Maple Cinnamon Candied Nuts

When I go without them for a while, I forget how much I enjoy roasted nuts. Great for snacking, adding crunch to a bowl of oatmeal or salad, these are definitely a multipurpose ingredient in my kitchen.

This recipe is so simple to make, and even better because I always have the ingredients on hand. Three cups of nuts feels like a lot, but a batch lasts me at least a couple weeks, depending on how liberally I eat them. It's just about time for me to make another batch!

Maple Cinnamon Candied Nuts

Ingredients

• 3 cups mixed raw nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, etc)
• 1/4 C maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring to incorporate the syrup and cinnamon evenly over the nuts.
3. Spray a baking sheet with oil, then pour the nuts onto the pan, spreading them evenly.
4. Bake for about 20 minutes, stirring a few times to ensure even roasting.
5. Cool and store in an airtight container.

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Vanilla Cinnamon Walnuts Roasted with Bacon Fat

I had a rare moment this weekend when I shot of inspiration hit me like a lightning bolt. I knew I wanted to make a breakfast salad and I knew mostly what I wanted to put on top of it. This is the first post of a few dedicated to this salad.

I took inspiration from Elena's Pantry and her Vanilla Roasted Walnuts, a recipe which I adore. But it needed something extra to set it apart, make it worthy of breakfast, you know? So the natural move is to incorporate bacon fat because bacon makes everything better. Even these nuts.

Vanilla Cinnamon Walnuts Roasted with Bacon Fat

Ingredients

• 1/2 C raw walnuts
• 1 tbsp bacon fat
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Seeds of half a vanilla bean
• 1 tbsp agave nectar

Method

1. Place a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add the bacon fat to the pan. When melted, add the walnuts to the pan, stirring a bit to distribute.
2. When the nuts begin to get some color, add the cinnamon and vanilla bean seeds, stirring to fully incorporate. Continue to roast, stirring occasionally, but making sure not to let the nuts burn.
3. Finally, add the agave to the pan and stir vigorously. Remove nuts from pan and allow to cool.

After the nuts cool, you can really taste the bacon fat on these! Certainly not vegan, but oh so delicious. They'd be great on their own, served with drinks, and of course, on a salad. These would make a great gift for the bacon connoisseur in your life, too. You can thank me later.

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