Honey Glazed Walnuts

I’ve been making my Baked Brie with Honey and Nuts for many, many years. One time, I made the nutty topping in advance, and since it wasn’t resting atop melty cheese, the honey caramelized and set a bit, turning that gooey topping into a crunchy snack. As someone who loves snacking on Candied Spiced Nuts, and topping salads with glazed nuts, this was a happy accident that became its own recipe–the one right here in this blog post.

Honey Glazed Walnuts are incredibly versatile. Knowing this technique means you can always add a special touch to so many recipes, dishes, and snacks.

Why You’ll Love Making Honey Glazed Walnuts

• Incredibly easy. You only need four ingredients and a few minutes of prep time. The hardest part is letting them cool and set.
• No gluten or dairy. Yes, this recipe is free of those ingredients, just check the labels on your nuts for cross-contamination.
• So many uses. I already mentioned that you can use the glazed walnuts as a topping for baked brie or salads. But it’s also a nice complement on charcuterie boards or to add texture to some of your favorite breakfast or dessert dishes. See the Serving Suggestions near the recipe card for more ideas.

Recipe Ingredients

• Walnuts – you’ll want to use halves or large pieces.
• Honey
• Cinnamon – feel free to omit if you don’t want the nuts to be slightly spiced.
• Salt – just a pinch.

How to Make Honey Walnuts

Line a baking sheet with wax paper or a silicone baking sheet, and then it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…

• Toast the walnuts. Toss them in a skillet over medium heat for 2 or 3 minutes. You’ll just start to smell the nutty aroma.
• Glaze them. Add the honey and cinnamon and stir to coat evenly. Cook about 5 minutes until glazed and toasted.
• Cool and enjoy. Pour the nuts onto the prepared baking sheet and quickly separate them. Let cool completely.

Tips For Success

• Use the right skillet – a 9-inch or 10-inch skillet will do. I like to use nonstick because the honey can get a bit sticky. Also, a silicone spatula is the best for stirggin due to the stickiness. I keep a variety of shapes and sizes on hand for different jobs and use them daily.
• More stick prevention – a silicone baking mat or wax paper will keep them from sticking to the sheet pan when you spread them out to cool. Amazon now has very affordable silicone baking mats.
• Change things up – try this recipe and technique with pecans, cashews, almonds, or your favorite type of nuts. You can even use a combination to make glazed mixed nuts.

Storing Glazed Nuts

You’ll want to make sure the walnuts are cooled completely before storing. You can then seal them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They may stick together a bit, but they can be easily broken apart, or even chopped smaller if you prefer.

Serving Suggestions

I love adding honey glazed walnuts to a charcuterie board or even a Christmas Cookie Platter. And, of course, you can always just grab a handful to snack on all by themselves. But there are lots of other ways to enjoy them…

• On a salad. As a gluten free alternative to croutons, glazed walnuts add an element of texture to a salad, whether you make it with greens, grains, or both. They are a must-have on my Poached Pear Salad, but are also a great addition to Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad and can be a sweeter swap for the nuts in Broccoli Apple Salad
• With breakfast. Add some satisfying crunch on top of a Chocolate Banana Smoothie Bowl or a stack of Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pancakes.
• With dessert. Yes, you can even have glazed nuts with your favorite sweet treats, like a scoop of No-Churn Cheesecake Ice Cream, a bowl of Chocolate Pudding, or a slice of Crustless Pumpkin Pie.

More recipes with walnuts

• Creamy Fruit Salad
• Waldorf Chicken Salad
• Honey Nut No-Bake Granola Bars