These cinnamon sugared almonds are the perfect healthy(ish) snack for when you want something to munch on that balances sweet and salty with a little protein and fiber.

Almonds are a favorite snack in my house, but sometimes I get a little tired of the plain ones, and the commercially prepared kinds are usually a little high in sodium and additives for my taste. These hit the sweet spot (pun intended) between healthy and fun.

They’re easy to make, using just a few simple ingredients, and a combination of oven and stove top methods to get them to just the right crunchy consistency.

The first time I encountered these candied almonds was at the New Mexico state fair. They were warm, crunchy, and delicious, with a buttery cinnamon aroma that we just couldn’t walk away from. We overpaid for one of those tiny paper cones and were instantly hooked.

Once we got home, I tried a few different methods to reinvent our state fair experience, with varying success. I finally hit on this hybrid method, and this is how I’ve been making them ever since.

Making these at home saves so much money, plus they’ll make your house smell amazing!

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How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Almonds at Home

Ingredients:

• 4 cups natural almonds
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried powdered chili (Don’t worry, the chile powder doesn’t make them spicy, just adds a little more interesting flavor.)
• An airtight container to store them in, if any make it past the husband’s “taste tests”

(My husband can’t stop eating these, so I had to find a cheaper way to get them.  Buying the almonds and cinnamon at Costco brought down the cost considerably.)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Spread the almonds on a cookie pan with four sides.  (I think this is technically called a jelly roll pan.)  Bake the almonds for about 10 minutes while you’re getting the other ingredients together.

2.  Place the sugar and water in a heavy pan (this one is my favorite that I’ve been using for years) and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

3.  Remove almonds from the oven, and very carefully pour them into the sugar water.  Stir constantly until most of the water has evaporated.  Add the cinnamon, salt, and red chile powder.

4.  Continue stirring until the mixture has dried on the almonds.  This will take a few minutes, but then at the end it happens quickly, so be ready!

5.  Spread on your cookie pan to cool completely to room temperature before placing in an airtight container and hiding at the very back of your pantry if you want any chance at saving some for yourself. Note: don’t use parchment paper to line your pan, or you’ll be peeling these off one at a time by hand!

Cinnamon Sugared Almonds – A Sweet Gift

These sweet and salty cinnamon almonds also make great gifts for teachers or family members, especially around the holidays. They look amazing packed in a mason jar, with a pretty ribbon around the lid. One batch makes enough for about 4 standard sized mason jars.

Fair warning though, if you give them to friends and family for Christmas, they’ll ask you for them every year!