Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Visit any German Christmas Market , German FeFair, and you will smell the sugary, cinnamon, nutty scent of Gebrannte Mandeln. I think they waft the smell around to lure you in (and it works). Grab a bag to munch as you shop. Crunchy, sweet, nutty… so delicious. But there is no reason to wait until your next visit to a Christmas Market. Use this German Roasted Almonds Recipe to make Gebrannte Mandeln at home! Munch on them as a special treat… serve them to guests along side your cheese plate at a Holiday Party…. or pack some up in a pretty container to give as a gift (just be sure to keep some for yourself).

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (1)

The recipe for Gebrannte Mandeln is fairly simple. Mostly it’s sugar, almonds, and a bit of cinnamon. The difficult part comes in the amount of stirring you need to do. You CAN NOT dump all ingredients into a pot and walk away, you’ll end up with a burnt mess. And as the process goes on, the stirring gets more strenuous. (It helps to have a willing teenage helper to trade off stirring).

Note, the recipe uses 2 cups of Almonds… so you end up with 2 1/2 cups of Candied Almonds. Not very many… I imagine you can double the recipe, but it will make stirring a lot tougher. You be the judge.

Gebrannte Mandeln Recipe

Read through the recipe first and make sure you have everything on your counter and ready to go BEFORE you start. You will be stirring and stirring and stirring (no stopping), so you will need everything at hand.

PLEASE be careful of the hot sugar… it burns (I have scars to prove it) Use Potholders and good sense.
Also, if it’s raining, don’t let the Almonds sit in the open too long. They will get sticky.

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (2)

Gebrannte Mandeln German Roasted Almonds Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Advent Season in Germany, German Christmas Traditions, German Foods and Recipes, German Recipes

Cuisine German

Servings 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 1 1/2 cup Sugar divided
  • 1 generous teaspoon Vanilla Zucker or Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
  • 2 cups Raw Almonds skin on
  • Parchment Paper

Instructions

  • -Have all of your tools and ingredients ready to go. Once you start... you can't really stop, or you could burn the almonds.

  • -Cover a cookie sheet with Parchment Paper

  • -In a HEAVY Pot or larger saucepan (not non-stick), combine water, 1 cup sugar and cinnamon. Cook over heavy heat while constantly stirring with a wooden spoon.

  • -Bring to a Boil

  • -Add the almonds

  • -Cook the Almonds in the boiling sugar water over high heat, stirring CONSTANTLY. The water will boil off, and the almonds will be left looking like they are coated in powder. (This could take a a few minutes, don't rush, it will happen)

  • -Lower the heat to medium, and keep stirring the almonds. The sugar will melt again, and they will start to look shiny. (This is the most frustrating part. You think it will never happen, and then suddenly it does.)

  • -Lower the heat again, and add the 1/2 cup sugar plus vanilla sugar or vanilla extract. Stir and stir and stir until the Almonds go through their powder sugar looking phase, and start to go shiny again. It takes time, but it will happen. Just keep stirring.

  • -When they are shiny with a brown coat of melted sugar with some crunchy sugary bits, pour them out onto the prepared pan.

  • -Use the wooden spoon, and maybe another spoon to separate them out on the pan (if you leave a big lump, it will stick that way.)

  • -Enjoy warm, or let cool for later.

  • STORE AIR TIGHT

Like this Recipe? You’ll Find More like it in my Easy German Cookbook!

80 Classic German Recipes made SIMPLE for Christmas, and for everyday.

Easy German Cookbook: 80 Classic Recipes Made Simple signedGermanGirl ShopGebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (4)Easy German Cookbook: 80 Classic Recipes Made SimpleGermanGirl Shop

Step By Step Instruction with PICTURES

Get out all the ingredients, measure them and have them ready to use.
Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper.

In a heavy pot, bring the water, sugar and cinnamon to a boil, then add almonds

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (5)

Stir and stir

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (6)

Then continue to stir until the water evaporates, and you are left with sugar coated almonds

(it will happen, it just takes time and stirring)

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (7)

Keep stirring until the Almonds turn shiny

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (8)

Now add the rest of the sugar with the Vanilla Zucker or Vanilla extract

(I know… you JUST got them shiny, and now they are sugary again… trust me)

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (9)

Stir and stir until the Almonds are mostly shiny again

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (10)

Pour out onto a Parchment Paper covered Cookie sheet

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (11)

Spread out and let cool

It might be easier to use 2 spoons to spread them out.

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (12)

Store AIR TIGHT (after they cool)

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (13)

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (14)

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (15)

Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied almonds soft? ›

Let them cool completely then store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Why are my candied almonds soft? If they are soft you likely did not bake them long enough. Follow the directions exactly.

What are Bavarian almonds? ›

Bavarian Sugared Almonds are a festival favorite made with sugar coated nuts with a hint of spice, easily baked in the oven.

How long do sugared almonds last? ›

Sugared almonds can last a long time as long as you store them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. If you do this, you can keep these almonds for up to two weeks. If you want to freeze them then you should be able to store them for up to two months.

What are candied nuts called? ›

Pralines, Gebrannte Mandeln, Chou Chou, Garrapiñadas - no matter what you call them, caramelised nuts are a delicious treat enjoyed by people all over the world. Pralines originated in France, where they were originally made with almonds coated in sugar and spices.

How do you make roasted almonds softer? ›

In addition if the almonds are soaked long enough they will swell in size, and it will change how dense they are after roasted. 10 minutes won't swell the almonds much at all. If you prefer this, use a warm water and soak 20-30 minutes. Try it both ways and see what you like the best.

Why do you soak almonds before roasting? ›

Well soaking almonds helps to release enzymes which aid in digestion. It's also beneficial with the the digestion of fats. Monounsaturated fats help curb your appetite and keep you full. Help to reduce bad cholesterol and increase the good.

What are the tastiest almonds in the world? ›

Marcona almonds are renowned throughout the world for their incomparable flavor. With their rounded shape, they are easily recognizable. As much appreciated tasted as they are or well cooked, they make the pleasure of the gourmets (and greedy!).

What are the most expensive almonds in the world? ›

Mamra Badams are the most expensive variety of almonds. They are mainly grown in Iran, Afghanistan and the valleys of Kashmir. They are richer in good fats when compared with the regular almond varieties. Mamra Badams are considered to be the connoisseur's range of almonds.

What do Italians call wedding almonds? ›

Wedding Favors:

But, in Italy it's traditional to give guests sugared almonds called confetti.

What is the meaning of 5 almonds at a wedding? ›

The Traditional Bomboniere – A Sachet of Five Jordan Almonds

The perfect wedding bomboniere, which is Italian for wedding favor, includes five Jordan almonds to represent five wishes for the bride and groom. These are health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and a long life.

How can you tell if almonds are rancid? ›

However, Kanney says, “If a nut has spoiled or gone rancid, recognizable by a sour or bitter flavor, the nut is no longer good and should be thrown away.”

What do the 5 sugar coated almonds mean? ›

If you want to be faithful to wedding traditions, the sugared almond wedding favours for each of the guests must contain five almonds representing each of the couple's wishes: love, health, happiness, fertility, and long life together.

What is the Christmas nut? ›

Pistachios were always at the center of tasty treats. The Christmas Nut, Pistachio became known for the holidays were folded into Christmas It is thought that the three parts of the nut—the shell, skin, and kernel represents the holy trinity or the bones, skin, and soul of the Savior himself.

What is the traditional Christmas nut? ›

Receiving a handful of walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds was a coveted gift, symbolic of prosperity and good luck. Over time, this tradition has continued, with nuts becoming a staple of our Christmas fare.

What are almonds covered in sugar called? ›

Sugared almonds have exported themselves across all corners of the globe, with the exploring of the “New World”, they became incredibly popular and known as “Jordan Almonds”.

Can you eat soft almonds? ›

It is better to eat soaked almonds especially in old age when digestive issues and dental problems may be on rise, as the process of soaking helps to make them soft and easy to digest.

Why are my candied walnuts soft? ›

Cool completely before storing otherwise the residual heat will add steam to the airtight container and this excess moisture will cause your crispy candied walnuts to go soft.

Can almonds be soft? ›

Almonds are classified according to their flavor and application. As nuts, “sweet almonds” can be soft or hard shelled. They are used to obtain oil in the food and agriculture industries, for example. Most people know almond by its hard shell, but there is also a type of almond that has a soft shell.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 5569

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.