This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.
I think a little birdie heard me. Last week I was talking about how I loved getting packages in mail with my name on them. Well, it was just a few days later when my husband went to the door and came back with a shoe-box size package .. for me! The return address was California. Hmmmm ... I shook it, turned it over several times and tried to guess what it was, but in the end, I didn't have a clue. When I very carefully hastily (like a wild animal! - photographer/husband's edit) opened the box, I found a lovely surprise .............. a humunga bunga bag of the prettiest, biggest, plumpest walnuts (organic English walnuts to be precise) I've ever had the pleasure of meeting!
A virtual friend of The Café named Brit happens to have a walnut farm in California called Filmore Farms. She thoughtfully packaged and sent the beautiful walnuts via the U.S. Postal Service, and I happily received them .............. and it wasn't long before walnut creations began swirling and twirling in this girl's head.
Scroll Down for the Recipe - or Save It to Your Inbox
We’ll email you the recipe so it’s easy to save, print, or share.
Apple Pie Candied Walnuts
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cup walnuts
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325˚F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. If using foil, spray with cooking spray or lightly grease with oil.
- Combine butter, olive oil, brown sugar, honey, apple pie spice, and sea salt in a medium-size sauté pan. Cook over medium heat until bubbly and well combined, stirring occasionally.
- Add walnuts and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring continuously with a heat-proof spatula or wooden spoon till golden and sugar mixture binds to the walnuts. Turn onto prepared pan, and working quickly, separate nuts with wooden spoon or spatula. Be careful the nuts will be very hot!
- Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until nuts are a deep, golden brown. Stir nuts occasionally during baking time, then spread out again to a single layer. Remove from oven. Cool completely, then store in an airtight container.
Shop Our Café Loves
We’ve gathered our favorite kitchen tools, tableware, and entertaining treasures in one place, the Café Loves store. It’s a wonderful spot to find something special for yourself or the cooks and hosts you love!
I'm looking forward to trying these!
I loved your comment about receiving the walnuts in the mail.
Reminded me, when I was dating my husband, I loved his parents, and they, me. They had a walnut tree. They would pick walnuts, shell them and fill a huge ziplock bag and give it to me when I saw them on the weekend. How special I felt, such a gesture of love for sure. Especially knowing what a pain it is to shell walnuts!!! It's not easy!!
Lucky yo!
This is a great idea.. Pinned!!!
Yum! I'm looking for a way to publish this to Pinterest. Mobile isn't good for printing. Anyway, I save the page to favorites. Thanks!
How yummy looking are these little snack nuts, I bet they would be great gifts and also great in a salad too. I'm going to have to give these a try, thanks for sharing.
These are amazing Chris, not just for personal cravings but also for gift-giving..So many possibilities... Have a great weekend 🙂
Oh Chris these look mouthwatering. What a great recipe and so creative especially for this time of year. I look forward to trying these. I'm sure they won't last long in my house.
Chris - I got so excited when I saw your post because I live very close to Fillmore - but, alas, the orchard is in Northern CA, not Southern! Our Fillmore grows citrus galore - nuts are further north.
Walnuts are my favorite nut and I know that if I had a bowl of these that I wouldn't stop eating them until it was empty and I was licking my fingers.
Oh my....I bet they are addicting!
Chris, You (and Brit) brought back a flood of memories for me... my (late) aunt and uncle used to have walnut orchards . . . along with apricot and Italian plums, in California not far from our house, a long time ago ~ lot's of happy times spent in playing on their ranch and in those orchards! All of those acres were turned into a huge housing tract several years ago ... But I remember Candied Walnuts that my grandfather and my mom made from those walnuts ~ simple, but so good! These walnuts look superb, and I LOVE your take on them. They are a must do for the holiday season.
Thanks for sharing! xoxo
P.S. You and your husband are a perfect combination; you produce such gorgeous food and he captures them in such a beautiful way ~ I always leave your blog with a big smile on my face. 😀
These walnuts look so good, I think I'd have to hide them from myself! 😉
Golly - these look so tempting!
Oh my gosh. That gift from Brit is a gift that keeps on giving because look at what you've done for us! So, I thank Brit and I thank you. The nuts look dangerous though. They're the kind of thing I'd have to portion out for myself or I'd eat the whole batch. 🙂
What a nice friend. Love the candied walnuts. Bet no one can eat just one 🙂
Sam
What a great idea!They seem delicious!
Excellent recipe. I could eat the whole bowl all by myself.
I love walnuts! These look wonderful - super flavoring. Really an inspired recipe - thanks so much.
Our own fantastic cookbook..every time:)
Did you tear open the box?LOL:)
You didn't even have to say that..because I remember you telling us:)
You should see my soda crackers:)
Soda crakers how do you prepare those dear.
Chris these look utterly irresistible. I may just have to whip up a few batches to go in Christmas hampers this year.
I love that you added cardamom and you are one lucky lady!
Oups that is so intresting! I like it a lot!!
Oh my, Chris. The recipe looks delicious--one that I'm sure the farm crew is going to rate VERY high on the "Like" list! Thank for for sharing it with all of us that are such fans of your out here!
So crunchy and irresistible!
I will snack on these for sure!
What a great idea! These look and sound amazing.
I can think of so many different ways to use these awesome, yummy candied walnuts. Gift giving would be my #1 choice...on salads, as a delicious snack, on top of cakes, or chopped up for additional decorations...the list goes on-an-on, and most people like walnuts for sure...thanks for sharing! xo
My immediate thought was... oooh, I like the sound of that! Lucky girl-enjoy:@)
They look gorgeous! What a lovely treat.
these waltnuts look really delicious!!
How creative, Chris! These walnuts are full of flavor for sure...and I love them!
Oh Chris - these are wonderful ... I could eat a big fat handful before coffee! That was a lovely gift and you did a wonderful job creating a delicious recipe~