Making Candied Walnuts?

My Candied Walnuts are seizing up! I got a really simple recipe for spicy candied walnuts, for my salads and snacking. I made a small batch the first time and really liked them, they came out with that hard crack type shell. I tried another recipe that the sugar crystallizes on the nut, didn't like it so much. So I made the regular size batch and it didn't work out that well.

I used everything the way I was supposed to but the caramelized sugar/cayenne/salt/oil mixture seized up into a candy type stuff. Now don't get me wrong, this spicy sweet candy pieces are good, but I want it all over my walnuts!

What happened? And what can I do different next time?

Michawn from Morgan Hill, CA