Pecan Pie Style Candied Walnuts

These caramelized walnuts smell so good cooking in sugar — nutty and decadent. What gives pecan pie its distinct flavor is molasses which here is added into the browned butter and rum, deepening its flavors and making it oh so delicious.  

You’ll want to snack on these frozen nut clusters as I did. They’re sinfully delicious, an overload of nut goodness. I loved it, but what I loved even more was not feeling sick, like I often feel after eating regular candied nuts which is made with granulated sugar, instead of agave which I decided to swap for. Seriously I want to eat these walnuts all day long, top them on everything. You wouldn’t even know that they’re not even made with regular sugar, and for more healthy swaps see chart here.  It’s the perfect combination of deep flavors that remind you of pecan pie, turned into crunchy and nutty candy.

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Pecan Pie Style Candied Walnuts

Ingredients 

9 ounces – Walnuts {coarsely chopped}

1/3 cup  – Unsalted Butter

2 tablespoons – Rum or Bourbon

1/2 cup – Pure Maple Syrup {can be substituted with Honey or Agave}

1/4 cup – Unsulfered Molasses 

1 teaspoon – Pure Vanilla Extract

Pinch Coarse Salt

Recipe {Makes 10 ounces}

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

In a medium saute pan, brown the butter, cooking over a medium heat until it foams up and smells nutty. Remove from heat, and stir in the rum and salt. Return pan back to heat, whisking in the molasses, maple syrup, and vanilla. Bring to a quick boil. Reduce to low heat and add in the walnuts. Cook, stirring, until liquid has absorbed {about 8 to 9 minutes}. 

Spread nuts evenly onto the prepared baking sheet, and cool completely. Place the sheet into the freezer, until caramelized walnuts are hard. Remove and break into coarsely chopped pieces {you can either use a food processor or crush with a rolling pin and freezer-safe container. Keep crushed walnut pieces in freezer until ready to use into your cookies. If eating caramelized walnuts fresh, keep refrigerated in an airtight container.