Oklahoma Nut Candy Recipes

THE BEST CANDIED NUTS RECIPE

Steps:

• Line a Cookie Sheet with Wax or Parchment Paper and set-aside. Keep you oven-mitts handy too.
• Measure out your Nuts or Seeds in a Medium Bowl and set-aside.
• Place your pot on your stovetop over Medium heat. (I use this Cast Iron Dutch Oven - Cast Iron is wonderful for candy making & all types of cooking since it evenly distributes heat over the whole pan - even in the oven!)
• With a Silicone spatula, mix together the Sugar, Cinnamon, Salt & Water in your pot - stirring occasionally during the first 5 minutes. Between 5-10 minutes, your mixture should start to bubble & foam.
• Continue stirring regularly as the mixture continues to heat up for the next 10 minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides of the pot as you go.
• Be sure the mixture is truly at 238 degrees! If you add the nuts too early, or if the temp is not accurate, you will end up with a 'stringy' candy result (which can still be saved - see note section below). I sometimes hold the temp for an extra minute or so until I can see the mixture pull away from the bottom of the pan when I scrape it with a rubber spatula. It is crucial to any candy recipe that your candy thermometer is accurate - I test/calibrate mine regularly against boiling water which boils at 212 degrees F.
• Once you reach the Soft Ball temperature, then work quickly to add your Nuts or Seeds to the mixture - using your spatula to continuously combine everything together - coating each Nut evenly. The coating will go from a shiny, stringy glaze to a dull, sugary coating in less than a minute. The coolness of the Nuts/Seeds will begin to crystalize the candy quickly. There should be no wet glaze leftover - it should have all crystalized.
• Using your oven mitts to handle the pot, remove from heat & carefully dump out the candied nuts/seeds onto your prepared cookie sheet & set-aside to cool completely. Break apart any large pieces. I place my cookie sheet on a cooling rack to avoid any moisture during the cooling process.
• Once the candy is cooled, you can store it in an airtight container or package it up for gift giving.

OKLAHOMA NUT CANDY

Steps:

• Butter a 9x13 inch pan and set aside.
• Place the 2 cups sugar in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar has completely melted.
• Meanwhile, in a large heavy saucepan combine the 4 cups sugar and heavy cream. Stir and heat over low.
• Once the 2 cups of sugar has completely melted, pour it in a fine stream into the sugar/cream mixture while stirring vigorously. Raise heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently, until it reaches 244 to 248 degrees F (118 to 120 degrees C) on a candy thermometer.
• Remove from heat and vigorously stir in the baking soda. Stir in the butter until melted. Set aside to cool for 20 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and beat with a wooden spoon until non-glossy and it starts to set up. Stir in the nuts and spread into the prepared pan. Cool and cut into bite-size pieces.