Maple Vanilla Candied Walnuts

Sometimes I read food blogs and chuckle to myself when the author says something along the lines of "this is a great recipe!" (And yes, I am 100% including myself in that same category, in case you missed the gushing in my previous food posts.) Because of course they think the recipe is great—why else would they be sharing it? Nobody purposely shares gross recipes, except for maybe super villains. So don't get baking tips from Lex Luthor, I guess. 

Anyway...this is a great recipe! 

But seriously, I love this recipe. These candied walnuts are sweet, crunchy, and completely irresistible (unless you have a nut allergy, in which case PLEASE resist them). The flavor is incredible, they're easy to make, and they come together in minutes. That's right: minutes. There's something comforting about knowing that I'm only ever a few minutes away from delicious candied walnuts. So what are you waiting for? Head to the kitchen and whip up a batch! And this is a 100% Lex-Luthor-free zone, so you can totally trust me on this one. 

First gather your ingredients. You'll only need a few: walnuts (or a different nut if you prefer), vanilla extract, a bit of salt, and pure maple syrup (the real stuff, not Mrs. Butterworth's). 

Start by heating a small skillet over medium high heat on your stovetop for about a minute. Then add all of your ingredients and stir to combine, making sure to coat the walnuts well. After that, just stir frequently for about 4-6 minutes until the sugar in the syrup caramelizes. You want to be sure to stir this often so that the sugar doesn't burn, but if you constantly stir the mixture it'll take a lot longer to caramelize, so you don't need to get crazy with it. 

Remove your pan from heat and allow the walnuts to cool. I like to spread mine out on a sheet of wax paper to prevent them from sticking together too much. 

And that's it! Talk about easy, right? Once they're cool, feel free to dig right in. You could toss these into a salad (fancy), eat them with ice cream (decadent), or just grab a handful to snack on (my current occupation). Store any leftovers in an airtight container. 

Maple Vanilla Candied Walnuts
Source: The Garden Grazer                                  Yield: 2 cups


Ingredients:
2 cups of walnuts (or other nut of your choice)
1/3 cup of pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
1/8 tsp of salt


Instructions:
Heat a small- to medium-sized pan over medium high heat for about a minute. Add all ingredients to the pan and stir well to combine, being sure to evenly coat the walnuts. Stir frequently for 4-6 minutes until the sugar in the syrup has caramelized. 


Remove the pan from heat. Spread out the walnuts on a sheet of wax paper to cool. Once cool, store in an airtight container. 

What do you think of these candied walnuts? Let me know in the comment section below or you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or by email. I'd love to hear from you!