You'll Go Nuts!!!! ~Candied Nuts

I love nuts! Walnuts, Pecans, Brazil, Cashews....yup, pretty much never met a nut I didn't like! A really fun way to enjoy nuts and add protein to a green salad is by adding a sprinkle of nuts instead of croutons. Around our house, sunflower seeds, peanuts and candied walnuts or pecans are always on hand.

Candied nuts is what is on the agenda today. You are going to love these yummy, buttery, sweet and salty, candied walnuts or pecans. They really add a wow factor and punch up your salad. They also make a nice little sweet snack that will appease any sweet tooth attack.

OH! and another great thing, this wow factor topping, will take you less then ten minutes to make.

What you will need:
9" Saute pan
1 1/2 C. Raw Walnut or Pecans (Whole or Bits)
2 Tablespoons Butter
2-3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar (Dark or Light)
Kosher Salt or Sea Salt

How they're done:

Place nuts single layer in saute pan and cook 3-4 minutes on med/high heat stirring every 30-40 secs. (You will start to smell the aroma of them roasting..MMMM!)




Add butter to pan and stir to coat nuts.

When butter is melted, stir brown sugar into pan.
Let cook for 1-2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds until sugar has melted fully into butter and turned a delightfully dark amber colour.

Immediately pour nuts out onto glass plate or parchment paper and sprinkle with salt.

Cool, crumble and GO NUTS!

Tips for success with this recipe:

Using raw nuts is important. Nuts that have already been roasted have released most of their oils.

Heating your nuts before you add butter and brown sugar is also important. This brings out their natural oils and opens their "pores" allowing the butter and brown sugar to grab on.

Take your time but not to much time. This recipe goes quick and nuts burn easily. Be prepared to stand by your stove-top when preparing this wonderful morsels. Trust me, they will be worth it.

Switch It Up

A wee bit of Cayenne, Cinnamon, Allspice or Chile Powder can totally change your flavor profile and are fun variations on candied nuts. It just takes a whisper of any of these spices to add a fun layer of flavor.

Add a sprinkle of vanilla or some orange zest at the end of cook time.

Try different nuts. This technique will work on any raw nut, pecan and walnuts just happen to be my favorites in salads.

Use different salts as finishers. Smoked salt, flaked or sea salt...etc.

Need a quick birthday or hostess gift? These make a really fun and unique gift when placed in a bag or chinese food container and topped with a pretty bow!

Questions? Drop me a note! Of course I always love to hear what you think when you try one of my recipes. I welcome feedback and hearing changes or additions YOUR creativity brings to the table.

Please note that all recipes are original to "Cobwebs To Cookies". I love when my recipes are passed along and shared; but ask that you please respect the time and energy I put into developing them, by sharing this blog as your source if you do. Thank YOU!