
Egg white
Vanilla extract

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this easy glazed walnut recipe, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Candied Walnuts

Stir the sugar and seasonings together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whip the vanilla and egg white until foamy. Fold the walnut halves into the egg white mixture, then stir in the seasoning blend.

Bake the glazed walnuts for about an hour at a low heat, then let them rest on your counter to cool to room temperature before enjoying.

The above is simply a quick summary of this great-tasting snack. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Tips for Making Glazed Walnuts

You only need the egg whites for this recipe. Learn how to separate eggs using this tutorial if you don’t know how already.

Also, it’s so important that you let these candied walnuts cool completely before eating them. They’re dangerously hot when they first come out of the oven. Plus, they crisp up as they cool and are much tastier then.

Can I Use Another Type of Nut?

Yes, you can use the instructions for these cinnamon vanilla glazed walnuts for pecans or almonds if you prefer different nuts. Or, maybe if you’d like to do a mixed nut gift. That would work too!

Is it Possible to Make Glazed Walnuts Without Egg Whites?

Unfortunately, I don’t know if there’s a way to make this specific recipe for glazed walnuts egg-free. The egg white is crucial in this recipe, but if you know of any substitutes please leave a comment below!

Can I Use Different Spices?

Yes! Feel free to use whatever combination of spices you prefer, just substitute the same total amount when making these glazed walnuts.

This gingerbread spice mix would be a good flavor adaptation to try!

Ways to Use this Glazed Walnuts Recipe

These glazed walnuts are delicious as is, but you can also use them in several different ways! Here are a few of our favorite serving ideas:

these hearty walnuts make a great addition to a charcuterie board
chop them up and add them on top of a sweet potato casserole.
add them to a bowl of vanilla ice cream for a crunchy topping
candied, sweet walnuts are delicious added to yogurt parfaits
as a salad topping for a crunchy addition to salads, like this Butternut Squash Salad.
add to a bowl of oatmeal for a touch of sweetness

How Long Do Glazed Walnuts Last?

Yet another reason why I love prepping this delicious recipe before the holidays!

If kept in an airtight container or resealable bag in a cool, dry place, these candied walnuts should keep for 2 to 3 weeks. Just make sure you cool them completely before storing them.

Try this Candy Walnuts Recipe!

Next time you’re looking for a simple, homemade holiday gift to make, give this Cinnamon Vanilla Glazed Walnuts recipe a try!

Did you think this recipe made great gifts during the holiday season? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this easy recipe.

More Christmas Food Gifts

This Homemade Citrus Sugar can be used to rim cocktail glasses, as a garnish for baked goods, and more! It’s a unique edible Christmas gift not many people think to make.

Love nuts? These Mocha Roasted Almonds are a fun take on the usual candied nuts people make around the holidays.

My friends and family go crazy for my Homemade Bourbon Caramel Sauce. You can use it as a topping for pies, brownies, cakes, and cheesecakes.

This Triple Chocolate Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Bark is the ultimate edible Christmas gift! Plus, it’s easy enough to make with kids.

Think homemade caramels are difficult to make? Think again! These Bourbon Maple Salted Caramels are easy to make at home and are a wonderful Christmas gift.

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Have you ever made glazed walnuts?

1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups Fisher walnut halves

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet and set aside.
In a small bowl combine the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, red pepper and salt. Mix well and set aside.
In a medium sized bowl, beat the egg white and vanilla until it is foamy. Gently stir in the walnuts until coated. Stir in the spice mixture and gently mix until the nuts are evenly coated.
Beat egg white and vanilla in medium bowl until foamy. Add walnuts; toss to coat. Add spice mixture; toss to coat nuts evenly. Spread the coated nuts on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour. After the first 30 minutes, stir the nuts.
Cool the baked nuts for 5 minutes and break them apart. Cool completely.

Nuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Amount Per Serving

17g 2g 0g 15g

GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.

This recipe for Cinnamon Vanilla Glazed Walnuts is sponsored in partnership with Fisher Nuts. All opinions are my own.

This post may contain affiliate links, please visit our privacy policy for details.

Cinnamon Sugar Walnut Pull-Apart Bread. Think your favorite monkey bread, but without having to make or worry about a sticky syrup! So much easier and oh so delicious. A simple sweet dough, rolled into balls and dunked in a cinnamon, sugar, and walnut mixture, and baked until perfectly golden brown. Every bite is perfectly sweet, soft, nutty, and so delicious. It always leaves you wanting more! Truly the perfect bake to celebrate holiday’s, to serve as breakfast/brunch on long weekends, or even to have as a delicious sweet snack throughout the week.

About The Recipe

While this recipe may be new for all of you, this is something we’ve been making and sharing with our friends and family for YEARS! It was actually something my mom’s brother asked her to make after he got back from a trip. All he said was it was something you pulled apart and it tasted good.

So, with that information in mind, this is what my mom came up with! It’s something she’s made for every get-together, long weekend, or holiday since. But, I will admit, it’s been a while since we’ve made it! We had really forgotten about it until earlier this year when we made our Bourbon Pecan Monkey Bread.

So, this pull apart bread is not only easier to make, but it tastes SO. GOOD.

Though, when we were testing this recipe, we did tweak on it a little from what my mom’s original recipe was.

The original recipe tasted fine, but it almost tasted bland. Just not as much flavor as we remembered it having. Which is why we decided to infuse our milk with cinnamon! It’s a small change that makes a big difference to the flavor of this recipe.

Instead of all the flavor coming from the coating, the bread itself has a subtle sweet cinnamon-y undertone.

Every bite is the perfect combination of flavors and always leaves you wanting more!

Reasons You Will Love This Cinnamon Sugar Walnut Pull-Apart Bread

Easy to make.
A crowd pleaser.
Perfectly sweet, cinnamon-y, and nutty.
Makes for a great breakfast, snack, or dessert!

Equipment Needed

Stand Mixer
Dough Rising Buckets
8 Inch Round Cake Pan
Mixing Bowls

(Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)

For The Dough

Whole Milk
Cinnamon Sticks
All-Purpose Flour
Granulated Sugar
Instant Yeast
Salt
Unsalted Butter
Large Eggs

For The Coating

Salted Butter
Granulated Sugar
Ground Walnuts
Ground Cinnamon

Steep cinnamon and milk

In a small saucepan, heat milk and cinnamon sticks until milk starts to bubble around the edge of the pot. Remove from the heat and let steep for 30 minutes.

Remove the cinnamon sticks.

Make the dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt, butter, eggs, and milk. Mix on low speed 1-2 minutes to combine. Increase the speed to medium-high and knead until smooth, about 8-10 minutes.

Let proof

Place in a covered container that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Let rise at warm room temperature, until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

Make the coating

Melt the butter and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly.

Divide dough and coat

Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise at warm room temperature until nearly doubled in bulk, about 1-1 1/2 hours.

Step 6

Bake bread for 60-70 minutes, tenting/covering with foil after the first 15 minutes.

Sweet Dough FAQ’s & Troubleshooting

I don’t have a mixer. Can I make the dough by hand? This dough should be made in a mixer! While it’s doable by hand, it takes twice as long to knead and it’s a lot of work. It’s always best to use a stand mixer.

Why is my dough sticky? This dough is an enriched dough! It tends to be a little bit more wet and stickier due to the addition of butter, milk, eggs, and sugar.

How can I tell when my dough is kneaded properly? A properly kneaded dough should be smooth and shiny. Look at the photos above for help!

My dough isn’t rising in the times stated in the recipe card! The recipe card/post states the times it took our dough to rise. We live in Texas. So, it tends to be a bit warmer here and doughs generally take less time to rise. If needed, you can purchase a bread proofer to help control the climate and improve your rising times

Why did my dough not rise? Is your yeast in-date? If not, then you need to get new yeast and try again!

Once this bread has cooled, you can keep it on a covered cake plate on the counter for 1-2 days. You can also pull it apart and freeze the pieces in a freezer safe container or zip top bag! It should keep for about 2 months.

You can use a variety of spices to steep in the milk, if you’d like.
Pecans can be used in place of the walnuts in this recipe.

Expert Tips

Check your yeast and make sure it’s in-date.
Softened butter is softer than room temperature but not melted. If you touch it, your finger should easily sink through.
Proofing times will vary depending on room temperature. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes if your kitchen is very warm (summer) to 3 hours if your kitchen is cool (winter).
Be sure to let the bread cool completely before turning out.

When you make these Cinnamon Sugar Walnut Pull-Apart Bread, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

Sweet, cinnamon-y, and delicious! Think monkey bread, but so much easier to make. This Cinnamon Sugar Walnut Pull-Apart Bread is the perfect breakfast, snack, or dessert all year long! It’s so simple and so good.

In a small saucepan, heat milk and cinnamon sticks until milk starts to bubble around the edge of the pot.
Remove from heat.
Steep for 30 minutes.
Remove cinnamon sticks.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt, butter, eggs, and milk.
Mix on low speed 1-2 minutes to combine.
Increase speed to medium-high.
Place in a covered container that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Melt butter. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon.

Putting It Together.

Spray an 8-inch cake pan with baking spray.
Break off small pieces of dough and roll into 1″ balls.
Dip each dough ball into butter and roll in sugar mixture.
Place in prepared cake pan.
Repeat process until all dough is used.
Cover with plastic wrap.
While dough is proofing, heat oven to 350° F.
Bake bread for 60-70 minutes, tenting with foil after the first 15 minutes. (Do NOT let foil touch bread.) Bread is done when an instant read thermometer registers 200°-210° when inserted in center of bread.

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

– Still Hungry? –

Here are a few recipes may like!

Recipe Ingredients

Sugar
Cinnamon
Walnuts – roasted and coarsely chopped

For the Cake

Flour – cake/pastry flour
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt – a pinch
Butter – softened
Sugar – granulated
Eggs – room temperature
Greek yogurt – room temperature
Vanilla

How to make the Walnut Cake

Pre-heat oven to 350° (180° celsius), grease & flour a 10″ (4 liter) tube/bundt pan.

For the topping

In a small bowl combine the sugar, cinnamon and walnuts.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy 2-3 minutes, add the eggs, one at a time, beating until light and creamy, 2 minutes.

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Add the dry ingredients alternately with the greek yogurt and vanilla to the creamed mixture, beat until smooth.

Spread half the batter in the prepared tube pan, spoon ⅔ of the topping over batter. Cover with remaining batter and top with remaining topping.

Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. After 45-50 minutes if it is not done but is becoming too brown cover with foil until baked. Cool in the pan, then remove to a plate.

Why does my cake fall?

There are a lot a reasons a cake may fall, but the most common ones are, your oven temperature is off, you can always check it with an oven thermometer to check this.
You open the oven door too early. Never open the oven door before 25-30 minutes of baking.
Once the batter is mixed it should be baked, letting a cake batter sit too long can cause it to fall. The baking powder or baking soda usually start acting immediately and will only last for a very short period of time, therefore if the cake batter is left to stand before baking then there is always a risk that the baking powder or soda will have expired by the time that the cake goes into the oven.
Your baking powder or soda has expired and is no long active.
Use room temperature ingredients.
The pan size might not be the correct size, sometimes using a bundt pan will help.

Shelled raw walnuts– I recommend keeping walnuts whole for this recipe. If they are cut down too small, they can burn.
White granulated sugar– I use regular granulated sugar (White sugar) in this recipe, but there are suggestions below on using other sugars like brown sugar.
Flavor– ground cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract.

Why use room temperature ingredients?

With cakes and other baking, it’s always better to use room temperature ingredients. So, take any cold ingredients out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time or sooner if it’s cool in your kitchen. Room temperature ingredients blend easier, creating a silky batter, which will help to create a light tender baked good.

More delicious Coffee Cakes

The delicious combination of walnuts and cinnamon make this the perfect coffee cake.

Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

*Approximately 1¼ whole walnuts equal ¾ cup coarsely chopped. You might want to roast them before chopping.

eggs (room temperature)
greek yogurt (room temperature)

*To make your own cake flour, for every cup of all purpose remove 2 tablespoons and substitute with corn starch, whisk together to remove any lumps.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy 2-3 minutes, add the eggs, one at a time, beating until light and creamy, 2 minutes.
Add the dry ingredients alternately with the greek yogurt and vanilla to the creamed mixture, beat until smooth.
Spread half the batter in the prepared tube/bundt pan, spoon ⅔ of the topping over batter. Cover with remaining batter and top with remaining topping.
Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean or a few crumbs attached. After 45-50 minutes if it is not done but is becoming too brown cover with foil and continue to bake. Cool in the pan, then remove to a clean plate. Enjoy!

To roast the nuts, place them in a single layer on an ungreased baking / cookie sheet. Bake 5 to 8 minutes in a pre-heated 350F (180C) oven or until they are golden brown, remove immediately from pan to cool. Then coarsely chop.

Instead of greek yogurt you could substitute with regular yogurt or sour cream both with a 1-1 substitution.

As long as the cake is unfrosted it should be kept at room temperature. Keep it in a cake container or well wrapped. It will keep for up to 3 days. If you store it in the fridge, wrap tightly to keep it from drying out. It will keep for up to 5-6 days in the fridge.

To freeze the cake, be sure to cool it completely then wrap it tightly in either plastic wrap or foil, place it in a freeze safe bag. The cake will keep for up to 2 months. When ready to thaw place the wrapped cake in the refrigerator to thaw before serving.

cinnamon coffee cake, cinnamon walnut cake, coffee cake, walnut cake

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Can I use Maple or Honey for Candy Walnuts?

Theoretically, you could use maple syrup honey or a brown sugar mixture for candied walnuts.

Unfortunately, I haven’t tested these theories out yet, so I do not know how it alters the recipe in timing, and at this time, I would not be able to tell you exactly how it’s done.

If you are up for a challenge, instead of mixing milk and sugar, replace refined sugar with honey and spices and monitor the walnuts recipe.

Prefer sweet -n- spicy nuts over just plain old sweet? Dust a little of these spices before sugar hardens:

1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

Delicious inspiration for Candied Walnut Recipes

Appetizers – Glazed walnuts are delicious as an appetizer to sit in a bowl, especially at parties and holidays. It keeps people off your case while you finish the rest of the food and is a perfect snack!

As an alternative idea, crush and use around a cheeseball recipe or on top of blueberry brie.

Salad Topping – Candied nuts are AMAZING on salad, and low key makes the whole thing better. Feels like a restaurant. Make sure you set aside some topping for strawberry salad or even this dessert salad recipe before you eat them all!

Snacks – Caramelized walnuts make a great after-school fun snack on their own or in a snack mix like homemade puppy chow. My daughter loves to eat them while doing homework. They also look great on a cheese plate, cheese board, or charcuterie board.

Food Gift – Pack up in a mason jar, tie it with some twine, and voila, food gift! Are you feeling extra nice? Add some candied bacon, too, to your holiday gifts!

Dessert – Walnuts go great on ice cream, brownies, or pie pieces. They also make excellent add-on decoration pieces for cakes and cupcakes.

How to make homemade cake flour

For every cup of all purpose flour, remove two tablespoons and replace with two tablespoons of corn starch. Be sure to sift the flour and cornstarch together a couple of times, this way it is sure to be properly combined and lump free. Cake flour in cakes will give you a very tender texture and fine crumb, it will also help the cake to rise.

Preheat oven to 350, lay raw walnuts on a prepared baking sheet with parchment paper, and bake walnuts for 8 minutes.
Remove nuts from the oven and set the rimmed sheet pan aside.
Add white sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, milk, and vanilla extract into a saucepan.
Heat cinnamon sugar mixture over medium heat, constantly stirring until edges bubble/boil in the pan.As you make this sugar syrup, remember it’s a very HOT sugar. Be careful!

Reduce heat to low, continue to heat, and constantly stir for 6-8 minutes. The sugar must be cooked long enough, so make sure to go low and slow.
Add baked crunchy walnuts directly to the saucepan and mix well to coat all sides of the nuts evenly.
Pour coated walnuts onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (my go-to for everything) to cool.
Depending on the humidity in your home, candy coating drying could take as little as a half-hour or a few hours for this salty snack to set. Once walnuts are primarily dry, please put them in a zip lock bag and place them in the fridge to finish hardening.
Once cool, gently break apart large pieces of caramelized walnuts into more bite-sized pieces.
Store in an airtight container (I store them in the fridge in a zip lock bag) to keep the walnuts fresh.

What are Coffee Cakes?

Coffee Cakes are meant to be served with coffee and are usually flavored with fruit, cinnamon or nuts. And quite often they have a streusel topping. They can be baked in a round, square or even in a bundt pan.

Candied Walnuts (Cinnamon Sugared)

Candied Walnuts are addicting with a light sugary texture and perfect cinnamon flavor. Keep this candied walnut recipe ready for snacks and pre-meal appetizers all holiday long. Crispy, Crunchy, and coated just right, chances are there won’t be much left for anyone else. Better double the recipe *wink*

Preheat oven to 350 and lay walnuts on a baking sheet (with parchment paper) and bake for 8 minutes. Remove walnuts from the oven and set rimmed sheetpan aside.
In a saucepan, add granulated white sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, milk and vanilla extract. Heat mixture over medium heat stirring constantly until edges begin to bubble/boil in the saucepan.
Reduce heat to low and continue to heat and stir constantly for 6-8 minutes. Sugar must be fully heated low and slow. Be careful as sugar can be REALLY hot.
Carefully fold parchment paper like a funnel (see video) and slowly add walnuts to saucepan and mix well (spatula works great) to evenly coat nuts.
Pour candied walnuts onto a parchment covered baking sheet to cool.
Depending on the humidity in your home, cooling could take as little as a half hour or a few hours.
Once Candied walnuts are mostly dry, put them in a zip lock bag and put in the fridge to finish cooling and drying.
Before eating, gently break walnuts apart once cool.

See full recipe for notes on how to take your cinnamon candied walnuts to spicy candied walnuts!
Store candied walnuts in an airtight container. (I store in the fridge in a zip lock bag)

How long do candied walnuts last? These delicious snacks generally last up to 2 weeks as long as they are sealed from moisture.

Can you use halved walnuts over whole? Sure! It’s OK to use walnut halves if you prefer. I like the bag of walnuts whole and then use as is straight from the pack.

How to clean sugar-covered saucepan – Add water to the pan and bring back to a boil. The sugar should dissolve quickly.

Can a dog eat a walnut? I get this question a lot, especially because your best friend is often begging for food. Walnuts can be toxic in many situations and are not a food that dogs can digest. Do not feed your dog sugar or nuts.

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

Why you will love making Easy Candied Walnuts.

Every time I make a candied nut or spicy nut, I remember how addicting they are and how I have to put a personal ban on more for a bit.

So easy to eat, so easy to make, this small batch recipe is just one of many ways to oven bake, stovetop, or slow cook your way to candied nuts.

The possibilities of how sugared walnuts can be used are endless!

The crunch of the sugar and walnut is just so satisfying that while this recipe is 4 cups of nuts, it won’t seem enough. Keep candied walnuts on the counter to snack on the pre-holiday meal, and once cool, add in a few chocolate chips to create a satisfying handful of goodness!

These candied walnuts with a light sugary cinnamon flavor take about 15-20 minutes to make, plus cooling time. I’d maybe allow an hour to cool to be safe, but it all depends on your climate.

How to roast nuts

Place nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking / cookie sheet. Bake 5 to 8 minutes in a pre-heated 350F (180C) oven or until they are golden brown, remove immediately from pan to cool. Then coarsely chop.

Glazed Walnut FAQ’s

How long do candied walnuts last? Judging by all my Pinterest feedback, about one day because you eat them all! However, these delicious snacks generally last up to 2 weeks if they are sealed from moisture.

Can you use halved walnuts over whole ones? Sure! It’s OK to use walnut halves if you prefer. I like the bag of walnuts whole and then used as is straight from the pack.

How to clean sugar-covered saucepan – Add water to the pan and bring it back to a boil. The sugar should dissolve quickly.

Are they any side effects of eating walnuts? If they are candied like these walnuts are, your waistline will suffer if they were a daily occurrence. In general, nuts are nutritious and shouldn’t be considered harmful.

Can a dog eat a walnut? I get this question a lot, mainly because your best friend is often begging for food. It’s best to stay with dog-safe food like doggy blueberry muffins than randomly feeding them everything.

Serve walnuts on our TikTok Cinnamon Roll recipe or this two ingredient TikTok Pumpkin Roll Casserole. Other great finger foods to enjoy are:

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FAQs

What can I use instead of greek yogurt?

I would probably substitute with regular yogurt or sour cream. Both with a 1-1 substitution.

How to store the cake

How to freeze the cake

Be sure to cool the cake completely then wrap it tightly in either plastic wrap or foil, place it in a freeze safe bag. The cake will keep for up to 2 months. When ready to thaw place the wrapped cake in the refrigerator to thaw before serving.

Oh how I love cinnamon, as far as I am concerned nothing beats cinnamon, ok maybe Chocolate. So if you are looking for a tasty cake to make you won’t be disappointed with this Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake. Enjoy!

Can you candy other nuts instead of walnuts?

Yes! Feel free to try this walnut recipe with pecans, almonds, peanuts, cashew nuts, or even something fun like Brazil nuts! They are just so great to snack on, add to a medium bowl and give as a festive treat.

Candied Almonds– These Slow cooked Cinnamon Sugar Almonds are just so good! Mix up toasty roasted almonds with brown sugar and cinnamon coating and let slow cook for 4 hours for a snack that stores all week.
Crockpot Candied Pecans– These addicting and delicious little bites are fantastic for the holiday season, make great gifts (think mason jars!), and are the perfect topping for salads to desserts.

Oven-baked Candied Pecans– Candied pecans are a unique caramelized pecan dessert dish perfect for the Southern mama in you.
Spiced Mixed Nuts– Hit the spot with addicting cashews, walnuts, peanuts, and almonds with oven-toasted party nuts. Make enormous batches for a party or store for a perfect spicy snack.