Various versions of candied/spiced nuts have long since been a beloved way of eating nuts, especially around the holidays. But who wants to wait for the holidays and what does this have to do with salads? Well, everything because glazed nuts are the perfect way to amp up a salad as they add a bit of crunch and a touch of sweet. While we probably don’t need sugar in our salads I find these guys to be a nice treat.

As with the croutons I made last week, these come together pretty quick and are well worth the short time it takes to make them. I decided to do two different versions as not everyone is a fan of pecans or of walnuts. And also because I wanted to play with two different flavor profiles. Honey thyme and chipotle maple.

So we get to play around a bit with sugars using both white and brown, binders using honey and maple, and flavors like thyme and chipotle. It’s fun to play with your food, isn’t it?

Now you don’t have to make both of these. You can make one or the other. Or as you can see aside from just needing a second bowl, it is actually pretty easy to make both of them at the same time. Having leftovers is a good thing because these store nicely in an airtight container.

And about 15 minutes later you have bubbly glazed nuts. Resist the urge to pick… let them cool a bit before giving them a taste.

When they are cool enough to handle, break them up by hand. I like to give them a rough chop before serving sprinkling over a salad as trying to stab a whole glazed pecan in a salad doesn’t work to well.

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Glazed Nuts

Adapted from lots of different versions around the internets

Honey Thyme Walnuts

• 1 cup walnuts
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed thyme

Preheat oven to 325 degrees a line a baking sheet with parchment.

In a small bowl mix together all the ingredients. Pour out onto lined pan, being sure to separate some of the nuts so that most of them are laying flat.

Bake for 7 minutes. Remove from oven, toss. Return to oven and bake another 7 minutes. Nuts will be bubbly and golden when you pull them out. Let cool before handling or tasting.

Makes 1 cup of glazed nuts

Chipotle Maple Pecans

• 1 cup pecans
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• pinch of salt
• 1/8th – 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder

Preheat oven to 325 degrees a line a baking sheet with parchment.

In a small bowl mix together all the ingredients. Pour out onto lined pan, being sure to separate some of the nuts so that most of them are laying flat.

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, toss. Return back to oven and bake another 10 minutes. Nuts will be bubbly and golden when you pull them out. Let cool before handling or tasting.

Makes 1 cup of glazed nuts