I am a huge fan of walnuts and one of the best ways to eat them is to eat them smothered with sugar. This recipe is super simple to make, and results in a sweet and crunchy snack. With just a few ingredients and some patience, you can make a delicious crunchy candied walnut snack that is both nutritious and delicious. This is also a great addition to any cookie recipe.
Some people prefer to skin their walnuts, but I can’t be bothered to do so. If you prefer skinned walnuts, you can blanch them quickly for a few minutes in hot water and gently peel the skin off.
In a pot, place your walnuts, sugar, salt, water and star anise. Let the ingredients come to a boil on medium hot. Ensure that you are stirring constantly so nothing burns. Keep stirring until all the liquid has evaporated.
Remove the pot from the heat and remove the star anise. Pour the walnuts onto a lined baking tray and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake walnuts in a preheated 300 degrees Celsius oven for 20 minutes. Rotate the tray halfway through the cooking process. After 20 minutes, remove the tray from the oven and let cool completely. This step ensures that the walnuts stay crispy. You can store these walnuts in an airtight container for up to a week (if they last that long!)
Crunchy Candied Walnut Snack
Ingredients
- 2 cups walnuts
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 star anise
- 120 ml water
- 2 tbsp toasted black sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°C (150°F).
- In a pot, combine walnuts, sugar, salt, water and star anise.
- Let the walnuts come to a boil and then turn the heat down to medium. Stir constantly to prevent the walnuts and sugar from burning.
- Cook until all the water has evaporated. Turn off the heat, and pour the walnuts onto a lined baking tray. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Once they're done baking, let them cool before eating.