These quick and easy candied chestnuts make a fantastic snack for Christmas! Soft, tender chestnuts are candied in a mixture of brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon for a delicious holiday snack!
Quick candied chestnuts are a delightful treat during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! They are candied with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup and are ready in only 15 minutes.
This recipe will get you deliciously soft and tender chestnuts coated in spiced sugar syrup. The sweet and sticky glaze pairs perfectly with nutty, buttery chestnuts that make them a popular side or snack for Christmas.
If you're a fan of marrons glacés, you'll love how simple and easy this is to make. Unlike the traditional French candied chestnut (marron glacé), this quick and easy recipe doesn't require days to make and requires no overnight soaking. But you'll still end up with deliciously sweet, glazed chestnuts!
Ingredients
- Chestnuts - Use peeled and pre-cooked chestnuts. Roasted chestnuts are a great option in addition to store-bought chestnuts that are already cooked.
- Sweetener - Brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup adds wonderful flavor.
- Butter - This adds a rich, buttery flavor to these quick candied chestnuts.
- Spices - Use any spices you'd like. Cinnamon and nutmeg are excellent options.
Steps for Quick-Candied Chestnuts
- Simply add the brown sugar, butter, water, salt, and cinnamon to a pot and bring it to a boil.
- Add the chestnuts and gently stir to coat them with the candy syrup. Let the mixture reduce until it's almost gone. Serve and enjoy!
Tips
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Recipe
Quick Candied Chestnuts
☑ Ingredients
- 2 cups chestnuts - cooked and peeled; See Note 1
- 1 ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup brown sugar - packed; or honey, agave, or maple syrup
- 1½ tablespoons butter
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Make candy syrup: Add the water, brown sugar, butter, salt, and cinnamon to a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.1 ½ cup water, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 1½ tablespoons butter, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ⅓ teaspoon cinnamon
- Add chestnuts: Add the chestnuts and stir gently to coat them with the syrup, being careful not to break apart the nuts. Let the mixture boil uncovered until most of the liquid is reduced. Serve and enjoy!2 cups chestnuts
✎ Recipe Notes
- You can use roasted chestnuts for this recipe or store-bought chestnuts that are pre-peeled and cooked.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools.
Marilyn
Oh my gosh! These are DANGEROUS, lol!! Can't stop eating them 😮! My new favorite Christmas treat!! Just one question - how did you get your finished ones to look so nice in the photo? I.e., did you remove them from the syrup with a slotted spoon? Or just keep tossing them in the syrup until they're cooled?
Thank you SO much!! Merry Christmas!
Renee
So perfect for the holidays - or any time of year, really! These were such a hit at my house. My family devoured them instantly. I made the roasted version on your site, too and both were delicious! Will make again, soon!
Pam
Incredible recipe! I LOVE Christmas, so am always testing recipes ahead of time. This is DEFINITELY going on my "must make" list this holiday season. I made exactly as the blog post advised and they turned out perfect. Thanks!
Alex
Candied chestnuts are my new favourite treat! These are absolute perfection - the perfect gift if you're travelling over the holiday season to see family or friends! The touch of cinnamon really adds such a lovely subtle warmth - so so good! Your recipes are always such a delight 🙂
Caitlin
These are absolutely delicious! So easy to make and so tasty.
Kristine
Yum, yum, yum. That's all I can say about this recipe and also, I really appreciated the simplicity of it. Thank you!
Gina
Chestnuts and Christmas just go together. I went to Germany a few years ago and had a bag of chestnuts from a street vendor. He had them roasting over an open fire. Since then, I have been looking for wonderful chestnut recipes to make at home. This recipe is fabulous!
Anjali
I have actually never had candied chestnuts before, but these look so delicious I can't wait to make them! They're perfect for the holidays too!
Emily
These are going on rotation for Christmas! I bought some store-bought chestnuts on a whim that I had no immediate plans for and this recipe is perfect!