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.
- 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
- 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.
Mr. & Mrs. P says
This is a great idea.. Pinned!!!
Gift Basket Jewels says
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!
www.you-made-that.com says
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.
Terra says
I have to share this recipe with my mom, her and I both adore walnuts! This recipe really sounds fantastic, and a perfect traveling snack:-) Hugs, Terra
mia xara says
These are amazing Chris, not just for personal cravings but also for gift-giving..So many possibilities… Have a great weekend 🙂
Vicki Bensinger says
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.
Susan Lester says
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.
Cathy says
Oh my….I bet they are addicting!
Mari @ Once Upon a Plate says
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. 😀
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These walnuts look so good, I think I’d have to hide them from myself! 😉
Shashi Charles says
Golly – these look so tempting!