Healthy Candied Walnuts are a thing! This lighter twist on traditional candied walnuts delivers all the flavor with a healthier spin. Slightly spiced and irresistibly delicious, they’re perfect for topping salads, enjoying straight from the jar, or gifting as a thoughtful hostess treat!
INGREDIENTS
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, divided
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper*
- 3 cups whole, unsalted walnuts
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp sea salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.
- Add the walnuts to the mixture and stir until evenly coated. Spread the nuts onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure to include all the liquid. It’s fine if there’s a small pool of maple syrup.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and stir the nuts with a wooden spoon to coat them in the syrup. Return to the oven and continue baking for another 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to ensure even coating and caramelization.
- Once baked, sprinkle the remaining sea salt over the nuts and let them cool completely.
- Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
*Note: Adjust cayenne pepper to taste for your desired level of heat.
