Groundnut Sweet( Sugar Peanuts aka Candied nuts) – highly addictive peanuts that have crunchy sugar coated layer. Perfect on-the-go snacks and even during movie time or while reading.
Ground Peanuts aka Sugar Peanuts are precisely the kind of snack that you eat by the handful without realizing that you have over indulged. Picture yourself – watching television, reading your favorite spy novel and the bowl of nuts are within reach – before you know it, the bowl is empty and you are going NUTS for peanuts.
These highly addictive candied peanuts are color free ( no added color to make it bright), egg free ( vegan) but still have that crusted crunchy layer of sugar. A childhood street food for me, they are known as groundnut sweet in Cameroon(West Africa) and made with only with 3 ingredients.
This one is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla bean or vanilla flavor and for the adventurous, add a ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper for an extra punch.In addition to intensified the flavor of the peanuts, I reduce the white sugar and replaced it with brown sugar.
You may do the same or just use granulated sugar. Easy to make- groundnut sweet can be made in two different ways. I have tried both of them and they get the job done, but I prefer the one over the other. I will tell you why. Roasting the peanuts first, minimizes any burns you would get from the sugar sticking to the sheet. Use any nuts on hand (Almond, cashew) or a combination of nuts. Just go nuts! 😉
Watch How to Make It
Groundnut Sweet( Sugar Peanuts aka Candied nuts)
Ingredients
- 2 cups shelled peanuts
- 2/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar sub granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoons grated nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla flavor or 1 vanilla bean
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Bake shelled peanuts in the oven at 325 degrees on a cookie pan, single layer for about 15-20 minutes-Stirring the peanuts and rotating the tray for even roasting. Remove and set aside.
Method 1
- Heat water in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla bean or flavor, bring to a boil. Add the roasted peanuts
- Turn the heat to medium high to high, stirring occasionally, until sugar is grainy and crystallized, 15 to 18 minutes. Do not caramelize the sugar.
- Remove from heat, spread it out on a cookie sheet or tray. Let it cool and serve
Method 2
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a 12inch skillet over medium heat, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla flavor, and water.
- Bring to a boil, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add peanuts, and cook stirring, over medium heat until peanuts are evenly coated and crystalize. (Do not let it caramelize)Remove the peanuts and spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in oven for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes for even roasting.
- Remove for oven and let it cool.
Nutrition Information:
s! 
Devon says
My sugar got very dark and started to become burnt before it had dried up and crystallized. I pulled it off the heat because it was smoking and laid it flat on parchment it made a nice brittle but what do you think I did wrong?
imma africanbites says
Sorry to hear that. All I could think of was that the heat was too high.
Mabel says
Well appreciated your recipes are always mind blowing but can I do it with out shell
ONYIA says
Thanks, will try it out
EKONG-IDIAH says
THANKS FOR THE JOB YOU ARE DOING.
PLEASE, HOW CAN I ADD FOOD FLAVOUR LIKE HONEY TO ROASTED (FRIED) GROUNDNUT TO HAVE A DIFFERENT TASTE FROM NORMAL GROUNDNUT?
ImmaculateBites says
I haven’t tried adding honey yet. So can’t say for sure.
Immarosa says
Imma thks for this recipe. will try it right away. hope it turns out well.
ImmaculateBites says
Do let me know how it works out for you.
Rosemary says
Please I wish to know the common names of cinnamon and vanilla beans in Cameroon.
nkem anene says
i love dis, can i buy already baked peanut wit the shell on it or must it be raw one . nkem
ImmaculateBites says
Yes, you can use roast peanut.
Bodas says
Hi, stumbled on this site today and couldn’t believe what am seeing, whoa i love this, i always try and failed in it, guess at the point stirring to dryness…Thanks, will take a look
ImmaculateBites says
Let me know how it works for you. Thanks for stopping by!
dee says
Please make a recipe for coconut sweet! I can’t find any on the Internet, and it would be very appreciated.
ImmaculateBites says
Maybe in the near future.
Queen Wummie says
Tnx 4 dis, am into d business, though i do use egg in place of sugar. Luv dis though, tnx sweet.
Mariana says
Egg? Pls how do you make it thanks.
maeva njoh says
Thanks for the reciepe will try it right away
ImmaculateBites says
Please let me know how you like it!
Souleman says
Thanks a lot… But where did I go wrong? I tried, but my nuts are still soft…rather than dry and crispy. What should I correct?
ImmaculateBites says
Double check your measurements and try again . You have to keep stirring and not walk away. Let me know how it works
mordy says
Hello imma,is there anyway I can have a physical training on the candy nuts and also how to buy the ingredients in bulk and in cheaper rate,because I want to go into it fully
ImmaculateBites says
Mordy, I don’t much about buying in bulk candy nuts in bulk
mordy says
What about the physical training?
Bibi says
Hi Imma, Stumbled upon this site today…thanks a lot for the gnut sweet recipe…will try it soon.
You are awesome
Femi says
Thanks alot.
please can u help me with the recipe of the uncoated peanut. the one without sugar
Africanbites says
Femi, am working on a recipe with less sugar .
Dorcas says
Nice one. Quick question though, when you say shelled peanut, does that mean raw peanut?
Africanbites says
Yes , shelled peanuts are peanuts with the skin on and they are raw. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks for stopping by Dorcas
Africanbites says
Thank you Isabelle, will try to make one in the coming weeks.
Isabelle says
Thank You, I love this. I was wondering if you could help me out with the apple pie recipe. I like the way you display your recipe, it always looks so yummy and makes it easy to try.