Maple Cinnamon Walnuts (Printable)

Sweet maple-glazed walnuts with warm cinnamon, crunchy and irresistible in just 20 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 2 cups walnut halves

02 - 1/3 cup pure maple syrup

03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

04 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

02 - In a mixing bowl, combine the maple syrup, ground cinnamon, fine sea salt, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and well blended.

03 - Add the walnut halves to the bowl and toss thoroughly until every piece is evenly coated with the maple cinnamon mixture.

04 - Spread the coated walnuts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not crowded together.

05 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the walnuts develop a glossy sheen and release a warm, toasty aroma.

06 - Remove from the oven and let the walnuts cool completely on the baking sheet. The maple glaze will harden and set as they cool.

07 - Transfer the cooled walnuts to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

01 -

Five minutes of prep and you have a snack that tastes like it came from a specialty shop.
The maple glaze hardens into a satisfying crunch that makes it hard to stop eating them.

02 -

Stirring halfway through is not optional, I learned the hard way when half my batch stuck together into one giant maple walnut cluster.
They will feel slightly soft when you first pull them from the oven but trust the cooling process because that is when the magic happens.

03 -

A tiny pinch of cayenne pepper added to the glaze mixture creates a subtle heat that people cannot quite place but always ask about.
Taste a walnut before baking to check for bitterness, because one rancid nut can throw off the whole batch.