How To Toast Walnuts – Recipes From A Pantry

Add a delightful twist to your snack routine or elevate your favorite dishes with toasted walnuts! Learn how to toast walnuts in a variety of ways as well as fun seasonings to try.

Suitable for gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, keto, paleo, and Whole30 diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

I know what you’re thinking: Why go to the extra trouble of toasting walnuts? Why not just eat them the way they are? Learn how to toast walnuts to bring out their nutty flavor and add an appealing mouth feel.

We’ve taken the guesswork out of how to toast walnuts by experimenting for you. Use our experience as a starting point to get your own!

Nuts can burn quickly, so watch them carefully. The flavor you get from toasted nuts is worth the time and attention, as toasting brings out a richer, more nutty flavor. Once you learn how quick and simple it is, you’ll definitely want to learn How To Roast Cashews too!

The roasting process also adds a satisfying crunch and texture to the walnuts. Raw nuts contain a higher moisture content that roasted nuts release as they cook. This extends their shelf life and helps inhibit mold and bacteria growth. 

An extended shelf life means you can prepare them in advance for giving as edible gifts! Homemade gifts say, “I’m thinking of you and you are special!” All of these things add up to a fun recipe, in my opinion. 

You can add toasted walnuts to recipes such as Wild Rice Salad, Air Fryer Butternut Squash, or Air Fryer Banana Bread. #somanyoptions

Why Make This Recipe

• It’s Fun – Sure, you could eat plain walnuts, but why when you could have fun changing the flavor?!
• It’s Giftable – “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire….” Culinary crafting and gifting is always appreciated!
• It’s Heart-healthy – Walnuts are rich in Omega 3s which are the good fats your body needs to be healthy. 

Ingredient Notes

• Walnuts – Shelled walnut halves boast a mild, buttery taste and a distinct earthy flavor. 
• Seasonings – Salt and your other favorite savory and sweet seasonings will make a great addition to walnuts!

Ready to learn how easy it is to toast walnuts? Gather up the ingredients, and I will show you…

How To Roast Walnuts

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F / 175 degrees C. Spread the walnuts in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet and place in the preheated oven.

Step 2. Toast the walnuts for 8-10 minutes, stirring once or twice during the process to ensure even toasting. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet. If desired, sprinkle with a pinch of salt or other seasonings.

How To Roast Walnuts in a Skillet

Step 1. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts to the skillet, spreading them out in a single layer.

Step 2. Toast the walnuts in the skillet for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Remove from the skillet and transfer to a plate or a baking sheet to cool. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt or other seasonings, if desired.

How To Air Fry Walnuts

Step 1. Preheat your air fryer to 325 degrees F / 163 degrees C. Place the walnuts in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Step 2. Cook the walnuts in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket or stirring the walnuts halfway through. Remove and let cool. Optional: Sprinkle with a pinch of salt or other seasonings.

Tips For Success

• Choose shelled raw walnuts and check the pieces for any bits of shell before cooking. 
• Spread walnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. This ensures even toasting and allows the heat to reach all sides of the nuts.
• Cover the cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• Nuts can quickly go from golden to burnt; keep a close eye during the toasting process.
• The walnuts should turn golden brown and become aromatic.
• Skip added oils; walnuts have natural oils that intensify during toasting.
• Transfer hot walnuts to a cool surface to stop the toasting process and avoid overcooking.
• It’s often better to toast walnuts in smaller batches rather than trying to toast a large quantity all at once. This ensures that each walnut gets evenly toasted.
• Trust your senses; a fragrant, nutty aroma indicates they’re perfectly toasted.

Delicious Variations 

• Swap cooking methods. We are including instructions for air frying and for skillet cooking walnuts in case you prefer either of those. 
• Make them sweet and spicy. Toss toasted walnuts with honey, cinnamon, and a pinch of cayenne for a delightful mix of sweet and spicy.
• Add a garlic parmesan crunch. Combine toasted walnuts with grated Parmesan cheese and a hint of garlic powder for a savory, cheesy crunch.
• Add a curry blend. Create an exotic twist by dusting toasted walnuts with curry powder and a pinch of sea salt.

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – You can prep these ahead of time or serve straight from the oven since it’s a quick cook. 
• Store – Store at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks, and in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
• Freeze – Toasted walnuts will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer. 
• Reheat – Thaw to room temperature or reheat under the low broiler until warm and crispy again. 

FAQs 

Similar Recipes

Serve With:

• These silicon utensils to easily stir, turn, and remove the nuts.
• A Mason jar is a great way to keep the nuts fresh.
• Good quality spices for adding great flavor.
• For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 4 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my roasted walnuts recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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