Vanilla Bean Candied Walnuts
These vanilla bean candied walnuts are completely and totally irresistible. They’re perfect on salads!
These walnuts need to come with a huge warning label:
ADDICTING.
SEVERELY ADDICTING.
DON’T LEAVE OUT IN PLAIN SIGHT.
WARNING: IMPOSSIBLE TO EAT JUST ONE.
Seriously. Vanilla and walnuts are made for each other. Match made in food heaven.
These are amazing on salads, would be great on ice cream or frozen yogurt (duh) and obviously are perfect on their own. By the handful. These are hide-in-the-back-of-the-cupboard addicting.
Long story short, you need these in your life. I guess the story wasn’t really that long. I’m running on about 3 hours of sleep as I write this, people. Don’t expect genius. I’ll be happy if there are no typos. Actually, I’ll be happy if the two-year-old stays asleep and I stay awake long enough to finish typing this.
With only 3 ingredients, these delectable walnuts are simple to make. Plus, walnuts are good for you because they are a good source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber.
These vanilla bean candied walnuts are perfect on salads like this winter salad with clementine dressing. You know, if you have any left after eating them by the handful! And if you throw them on a salad, maybe you’ll feel better about the massive quantities you are consuming. Right? Right? Okay maybe. Maybe not.
They’d also make a great appetizer. I’m envisioning a group of friends playing cards, with a few bowls of candied walnuts on the table. Or put some on your charcuterie board for a special treat with cheeses and fruits.
Or….if you’re willing to share, these vanilla bean candied walnuts would make a great gift (and so would the other nut recipes listed below). Just put them in a jar and tie a pretty ribbon around the top! A great hostess or teacher gift.
More great nut recipes:
If you’re looking for more recipes like these vanilla bean candied walnuts, be sure to try:
Vanilla Bean Candied Walnuts
These vanilla bean candied walnuts are so delicious it is hard to stop eating them!
Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups raw walnut halves and/or pieces
- the seeds scraped from one whole vanilla bean
Instructions
- Toast walnuts in a dry frying pan over medium heat stirring frequently, about 3-5 minutes or until fragrant. Pour onto plate to cool. Also prepare a large rimmed baking sheet with a Silpat mat or parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Cook on medium until sugar melts and starts to turn the color of amber. Remove from heat, add walnuts and stir to coat. Work quickly.
- Pour walnuts out onto prepared lined baking sheet and separate walnuts with two forks, working quickly. If you don’t get them all separated, it’s no biggie, you can cut or crack them apart once they cool.
- Cool completely before storing in an airtight container. If you don’t eat them all first.
Notes
- Serving size: 1/4 cup.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1/4 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2gSugar: 17gProtein: 4g
RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.
Husband’s take: He calls ’em crack.
Changes I would make: Make more next time.
Difficulty: Moderate if you’re not comfortable with melting sugar. Plus you have to work kinda quickly. But you can do it, I swear!
30 Comments on “Vanilla Bean Candied Walnuts”
I just made this with hazelnuts, it’s perfect! I’m using them chopped to top a hazelnut tiramisu. Yum. Thanks for this easy idea!
Oh yum, that sounds absolutely incredible!
Can coconut sugar or another healthier option be substituted for white sugar?
I haven’t tested them that way, so I can’t say for sure, as it may caramelize and harden at different temperatures. Let me know if you give it a try, though!
Totally pinned this for later! YUM!
This look incredible. Yogurt topping with some dried fruit? Make it part of trail mix? Mixed in with homemade ice cream? Amazing. Thank you!
Enjoy! They are soooo yummy.
I could seriously throw that in my face and be done eating it in 10 minutes. omg
Ohhh these do look addicting – I can say that with certainty!
Ohhh yesssss come to mama! I love putting walnuts on my oatmeal or yogurt… but now I’m thinking about how I could put these on ice cream… lord help me! :)
Talk about great on top of my oatmeal!
Best idea ever!
coincidence that i just received the vanilla beans i ordered off of amazon? i think NOT
Definitely not!!!
Vanilla beans are the best ever. I have a whole mess of pecans and imagine this would be delicious with them as well!!
Pecans would be great!
Wow, these look amazing! Love the simple list of ingredients too.
I love anything with vanilla in it. These look amazing! Hope the baby sleeps better for you tonight!
I am a complete sucker for candied nuts. These ones look great-I love anything vanilla flavored.
lately i’ve been debating whether the next big bag of nuts that i purchase from sam’s club will be pecans or walnuts (because i don’t have room for both in my freezer). walnuts it is!!
I love how simple these are! And wow, I can bet they are amazing. I once had a “vanilla walnut” scented candle in my room and I swear I was tempted to eat it every day. I LOVE the versatility of nuts, even in their raw form I’m addicted, so I can only imagine how ravenous I’d be with a bag of these!
Great idea – I never thought of making candied walnuts before. But I’m up for vanilla flavored anything :)
YES! Short ingredient list including nuts and sugar, heck yes!
These look so good! What a great snack!
Ummm this sounds awesome! Great “healthy” snack!
I would love to have these around to snack on!
Ooh what a great snack! Im trying to teach myself to like nuts more..much healthier than snacking on chips! :P Thanks!
Vanilla bean anything and I’m sold. Love these!!
I have a hard time resisting any type of “spiced” nut! These sound amazing!! Vanilla bean & walnuts?? Yum!
What a great idea – I love the idea of the sweetness of the vanilla with the bitterness of the walnuts. I can imagine so many awesome uses for these!