Not familiar with our Rule of One? These are the types of gifts that can be given as gifts to neighbors, teachers, friends and more. One Gift + One Prep Time = A Simpler Christmas
I love candied nuts–at a restaurant if there is a salad with candied nuts, it’s a given that I will order it. So it’s no surprise that I have decided that candied nuts would make a delicious gift to share at Christmas time.
I did some Pinterest searches for a recipe, but since I’m less-than-gifted in the kitchen, the ones I found had more steps that I dared process. Then I came across this post, and thought, “I can do this!”
THREE ingredients; THREE steps. I can do this!
I pulled out my frying pan and made my first ever attempt at carmelized walnuts. In ten minutes I had mastered–yes, mastered–the recipe. It’s that easy.
Candied Walnuts/Pecans
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups walnut halves/pieces
1/4 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
[Adapted from Natasha’s Kitchen]
Instructions:
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat; add 1 1/2 cups walnuts, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp butter.
- Heat over medium heat for 5+ minutes, stirring frequently so the mixture doesn’t burn. When the sugar mixture starts melting, stir constantly until all the sugar is melted and the nuts are coated.
- Quickly transfer the mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper and rapidly separate the nuts so they don’t cluster.
Now the fun begins: Once the coating hardens (5+ minutes), put the walnuts in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature. To make a decorative gift, I wrapped baker’s twine and some greenery around the jelly jar I used and attached this candied walnuts printable tag. [Note: For a larger jar, print the tags at 100%; for a smaller jar, print the tags at 90%.]
So there you have it, an easy gift for neighbors, friends, teachers that also fits in the Twenty-Minute-Mission category. It’s a win-win-win gift!