Cinnamon Sugar Toasted Walnuts

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You probably already have all of the ingredients needed to make these toasted walnuts– butter olive oil, cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Make a big batch of these Cinnamon Sugar Toasted Walnuts for snacks throughout the week! 

Did you know that when walnuts are toasted, they smell and taste a little like popcorn? Or is it just me?! They definitely form some sort of popcorn-y buttery flavor. 

Toasted walnuts are a delicious way to add extra nutrition, flavor and crunch to a meal or a snack! Today I’m sharing an easy recipe to jazz up raw walnuts. Every once and a while, the local Sprouts has a sale in their bulk section and sometimes I can get 50% per pound! The last time the sale went on I bought a whole pound and then didn’t know what to do with them so I started researching how to toast and season walnuts. 

They’re actually quite good for you– eating walnuts can decrease your LDL (unhealthy) cholesterol, decrease total cholesterol, and increase the amount of anti-inflammatory omega-3’s in our blood. Walnuts are also packed full of antioxidants that can help to lower risk of chronic inflammation. 

Due to their high polyunsaturated fat content, walnuts are extremely perishable! Keep them in the refrigerator and they’ll keep for six months. Toasting walnuts can help preserve them a little longer, and make them taste amazing so you eat then and they don’t just sit in your fridge. 

These are lightly tossed in cinnamon, sugar and a hint of salt. Serve alongside a piece of fresh fruit or some dried apricots, like I did above! If you can, make a batch of these and when they’re cooled off, pack them in individual snack baggies along with dried fruit and bring them with you to school or work.

Here’s how to make cinnamon sugar toasted walnuts:  

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Cinnamon Sugar Toasted Walnuts

Servings 8 1/4 cup servings

Author Emily Weeks, RDN, LD

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw walnut pieces or halves
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of kosher salt
• 1 Tbsp sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with foil or use a silicon baking mat.

2. In saucepan, melt oil and butter over medium low heat. Add the cinnamon and salt and stir, then add the walnuts. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with the sugar.

3. Spread out evenly on the baking sheet in one layer. Bake for 20 minutes, checking during the last five minutes to make sure they don't turn too dark.