WHAT ARE BROWN SUGAR CANDIED WALNUTS?

Candied walnuts are a crunchy, crispy treat that make a perfect topper for many dishes. They are made by mixing walnuts into a caramel-like candy made from sugar and butter. When the walnuts are added to the hot sugar, the mixture coats the nuts, getting into all of their glorious nooks and crannies. After cooling, the candied walnuts become crunchy, sweet little bites of perfection!

WAYS TO USE BROWN SUGAR CANDIED WALNUTS

There are no limits to how to use candied walnuts. Here are my favourites:

• eat them on their own
• top salads with them
• add them as a topping on smoothie bowls
• mix them into oatmeal
• top yogurt with them

THE INGREDIENTS

As the title states, you only need three ingredients to make this simple recipe. All of which you likely have in your kitchen already:

• walnuts
• butter
• brown sugar

I also LOVE adding this flaky sea salt to them (this is totally optional – but, you should do it…trust me)!

TRY BROWN SUGAR CANDIED WALNUTS ON:

Pear, Gorgonzola and Candied Walnut Salad (so delicious and perfect for dinner parties)

Beet and Orange Salad with Goat Cheese (the perfect sweet and savoury side)

Power Boosting Smoothie Bowl (an extra crunch on top of a creamy smoothie bowl)

OTHER TOPPERS YOU NEED TO TRY

Avocado Croutons (perfect for salad)

Homemade Brown Butter Granola (amazing on yogurt or with a smoothie bowl)

Let’s make some candied walnuts!

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Crunchy 3-Ingredient Candied Walnuts

Serving size: Makes 1 cup walnuts

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw walnuts, halved
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tbsp butter
• flaky sea salt (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5-8 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant. Watch carefully as they burn easily! Remove and set aside.
3. In a small pot over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar until the sugar starts to bubble. Add the walnuts and cook another 2 minutes. Spread the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet and immediately sprinkle with a few pinches of salt and separate with a fork. Let cool completely, about 10 minutes, before enjoying!

Store in an airtight container.

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1. Christmas is coming
2. You need a hostess gift
3. You like nuts

Truly – this is the best, most perfect, thoughtful, fast, easy, cheap and delicious gift that you could give to someone for hosting you over the holidays. I wouldn’t lie to you. Scout’s honour.

This granola recipe boasts all things Christmas – warm spices, toasted nuts, jeweled cranberries…and brown butter – the best part. Grab a few small mason jars and fill ’em up, tie some bows and get ready to have a handful of new best friends.

Alright, less talk, more granola.

First step: Make the brown butter. Add a quarter cup of cold butter to a pan over medium-low heat. Let the butter foam up and become fragrant, stirring often.

It will begin to develop brown bits on the bottom of the pan (5 minutes or so) – remove from heat and let cool (put it in the fridge or freezer to speed up this process).

Secondly: Grab the biggest bowl you own. We’re not messin’ around.

Dump in 2 cups of rolled oats, 6 cups of your favourite types of nuts (I do one cup pecans, one cup walnuts, one cup cashews, two cups slivered almonds and one cup hazelnuts) and half of a cup of quinoa. Set aside.

Next: In a small measuring cup, whisk together three-quarters of a cup of maple syrup, the cooled brown butter, half a teaspoon vanilla, half a teaspoon cinnamon and a quarter of a teaspoon of nutmeg.

Pour over the nut mixture and stir, making sure everything is coated nicely.

Transfer to a baking sheet that is lined with aluminum foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning. Add large coconut flakes for the last two minutes of baking. Remove from oven and add some golden and sultana raisins as well as a handful of dried cranberries and a bunch of flaky sea salt. Cool for twenty minutes before putting into jars or storing in airtight containers.

*I highly recommend using heavy duty aluminum foil for this as thinner foil can rip easily when you are stirring the granola. No one likes tin flakes in their food!

Brown Butter Nutty Granola

Yield: 8 cups

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cold butter
• 2 cups quick (or rolled) oats
• 1 cup pecans, rough chop
• 1 cup walnuts, rough chop
• 1 cup cashews, rough chop
• 2 cups slivered almonds
• 1 cup hazelnuts, rough chop
• 1/2 cup raw quinoa
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup large flake coconut
• 1/3 cup sultana raisins
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 tbsp – 1 tbsp flaky sea salt

Instructions:

1. Add butter to a medium-sized pan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring often, until you see brown bits begin to form on the bottom of the pan (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat immediately and cool completely (speed up cooling process in fridge or freezer). Do not burn the butter!
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.
3. In a very large mixing bowl, add the oats, nuts and quinoa.
4. In a small measuring cup, measure out the maple syrup. Add the cooled brown butter, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk until combined. Drizzle over the nut mixture and toss until everything is coated. Spread evenly on the foil-lined baking sheet. Bake granola in oven for 35 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. During the last five minutes, add the flaked coconut. The granola is ready when everything is a golden brown colour.
5. Remove from oven and add the raisins, cranberries and sea salt to taste (don’t skip the salt!!!).
6. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

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