How to Make Candied Walnuts: Quick and Easy Recipe

Use this quick and easy vegan recipe for candied walnuts to add a delectable crunch to any meal. They also make a great snack on their own.

Candied walnuts can add a sweet crunch to foods like salads, pizza, pasta, cheeseboards, in homemade granola and trail mixes, and even make a delicious snack by themselves. 

Read on to learn how to make candied walnuts with this quick and easy recipe, and learn why you should source your walnuts from fair trade and organic brands. 

How to Make Candied Walnuts

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of raw chopped or halved walnuts
• 2 tbsp of vegan butter
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp fine sea salt

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients, except for the walnuts, to a sauté pan and set the burner to medium heat.
2. Once the vegan butter is melted, stir the nuts in. 
3. Continue to frequently stir the nut mixture in the pan so the walnuts don’t burn.
4. The mixture can be taken off of the heat when the sugar has dissolved completely (about 4-6 minutes).
5. Transfer onto a sheet of parchment paper, spreading the nuts out immediately so they don’t clump together.
6. The candied walnuts will be ready to eat after the coating cools and sets (after about 5 to 7 minutes.)
7. Serve the candied walnuts immediately or store them in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.

Source Fair Trade, Organic, and non-GMO Walnuts

Walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and vitamin E, so they make a nutritious supplement to recipes.

These nuts are relatively sustainable as well. Walnut farms generally do not threaten air, water, land, soil, or forests as long as synthetic pesticides are not used. Always be sure to choose non-GMO and organic walnuts to reduce pollutants and contaminants that come from farms. 

Fair frade walnuts should be sought out because walnut farmers are often treated unfairly and can be coerced into poor labor conditions. Farmers can be exploited within tough working conditions and receive low wages, especially if they are undocumented within the States. This makes it easier for employers to take advantage of workers by paying them below minimum wage or holding salaries altogether. Even with worker protections, employee abuse often goes unreported as undocumented workers may fear the consequences of taking action against their employers.

Takeaway: It is important to source walnuts that are certified fair frade because of worker exploitation, laborer issues, and human rights concerns. Additionally, source organic and non-GMO walnuts to support environmentally safe practices. 

Read on:

• Do Nuts Go Bad? Tips and Tricks for Proper Storage
• How to Plant and Grow Peanuts at Home
• How to Toast Slivered Almonds: Step-by-Step

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