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coffee-candied macadamia nuts

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coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls
coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls

It’s almost here!  We’re actually, really, truly getting married this Saturday and I’m so excited I can’t sit still.  This is the last post in this series on our reception food, and after that I’ll finally stop yammering to you about it — in three days, we’ll be noshing on these caramelized onion & Boursin tartlets, this spicy ahi poke parfaitini, and slicing into a real-people version of this cake, among other things (like a rosemary-perfumed short rib and vibrant purple Okinawan sweet potato puree, be still my heart).  And as our wedding favors, we’ll be handing out this last recipe!

For our favors I’d originally considered little jars of Kona coffee, but I didn’t want to give out whole beans in case anyone didn’t have a coffee grinder, and B2 pointed out that giving out coffee grounds might look a wee bit like we were giving out jars of dirt.  Instead, he had this brilliant idea to give away candied macadamia nuts — simultaneously fulfilling my waylaid dream of adding a personal touch to our wedding menu and my mother’s request that we give away something sweet after the wedding as part of a Chinese wedding tradition.  How about that.

coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls

So the morning after we landed in Hawaii, I broke out his mother’s saucepans and the world’s largest bulk bag of macadamia nuts and spent Saturday making and jarring these little babes.  I tested a couple different methods at home last month, and happily, the one that we liked the best was the one that was incredibly quick and almost stupidly simple – always helpful when you’re making enough for 130 people.  All it takes is a saucepan, macadamia nuts (or any other nuts you like), sugar, instant espresso powder, and a touch of coarse salt.  Not even an oven.

And that’s the end of our wedding series!  I could not be more thrilled to marry my bowl-companion, wedding favor genius, perpetual slumber-partier, and life-mate in just a few sleeps.  Next Monday we’re going to Japan (!) for our honeymoon (where I plan to eat no less than two bowls of ramen per day and about seventeen cones of black sesame soft serve per hour and maybe also do things other than eat) so it’ll be a little quiet around here for a few weeks, but you can catch a few snaps of our adventures on Instagram if you like, and otherwise I’ll see you all again super soon.  Thank you so much for being as excited about this wedding series as I’ve been!  You guys are the best.

coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls
coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls
coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls
coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls
coffee-candied macadamia nuts | two red bowls

Also!  To thank you guys for the fact that I’ve been a wedding one-note lately, I paired up with Season with Spice to do a little giveaway to end this series.  Reese and Mark are the loveliest couple who run Season with Spice together and are on the ground through every step of the process, and it shows in their thoughtfully produced and curated spices – I used their Sriracha Sea Salt in these parfaitinis and am addicted to their Hong Kong coffee-tea yuanyang mix.  And by amazing coincidence, Season with Spice makes a Vanilla Coffee Sea Salt that is extravagantly good and beyond perfect as the finishing touch on these nuts to bring out all the flavors in them.  They’ve generously offered three readers an assorted pack of their Vanilla Coffee Sea Salt, Sriracha Sea Salt, and Thai Ginger Lime Sea Salt for today’s giveaway, and to enter all you have to do is leave a comment below and have a U.S. mailing address.  The giveaway ends Wednesday, July 8th at 11:59 PM and the winners will be notified via email!

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Coffee-candied macadamia nuts.

Print Recipe

★★★★

3.5 from 2 reviews
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups; easily doubled, tripled -- or twenty-pled! 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups roasted macadamia nuts
  • 6 tbsp white granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp instant espresso powder (up to 2 tsp for a stronger coffee flavor)
  • small pinch salt (1/8 tsp)

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat. Combine all ingredients in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat and stir just until combined. Let sit over medium heat until the syrup melts and begins to simmer, about 30 seconds to a minute. Continue to let simmer for another 1-2 minutes, without stirring. The syrup should become smooth and bubbly.
  2. Cook for one more minute, stirring continuously, until the syrup coats the nuts instead of staying in the pan, and the nuts begin to form clumps instead of separating easily. Do not remove before the nuts begin to clump, or else the syrup may be too wet and will not harden sufficiently. My batches were consistently done by about 4 minutes of cooking over medium heat.
  3. When ready, transfer immediately onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread out as much as possible. The syrup should begin to harden almost immediately, and will lighten and turn matte as it dries. Let cool completely, then break into individual pieces, enjoy or package as gifts!

Notes

I did not try making more than 2 cups in a pan at a time, but the batches go so quickly that making large quantities was not an issue. Just give the pan a quick rinse with warm water in between batches. Subsequent batches will take less time, about 3 minutes or so, because the pan will already be warm.

Reader Interactions

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  2. Heather (Delicious Not Gorgeous)

    these sound so tasty! i may or may not be jealous of your guests because they get to receive these + try all the tasty food you’ve been showing us. hope you have an amazing wedding and honeymoon (tbh the number one reason i want to tour around asia is to eat)!

    Reply

  4. Janet Seeley

    I love macadamia nuts, and I use espresso powder a lot…so this seems like a match made in heaven ! 🙂

    Reply

  8. Maureen Sutherland Weiser

    This is so lovely x 4! You are getting married to your bff, this recipe looks amazeballs, I love your packaging (and need to know how you made the labels for the tops of the jars), and a giveaway from Season with spice! Winwinwinwin!

    Reply

    • tworedbowls

      Hi Maureen!! I designed the labels in Photoshop, then printed them on these Avery Kraft labels using the instructions on the labels and the Avery website 🙂 then I hand-wrote the individual names after printing. Hope that helps and thank you so much for such sweet words!!!! 🙂

      Reply

  10. Hannah

    Aw, I have so enjoyed these posts leading up to your wedding! So cute that these are in mini mason jars; not only do the guests get to eat delicious candied nuts, but they get an awesome jar out of it. I hope you guys have a wonderful day eating all of the food you have planned so thoughtfully and that you live it up in Japan!!!

    Reply

  13. Sarah S.

    Congratulations! I’m a new reader and have been enjoying your wedding food series. Thanks for the lovely recipes!

    Reply

  15. Linda Selzer

    I’m always looking for recipes for spiced nuts. This is one I’ll definitely try. Congratulations!

    Reply

  16. Lauren E.

    Congratulations! I’ve loved having a peek (and the opportunity to make and sample items from!) at your wedding menu. I’d love to win the salt set to amp up the flavors in my kitchen!

    Reply

  18. Breann

    Wow these look scrumptious! I look forward to seeing all the pics you post from your wedding! Congratulations!!

    Reply

  19. Brianne

    Oh my gosh. My husband brought me back a bag of coffee candied macadamia nuts from Hawaii last year when he was there for work, and I devoured them! I cannot wait to make these at home! Thank you, thank you for sharing this recipe! Happy wedding week!

    Reply

  24. Jessie Snyder | Faring Well

    Happy wedding! Oh my goodness! Have THE best time and soak it all up <3 cannot wait see pics!! And have such a wonderful time in Japan! Macadamia nuts = Hawaii to me and I think this is my favorite of your wedding posts so far. So so so happy for you two!!! <3

    Reply

  25. Jessica (Coco & Mingo)

    OMG! I can’t believe wedding day is here already!! Have the most wonderful time in Hawaii, my dear!! I really really REALLY wish I was there right now celebrating with you!! I love the food line-up you have for the wedding…and that cake! Ahhh these macadamias look amazing. Everyone will love your food, you’re so talented!! And can you believe it….I had black sesame soft serve for the FIRST TIME just yesterday! I love it, so I love that you guys will be serving it too! Enjoy and have the best time, you’re gonna be the most beautiful bride ever! xoxoxxo

    Reply

  32. Monica

    A big hearty congrats on your wedding this Saturday!! That is beyond exciting! Your wedding posts have been such fun and your wedding and reception will no doubt be so memorable. Enjoy it all and I wish you both the best and happiest future together. And Japan?! Your eating plan sounds spot on. Have a blast because there is no better vacation than your honeymoon. : )

    Reply

  38. molly yeh

    aahhhhhh eeeeeeeeee *all of the confetti cone emoji*!!!!!!!! i can’t believe the wedding is so soon. this time next week you will be a married lady!!!!!!!!! your guests are gonna go WILD over these nuts!!! yayayayyy!!!!!! i hope last minute prep is going well!!!

    Reply

  40. grace

    i don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that i appreciate salt more than the average joe, so i’d be super excited to win. your nuts must be amazing!

    Reply

  43. Betty | le Jus d'Orange

    oh my gosh!! CONGRATS <3. Also this is crazy but I just realized that you're getting married on the same weekend I did last year!! Our anniversary is June 28th :). Ahh I can't wait to see all the photos <3. Happy happy weekend Cynthia! It's going to be crazy, exciting, and insane all at once. It's the best!!!

    Reply

  45. Lindsey

    hip hip!!!! so excited for you bowls! sending you all the best for the special day and days leading up to it, i know it’s going to magical! so many <3 for you! xo!

    Reply

  46. Sydney | Modern Granola

    Yay! Congratulations! I hope your wedding is everything you want it to be!
    These macadamia nuts sound so incredibly amazing! I would have never thought to coffee-candy a nut, but it makes all the sense in the world to my coffee-loving mind!
    Best wishes!
    xx Sydney

    Reply

  47. Jamie Fleck

    I wish you too so much happiness and lifelong adventures together! Have an absolute wonderful time in Japan! In the meantime, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed about the spices!

    Reply

  51. stephanie

    congrats you two!! hip hip hooray for love and sweet coffee candied macadamia nuts. may your wedding day be beautiful and your marriage together even more so 🙂

    Reply

  52. Stardancer

    My husband would FLIP if I won a bunch of seasoned salts. He’s definitely way more highbrow than I am 😛

    HAPPY WEDDING!! AND HAPPY REST OF YOUR LIVES!!!

    Reply

  61. sundiegoeats

    Ahh congrats!! And I love candied nuts, I usually find macadamia a bit too one note (so buttery!) when candied compared to almonds and hazelnuts which have a stronger flavor but adding coffee would make it magical 🙂

    Reply

  63. Nicole

    These coffee-candied macadamia nuts look dreamy! Found your blog about six months ago and have been enjoying reading about your upcoming nuptials and recipes of course. Congratulations! Wishing you a beautiful wedding.

    Reply

  66. katie @ butterlust

    HOORAY WEDDING WEEK!! Cynthia, I am beyond excited for you to officially become Mrs. Bowl #2.!!! Best wishes for the big day (and for LIFE TOGETHER), I truly hope it’s your most magical day yet. 🙂 XO

    Reply

  68. Nicole

    Oooo…I love this sweet little favor! So thoughtful! Happy happy wedding day! I hope you plan on Instagramming your Japanese honeymoon eats because that sounds amazing.

    Reply

  69. Robin

    These look amazing! Being a recently engaged food blogger (and from living in Honolulu for three years), I really enjoyed your whole wedding series…Maybe I’ll have to try my own version when I’m getting married! Best wishes!

    Reply

  72. tema

    I would love to steal these for my own wedding giveaway in october- i sense impending purchases of tiny jars!

    Reply

  76. Brooke Bass

    So, so many congratulations to you and B2, Cynthia! I’ve absolutely loved following this wedding series and TBH I’ll be sad to see it end! Wishing you both the most happy and magical of wedding weekends and can’t wait to follow your adventures these next few weeks on IG. Hugs (and in true southern form…”best wishes!”) 😉 😉

    Reply

  77. Sonia Fan

    Congratulations to you and B2, and thank you for continuing to make posts amidst all the wedding craziness! This recipe looks awesome and I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

  78. Stephanie

    Just bought instant espresso powder! Nuts next :).

    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!! Love reading about wedding preparation.

    Reply

  79. Abby | Lace & Lilacs

    Oh my goodness, Cynthia! I love everything about this post and am so excited & happy for you & Bowl #2. Congratulations and have an amazing time in Japan! I was in Tokyo for the first time earlier this year and fell head over heels for it, so yeah… I have major trip envy right now.

    These macadamia nuts look delicious! Anything candied is, of course… I’d probably eat a candied shoe, to be honest. 🙂 xoxo!

    Reply

    • tworedbowls

      Hi Ally, I’m so sorry for the late response!!! Yes, this would absolutely work with other nuts! 🙂 I hope you like it if you try it!

      Reply

  88. T.U

    Congratulation on your upcoming wedding Cynthia!!!! Can’t wait for your next update blog which I guess probably is fulled with amazing photos from your reception. Enjoy the last few day as bachelorette ;). Greeting from Texas.

    Reply

  89. Valentina @Hortus

    I don’t have a US mailing address but I don’t care, I just wanted to say CONGRATS for the wedding, these jars look incredible and are such a cute idea, and safe travels to Japan (why is everybody going to japan but me?!?) Happy everything! 😀

    Reply

  95. lilian

    dear cynthia – double happiness and beyond!!! sending love to you for a magical weekend. and enjoy basking in the memories as you eat your way through japan. much aloha to you both!

    Reply

  96. Vicky

    Congrats to you and those are fantastic ideas for wedding gifts (if I get another cup with someone else’s name on it I’ll flip)! Enjoy your trip!

    Reply

  100. lizziedwysong

    These sound delicious! We just got back from our honeymoon in Hawaii and since I’m already missing it, this will be a perfect way to keep living that island life!

    Reply

  103. LynneMarie

    Congrats on the wedding and thanks for the giveaway. I love trying different sea salts and these sound really great!

    Reply

  104. thedentons

    I love fun salt! Congrats on the wedding, and I’ll be trying this recipe for sure – my husband loves macadamia nuts and coffee, and I’m going to mix up a batch of these for his birthday!

    Reply

  105. Edlyn

    Congratulations, Bowl-partners 4 Life!!! I’ve enjoyed every single series you’ve done lately and I’m stoked for you two! Can’t wait to see pictures. Have the most fun in Japan! Xo

    Reply

  113. genevieve y

    Aww congratulations Cynthia! Have an amazing time in Japan and please stuff your face with ramen and ice cream for me. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness to you and Bowl 2!

    Reply

  116. cococakeland

    awww cynthia!! i love how you’ve shared your wedding food with your blog readers … i hope your gorgeous wedding was everything you ever dreamed of… and those lucky guests to take home coffee candied mac nuts… so clever and sweet … and chinesey ^__^ tons of love to you and A! XO

    Reply

  123. Emily

    Your photography is always in incredible, and Hawaii is truly a special place! I remember snorkling there when I was little and it was just so much fun 🙂 Congratulations on your marriage!

    Emily | Ahem, It’s Emme

    Reply

  124. Sarah

    I can honestly think of a million things I want to make with those seasonings!! They sound so amazing, just as this recipre does! Best wishes to you and yours 🙂

    Reply

  125. Joan Ried Brodie

    Love it…. so simple.
    We have one macnut tree, and with it finally producing needed help. This recipe was found at just the right time.
    Thanks for sharing.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • tworedbowls

      I would store them in an airtight container and in a cool, dry place. We usually go through them pretty quickly but I would guess at least a week. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

  127. Greg

    Recipe does not work as written. Once the nuts get coated the sugar crystallizes and you end up with a grainy sugar coated nuts. It appears the the the sugar never dissolves which causes the grainy coating, its needs at least twice the amount of water that is called for.

    ★★

    Reply

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