Easy Candied Pistachios

Name: Easy Candied Pistachios
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: German
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups 8oz raw shelled pistachios; ¾ cup granulated sugar; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon ground ginger; pinch (white pepper); optional:; ¼ teaspoon aleppo pepper; ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

Quick candied nuts are one of my favorite things to serve during the holidays – they are great year-round, but during Christmastime, they are so magical, I love making them for parties, gifts, or at cookie exchanges – and eating them at Christmas markets!

The Best Easy Candied Pistachios Recipe with cinnamon candied pistachios.

Easy candied pistachios with a cinnamon twist.

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

picture of spices at christmas market stall in krakow

picture of candy at christmas market stall

How to Make Candied Pistachios

Candied nuts are super popular at Christmas Markets all over Europe! You can see more of our Christmas Market travels through Europe here.

To get the feel of a European Christmas market at home, try these candied pistachios with some Traditional Gluehwein, Traditional French Vin Chaud (Mulled Wine), Mulled Beer Recipe, Sprinkle Chimney Cakes (Kürtoskalács), The Best Easy Candied Almonds Recipe, and The Best Easy Russian Tea Cakes!

Candied Pistachio Ingredients

This recipe is super simple with a couple of important steps to follow:

Raw shelled pistachios (1 ½ cups/ 8 oz) – good quality raw pistachios are critical for great candied nuts.
Granulated sugar (¾ cup) – plain white sugar is the basis for the candy process.
Sea salt (½ teaspoon) – a little salt helps balance these candied nuts.
Ground cinnamon (¾ teaspoon) – a little cinnamon gives a wonderful earthiness.
Ground ginger (¼ teaspoon) – ginger adds some heat and a strong pungent flavor.
White pepper (1 pinch) – pepper adds another level of heat to balance out the sweetness of the candying process.

Steps to Make Candied Pistachios

Once you have assembled the ingredients, use this method:

picture of a pot with a candy thermometer in it

Make Coating

Start making candy coating – vigorously whisk together sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, pepper with 1/4 cup water, making sure there is no sugar around the sides of the pot (so it doesn’t burn.) Heat over medium-high, stirring until sugar boils, until it reaches 235-238 degree F.

picture of pistachios being stirred into candy mixture

Coat

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spread out pistachios. Place in oven to heat. Remove candy from stove, and pistachios from oven, and carefully add pistachios to candy in pot. Stir to evenly coat.

picture of candied nuts on a baking sheet

Spread

Dump pistachios back on lined baking sheet, breaking apart large clusters, and let cool at least an hour.

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Candied Pistachios

Caution. Be very careful when handling candy on stove. Candy will be very hot, and can burn very quickly – use gloves, have cold water ready, and keep children away from candy making process to ensure safety.

Move Fast. Work quickly to prevent candy from setting before baking nuts to set. Don’t touch hot candy! It will burn.

Nonstick. The hot nut mixture is super sticky so be sure to use Silpat mats and lots of parchment paper.