Candied Walnut Bliss in 5 Minutes: A Sweet and Salty Symphony
Craving a delightful and easy snack? Look no further than these candied walnuts! Made with just 5 ingredients and ready in 5 minutes, these sweet and salty treats are guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds.
Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Effortless Indulgence: These candied walnuts come together in a flash, requiring minimal effort and cooking time. They're perfect for when you need a quick and satisfying snack or topping.
- Flavor Explosion: The combination of caramelized sugar, a touch of salt, and crunchy walnuts creates a symphony of sweet, salty, and nutty flavors that is simply irresistible.
- Customizable Cravings: Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar and salt to your taste preference. You can also experiment with different nut varieties, such as pecans or almonds, to discover your favorite flavor combination.
Ingredients:
- Walnut Wonder:
- 1 cup walnuts
- Caramel Magic:
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon packed golden brown sugar (Do not use dark brown sugar)
- Binding Power:
- ¼ cup water
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ⅛ teaspoon salt + 2 pinches salt
Instructions:
- Prepare for Sweet Success: Line a dinner plate (or any heat-resistant plate) with a piece of parchment paper. This will make cleanup a breeze after coating your candied walnuts.
- Combine the Ingredients: In a medium non-stick skillet, add all the ingredients except for the two pinches of salt. A non-stick pan is essential to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the candied walnuts.
- High Heat, Big Flavor: Place the skillet over high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Keep an eye on it and stir occasionally to prevent burning.
- Caramelization Countdown: After 5 minutes, reduce the heat to medium and continue stirring constantly. This is a crucial step in the caramelization process. The sugar will begin to dissolve and turn a beautiful golden brown color.
- Looking for the Signs: Continue stirring constantly until all the moisture evaporates, and the nuts become darker, glossy, and start to clump together. Refer to the pictures in the recipe for a visual guide. It's important to ensure all the liquid evaporates before removing the pan from the heat to prevent the candied walnuts from becoming too soft.
- Transfer and Temper: Immediately transfer the caramelized nuts and any remaining caramel bits from the pan onto the prepared parchment paper. Using a spoon or spatula, spread the nuts out into a single layer.
- A Touch of Saltiness: Sprinkle the remaining two pinches of salt evenly over the top of the warm nuts. This touch of salt balances out the sweetness of the caramelized sugar and enhances the overall flavor profile.
- Cool Down and Enjoy!: Let the candied walnuts cool completely at room temperature. The caramel will harden as it cools, creating that delightful chewy and crisp texture. Once cool, break the candied walnuts into pieces with your fingers and enjoy!
- Sweet and Salty Storage: Store your candied walnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for several days – if they last that long! These addictive treats tend to disappear quickly.
Tips:
- Using a non-stick pan is crucial for this recipe to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the candied walnuts.
- If using a smaller non-stick skillet, the cooking time may increase by 30-45 seconds. Just keep an eye on the mixture and adjust the heat as needed to achieve the desired caramelization.
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