Crystal Almonds
Submitted by CraigC
Brown sugar and cinnamon candied almonds cooked to firm ball stage in cream and butter. Crunchy, sweet, and addictive with just 7 ingredients and 15 minutes of work.
YIELD
4 servingsPREP
5 minCOOK
10 minREADY
40 minThese almonds are dangerously snackable.
Whole almonds get coated in a bubbling brown sugar and cream syrup spiked with cinnamon and vanilla, then stirred off the heat until the candy crystallizes into a crunchy, sandy shell around each nut.
They taste like the candied nuts you buy at holiday markets for way too much money, except you can make a big batch at home in about 15 minutes.
Package them in little bags and you’ve got a homemade gift that people will fight over.
Pro Tips
- Use a candy thermometer and cook to firm ball stage for the right crystallized texture
- Stir constantly once the mixture hits temperature so the sugar grains evenly around the nuts
- Spread them on parchment-lined sheet for easier cleanup and faster cooling
- Break apart any clusters while still slightly warm; once fully cool they’ll be cemented together
Ingredients
Directions
Combine sugar, cream, butter, cinnamon and salt in a 2 quart saucepan.
Mix and bring to boil over medium heat.
Cook to 244 degrees F. (firm ball stage), stirring constantly.
Remove from heat then add vanilla and nuts.
Continue stirring until candy grains on nuts.
Spread on cookie sheet and let cool, then break apart.
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