Description
These Toffee Walnuts are a deliciously sweet and slightly spicy snack perfect for snacking or topping salads and desserts. Coated with a buttery cinnamon and brown sugar glaze, and baked to a crisp, they offer a wonderful combination of crunchy texture and rich flavor with a hint of cayenne for a sweet and spicy kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Walnut Mixture
- 3 cups walnut halves (or any other nut you enjoy!)
- 1 large egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Toffee Coating
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar (or up to 1/2 cup for sweeter nuts)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract, optional for cinnamon nuts)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a sweet & spicy kick)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Sugar Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, salt, ground cinnamon (if using), and cayenne pepper (if using) until well combined. This mixture will create the toffee coating on the walnuts.
- Coat Walnuts with Egg White: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla extract until just combined. Add the walnut halves and toss them thoroughly to ensure they are evenly coated with the egg white mixture.
- Add Sugar Mixture: Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the coated walnuts and toss again until every walnut is evenly covered with the toffee mixture.
- Bake: Spread the coated walnuts out evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- Cool: Once baked, allow the walnuts to cool completely on the baking sheet. This cooling time helps the toffee coating to harden and become delightfully crisp.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar from 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup depending on your preference.
- Use cinnamon extract instead of ground cinnamon for a more intense cinnamon flavor.
- Adding cayenne pepper adds a subtle spicy kick that balances well with the sweetness; omit if you prefer only sweet flavors.
- Store cooled toffee walnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks to maintain freshness and crunch.
- Feel free to substitute walnuts with pecans, almonds, or cashews for variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: toffee walnuts, sweet and spicy nuts, baked nuts, cinnamon walnuts, spiced nuts, snack recipe
